Global Competition on Design for Futures (GCD4F) 2026 – Regional Competition Slovenia
Publish date: 2026/03/10 | Expire date: 2026/06/01 | Author: Nina Planinšek
Dear Students,
We invite you to participate in the Global Competition on Design for Futures 2026 (GCD4F 2026), an international competition that encourages the development of innovative solutions using artificial intelligence to address societal and sustainability challenges.
The competition was established by Beijing Normal University and has been upgraded in 2026 into a global initiative supporting the goals of the United Nations’ International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development 2024–2033.
The competition was established by Beijing Normal University and has been upgraded in 2026 into a global initiative supporting the goals of the United Nations’ International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development 2024–2033.
The aim of the competition is to encourage students from around the world to develop innovative AI-driven solutions that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and rethink the relationship between people, technology, and society.
Thematic Tracks
- AI for Science
- AI for Education
- AI for Society
Regional Finals – Slovenia
The Regional Finals in Slovenia, covering countries from Central and Southern Europe, will take place 16–17 June 2026 in a hybrid format at the University of Maribor – Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (UM FERI), Maribor.
Selected teams will be able to participate on-site in Maribor or remotely.
Applications for the Slovenian regional selection should be sent to:
maja.pusnik@um.si
More information about the competition, rules, and guidelines is available at:
http://gcd4fe.bnu.edu.cn/en/index.html
Competition Structure
1. Initial Phase (Online)
• participant registration
• team formation
• development of project ideas
• submission of the initial project
Deadline for registration and team formation: 30 April 2026 at 12:00
Project submission deadline: 31 May 2026 at 12:00
Each team must submit:
- a 5-minute presentation video
- a Design Report
2. Regional Finals: 16–17 June 2026
Selected teams will present and further develop their projects during the regional finals.
3. Global Finals: October 2026
Finalist teams will participate in person in Beijing or Paris, where project presentations, an exhibition, the award ceremony, and a Global Student Forum will take place.
Why Participate?
The competition offers an opportunity to:
- develop innovative AI solutions,
- gain international experience and collaboration opportunities,
- improve research and entrepreneurial competencies,
- contribute to sustainable development of society.