Organizing Committee

The chair of the organizing committee in 2023 was Gustavo Giannattasio, Engineer, from Uruguay, and in 2024 was Dr. Eldon Caldwell from Costa Rica. For 2025, the chair of the organizing committee is Dr. Eldon Caldwell.

2025 Organizing Team

• Dr. Eldon Caldwell, Costa Rica (Chair)
• César Viloria, M.Sc., Engineer, Colombia (Technical Committee Chair)
• German Moya, MI, Engineer, Costa Rica (Judges Team Chair)
• Natalia Ureña, Engineer, Costa Rica (Marketing and Multimedia Chair)
• Alejandra Orellana, Engineer, Ecuador (Training Sessions Chair)

Technical Advisors

• Kevin Martínez, M.Sc., Engineer, Perú
• Dr. José Galindo, México
• Gustavo Giannattasio, Engineer, Uruguay (Project Manager)

About the Challenge

• Objective: Equip students with practical IoT and AI skills through experiential learning and competition-based engagement.
• Key Actions: Identify real-world IoT and AI use cases focused on creating a minimum viable product (e.g., healthcare, automation, farming, air quality, water quality, etc.).
• Host preparatory courses, webinars, and tutorials: Upskill participants in both technical and business domains.

Outcomes

• Foster a global community of innovators with expertise in IoT and AI, contributing to TEMS’ leadership in cutting-edge technologies.
• Offer mentorship from AI/IoT experts, including TEMS professionals.
• Showcase winning projects at IEEE TEMS conferences and provide pathways to commercialization.
• Align with IoT&AI Challenges running as Arabiot and Africaiot, but optimized for MVPs applicable to real problems in Region 9.

Challenge Courses

Courses for 2024 will repeat in 2025, training students in 7 different disciplines to help them carry on the tasks to create a Minimum Viable Product.

Education Courses for TEMS

Course	Title	Description	Deliverable	2025 Dates	Speaker
1	Value Proposal Model	In this module you will learn the fundamental elements of this visual and strategic tool that allows the entrepreneur to structure and present the proposed value model.	Value proposition	02 Sept	RICARDO PEÑA
2	Functional and non-functional requirements	In this module you will learn how to define functional and non-functional requirements of a digital product, so that it meets the value proposition offered.	List of functional and non-functional requirements		MIRIAM CAMARENA
3	Business Model Canvas	In this module you will learn the fundamental elements of this visual and strategic tool that allows the entrepreneur to structure and present the model of his business.	Business model CANVAS	16 Sept	GUSTAVO GIANNATTASIO
4	Intro to Design Thinking	This introductory module to design thinking stimulates collective or group creativity to find innovative solutions to problems identified within a framework.	Progress of the solution development		RICARDO PEÑA
5	Marketing Plan	In this module you will learn how to set the guidelines for the introduction of a product into the market and its positioning.	Marketing strategy for product launch.	01 Oct	ELDON CALDWELL
6	Minimum Viable Product	This module will help you learn the best practices to design the prototype of the product or service that you intend to offer and show the functionalities to your customers.	MVP (Minimum Viable Product)		URIEL CRAMPTON
7	Pitching	The art of pitching, or concise presentation of business ideas, projects or products, is essential in the contemporary business landscape. During this program, participants will dive into a detailed analysis of the persuasive techniques fundamental to a successful presentation.	Pitch	10 Oct	FRANCISCO RANGEL

Phases of the 2025 TEMS IoT&AI Challenge

A) Ideation Phase

Participants receive e-training on technical and business ideation and product development. After the training, participants present their ideas in a pitch competition. Selected teams pass this screening.

B) Education and Technical Support Phase

Participants receive further follow-up, access to university labs, and technical assistance to build their working prototypes and minimum viable products (MVP). Students receive seven courses from experts in IoT and AI.

C) Local Demo Days

Each country organizes a local demo day to choose the winning project from the country that will qualify for the regional finals. This can be a virtual or in-person competition.

D) Finals

Winners from each country participate in the final demo day to compete in the regional LATAM competition.

Milestones of the 2025 Challenge

Milestone	Date
Kick off and call for papers	April 2025
Team Registration closes	May 2025
Training to participants (7 courses)	June 2025
First draft of proposed MVP	July 2025
Final adjusted proposals	August 2025
Local competition (one team per country)	September 2025
Finalists confirmed	September 2025
Final competition	October 2025

Key Performance Indicators for 2025 IoT & AI Challenge

Category	KPI	Target	How to Use
Participant Engagement	Number of Teams Registered	≥ 25 teams	Analyze initial interest; adjust outreach if target not met.
Participant Engagement	Completion Rate of Training Courses	≥ 70%	Assess engagement with training; refine content if drop-off is high.
Participant Engagement	Drop-off Rate After Training	≤ 30%	Identify barriers to project submission and improve motivation strategies.
Skill Development	Knowledge Assessment Scores	High average scores (>80%)	Measure learning outcomes; provide extra support if scores are low.
Skill Development	Technologies Utilized in Projects	≥ 750% use both IoT and AI	Ensure projects meet the contest's core objectives.
Skill Development	Innovation Index (jury evaluation)	Average > 8/10	Highlight creativity and originality; provide resources to inspire innovation.
Project Quality	Submission Rate	≥ 85% of final-stage teams	Ensure clarity of requirements and provide resources to support submissions.
Project Quality	Jury Evaluation Scores	> 75% of teams score > 8/10	Evaluate the success of guidance and mentorship during the contest.
Project Quality	MVP Completeness	100% functional MVPs	Assess clarity of MVP expectations and ensure proper support.
Contest Impact	Practical Problem Solving	> 90% of projects address real issues in Region 9	Showcase real-world impact; align training and mentorship with solving practical problems.
Contest Impact	Post-Contest Outcomes	≥ 3 teams gain recognition/support	Track project continuation or success stories to demonstrate long-term impact.
Stakeholder Engagement	Mentor Participation	> 50 total hours	Track mentor involvement and adjust mentor-to-team ratios if needed.
Stakeholder Engagement	Jury Feedback Quality	> 4/5 rating by participants	Use feedback to refine the evaluation process and enhance participant satisfaction.
Diversity & Inclusion	Demographics of Participants	Balanced representation	Track inclusivity and adjust promotion to reach underrepresented groups.
Diversity & Inclusion	Team Composition	> 50% teams with diverse skill sets	Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and evaluate promotional strategies.
Contest Efficiency	Adherence to Timeline	≥ 90% of milestones achieved on time	Monitor schedule efficiency and identify potential delays early.