In parallel with the scientific debate held yesterday during the WORLD CONFERENCE, the second day of Sprint Generation – Sport, Risk, Innovation, and Technology – featured the final phase of the #TO25Brainstorm Project (an initiative of “intellectual competition and challenge” launched by the Organizing Committee in 2022 and conducted within the national and international academic community, with the support of the Torino Chamber of Commerce): the Sprint Generation Challenge.
The initiative was born from the active involvement of the four Piedmont universities (the University of Torino, the Politecnico di Torino, the University of Eastern Piedmont, and the University of Gastronomic Sciences) and with support from the Torino Chamber of Commerce, to bring together new “athletes of the mind” to develop innovative ideas on nine scientific topics related to current challenges (climate change, energy sustainability, social cohesion, and new work models). The #TO25Brainstorm project led to the selection of 33 teams, which took part in the final phase of the SPRINT Generation Challenge.
Each team presented a poster summarizing the project with which they entered the challenge. The competition culminated on January 15 with the Sprint Generation Awards event at Cavallerizza Reale, to which all teams were invited. During the event, the top 10 finalists were announced, and they presented their projects to the panel and audience.
The posters were evaluated by a panel consisting of representatives from the four partner universities, the Committee, the Turin Chamber of Commerce, and a legal representative to validate the results, leading to the selection of the top 3 winners of the Sprint Generation Challenge, who were awarded cash prizes provided by the Torino Chamber of Commerce.
The first-place winner was a team named BLUFIN TUNA ECOLOGY AT RISK, with a study on the risk of extinction of the bluefin tuna species and a series of proposals to prevent this ecological damage. They were awarded a €40,000 prize.
All posters will be displayed at the Rectorate of the University of Torino and will remain on exhibit during the following days of the FISU World University Games Winter in the form of an exhibition aimed at high school students, offering them a pathway toward university engagement.
Statement by Alessandro Ciro Sciretti, President of the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games Organizing Committee
“The connection between sport, health, technology, and sustainability is becoming increasingly stronger, thanks to innovation and growing awareness of the benefits these interconnected dimensions bring to both individuals and the environment. The Torino 2025 FISU World University Games, especially thanks to the SPRINT GENERATION project and the support of the Turin Chamber of Commerce, represent a unique and truly global opportunity to enhance this synergy, mobilizing intellectual energy not only from leading experts in the field but also from young ‘Athletes of the Mind,’ who will provide a crucial contribution to the collective scientific debate while promoting an active, responsible, and innovative lifestyle.”
