The 3I Framework
AIEC develops scientific literacy, business acumen, and social responsibility through Intelligence, Innovation, and Impact
Intelligence
AI Technology Understanding & Technical Literacy
- Recognize and apply mainstream AI technologies
- Evaluate technological feasibility, data risks, and model limitations
- Develop scientific spirit and interdisciplinary technical judgment
Innovation
Business Insight, Design Thinking & Entrepreneurial Practice
- Identify genuine customer needs and market pain points
- Build clear business models, value propositions, and long-term viability
- Practice prototyping, hypothesis validation, and competitive analysis
Impact
Social Ethics, Fairness & Sustainable Responsibility
- Uphold data privacy, fairness, and bias prevention
- Assess environmental sustainability and social impact
- Propose contributions to vulnerable groups, equity, or public services
Contest Highlights
What sets this competition apart.
Technology x Business x Social Responsibility
A youth contest built on the 3I framework, integrating technology, business, and social value.
Dual Education Pathways
From AI technical literacy to business model design, market analysis, and team collaboration.
Prototype & Real-World Validation
Teams submit proposals, prototypes/MVPs, and market research. Products must be testable, verifiable, and iterable.
Academic & Industry Expert Panel
Judges include university scholars, tech company engineers, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists.
Contest at a Glance
Four stages guide teams from registration to the in-person finals.
- Online registration via the AIEC portal
- Submit project abstract and team role statement
- Portal closes April 3 at 5:30 PM EST
- Deadline for all material submissions
- Semifinalists announced within one week
- All teams receive written feedback
- 5-minute presentation per team
- 5-minute Q&A with judges
- Finalists announced within one week
- In-person showcase in Toronto
- Awards ceremony and networking
- At least one student must attend in person
Eligibility Requirements
Age & Grade
Currently enrolled in grades 6-12 or equivalent programs for the 2025-2026 school year.
Team Size
Teams of 5-8 students with required coverage of technical, business, and social responsibility roles.
3I Requirements
All projects must address Intelligence, Innovation, and Impact.
Mentorship
Teams are encouraged to have an adult mentor (21+) for guidance. Mentors advise only and need to sign a Guidance Statement.
Who Should Participate?
Fits Your Academic Program
The contest integrates with popular school programs and curricula.
AP Computer Science
Apply AP CS concepts to build a real AI product - from algorithms and data structures to working prototypes.
DECA / Business Competitions
Extend your business case skills with hands-on AI product development, market research, and pitch presentations.
Junior Achievement (JA)
Take your JA entrepreneurship experience further by building an AI-driven venture with real market validation.
SHSM Programs
Specialist High Skills Major students can apply sector-specific knowledge to AI solutions in their field of focus.
Capstone Projects
Use the contest as your capstone research project - the structured timeline and mentorship align with school requirements.
IB Extended Essay
Align your Extended Essay research with an AI entrepreneurship topic, gaining both academic credit and contest experience.
What Can You Build?
Six innovation directions, or propose your own.
AI-Driven Industry Applications
Intelligent automation and optimization across education, healthcare, urban planning, retail, finance, and manufacturing.
Productivity & Enterprise Tools
AI-powered knowledge management, team collaboration, professional assistants, and automated content generation.
Consumer Experience Innovation
Personalized fitness, dietary planning, social experiences, gaming, 3D/AR interactions, and generative creative tools.
Social Good & Sustainability
Aging support, environmental monitoring, bias detection, energy management, and community care for vulnerable populations.
Cross-Disciplinary Applications
Combine AI with biotech, AR/VR, fintech, hardware, IoT, and other emerging fields.
Open Category
Any AI-driven product, service, or business concept with tangible value. Propose your own direction.
Scotiabank Awards
All awards sponsored by
1st Place
Scotiabank Award for AI Entrepreneurship Excellence
2nd Place
Scotiabank Award for Outstanding AI Venture
3rd Place
Scotiabank Award for Emerging AI Venture
Special Recognition Awards
Scotiabank Award for AI Innovation
Best AI technical innovation
Scotiabank Award for Business Potential
Best business viability
Scotiabank Award for Social Impact in AI
Best social impact
Scotiabank Award for User Experience & Design Excellence
Best design and user experience
OTLF reserves the right to adjust contest awards based on competition progress and team formation.
Join the Inaugural Cohort
Register your team of 5-8 students. Finals: June 13, 2026, Toronto.
Registration Deadline: April 3, 2026 (5:30 PM EST).
Questions? Email yef@otlf.ca.