Mapletree Challenge 2024: Championing Sustainability and Innovation

The five finalist teams of The Mapletree Challenge 2024 with senior management of SIT and Mapletree. (SIT Photo: Keng Photography/Tan Eng Keng)

Team Aqua Gold, which comprised of five Year 4 SIT students from the Food Technology degree programme, emerged as the champion of The Mapletree Challenge Grand Final 2024 on 3 May 2024. Their business plan which aims to leverage Singapore's limited farming space by collaborating with local aquafarms to sustainably craft their innovative offering, O.NILO Fish Furikake – a nutritious food topping crafted from tilapia fish fingerlings and okara (soybean pulp) – won over the judges. By incorporating locally sourced and upcycled ingredients such as the tilapia fish bones into the recipe, waste derived from traditional Furikake production is minimised. 

Supported by Mapletree Investments (Mapletree), The Mapletree Challenge has been nurturing and encouraging entrepreneurship innovation, problem-solving and presentation skills among SIT undergraduates since its launch in 2018. Over 1,600 students across different disciplines at SIT have benefitted from the yearly challenges and mentorship centred on ‘Sustainability and Innovation’.

Participants of the challenge attended masterclasses on entrepreneurship, investor engagement and sales pitching; took part in a forum discussion on entrepreneurship and innovation by leading entrepreneurs; and sharpened their business proposals with advice from industry mentors.   

The Mapletree Gold winner, Team Aqua Gold, at The Mapletree Challenge 2024 Grand Final held at Mapletree Business City. Flanking the team are Mr Edmund Cheng, Chairman, Mapletree (extreme left) and Mr Bernard Nee, Deputy President (Industry & Community), SIT (extreme right). (SIT Photo: Keng Photography/Tan Eng Keng)

Of the 11 teams that were selected to compete in the semi-finals, five progressed to the Grand Final to vie for the Mapletree Gold, Mapletree Silver and Mapletree Bronze awards, along with trophies and cash prizes of $8,000, $5,000 and $3,000, respectively. 

The teams that made into the finals explored various sustainability aspects in products and services – from a smart vending machine that dispenses reusable food containers, to a novel 3D printer that automates processes for sustainable operations. 

Mr Bernard Nee, Deputy President (Industry & Community), SIT, said, “The Mapletree Challenge is a unique initiative that availed learning opportunities through industry and community sustainability challenges. The Challenge has trained hundreds of students to think creatively and offer innovative solutions for sustainable practices, products and services.”

Mr Edmund Cheng, Chairman of Mapletree said, “Our continued support for The Mapletree Challenge 2024 aligns with our Corporate Social Responsibility pillar of education. We are committed to nurturing the next generation of innovators who will positively impact our society. We hope the Challenge serves as a stepping stone for students to continue developing entrepreneurial ideas to make a difference.”

For more information on The Mapletree Challenge 2024, please go to SIT’s Digital Newsroom.