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Build a Bridge Program and Competition

How can AI be used to solve immigrant integration challenges?

Build a Bridge is a six-week initiative designed to inspire and empower students to identify challenges in migrant integration and develop innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions to address them. This initiative is hosted by the CERC in Migration and Integration and the Bridging Divides programs at TMU. Responsible Artificial Intelligence (RAI) sponsors the competition award.

Build a Bridge's primary goals are to:

  1. Promote understanding of immigration integration issues: Students will explore and gain a deep understanding of the challenges faced by immigrants integrating into new communitie.
  2. Support high technologies that can address immigrant issues: Participants will design an AI technology to develop creative and practical solutions for the identified problems.
  3. Help students build their entrepreneurial skills: Through a series of workshops and roundtable discussions, students will receive expert guidance and dedicated support in three critical areas: immigration studies, AI engineering, and product/business development.

Win $6,000 CAD to implement your solution

Award for best MVP solution

This award is granted to the best team or individual presenting a solution as a minimum viable product (MVP). An MVP is a version of a product developed with minimal effort to gain customer feedback before further investment.

The winning team or individual will receive $6,000 CAD to launch their MVP, gather feedback from initial users, and advance their product. Seventy percent of the prize money ($4,200 CAD) will be disbursed immediately after the competition. Based on the user's feedback, the winning Team must focus on customer discovery and product development. They have six months to take their product to the next step and report their development to Bridging Divides. Upon confirmation of product improvement, they will receive the remaining 30% ($1,800 CAD). Responsible AI sponsors this award.

All participants who attend the Build a Bridge workshops will be awarded a completion certificate at the end of the program.

Program structure

Workshops and roundtables: Students will engage in three workshops and one roundtable discussion over the six weeks. These sessions are designed to provide them with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop their AI solutions.

Mentorship: Teams will have access to weekly meetings with program mentors, who will offer tailored advice and feedback in their respective fields.

Educational resources: All workshop recordings and additional learning materials will be made available through the Bridging Divides learning management system platform, ensuring teams have the resources they need to succeed.

Eligibility and participation

  1. Participants should be enrolled in one of the following universities and provide an enrolment confirmation letter from their program administration or supervisor:
    • Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)
    • McGill University
    • Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
    • University of Waterloo
    • Western University
    • University of Calgary
  2. Participants must submit a full registration by filling out the registration form (external link)  by August 29. Eligible students will receive an invitation to confirm their participation in the program.
  3. Students must participate in the program workshops to receive a participation certificate. Individuals who do not participate in the program and attend workshop sessions are not eligible to compete. All workshops and roundtables are available both in person and virtually, allowing individuals to participate through either method. Mentorship sessions are optional and will be provided both virtually and in person.
  4.  Applicants can apply individually or collaborate as a team with co-applicants or inventors from external communities. The applicant enrolled in one of the eligible universities is responsible for the final submission. If the team wins the prize money, it will be awarded in the name of the applicant representing the team (SIN and HST information will be required to process the payment).
  5. If selected, the applicant's name will be associated with the submitted idea in communication and press.
Submit your award application  (external link, opens in new window) 
Submit your video presentation  (external link, opens in new window) 
Program timeline and deadlines  
Registration deadline - EXTENDED September 6, 2024, 12am EDT
Eligible participants selection September 7, 2024

Workshop 1: Turning Concepts into Market-Ready Solutions

September 10, 10am-12:30 pm EDT

Workshop 2: Immigration Integration Challenges 

September 17, 10am-2pm EDT

Workshop 3: AI Project Showcase: Developing a Project from Scratch & Regulatory and Ethical Considerations in Designing an AI Solution

September 24, 10am-2pm EDT

Roundtable: Overview of Application, Question and Answer

October 8, 10am-2pm EDT
Mentorship sessions Up to 90 minutes per week*
Deadline for application submission October 27, 2024, 12am EDT
Deadline for recorded presentation submission November 3, 2024, 12am EDT
Presentation of all ideas and winner announcement November 25, 2024, 10am-12 pm EST
An initiative presented by:
Competition award sponsored by: