Frequently Asked Questions

About the competition 

1. Who is the organiser of this new national competition? 

   The NTU Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NTU I&E) is the organiser of this inaugural competition, generously funded by the Chua Foundation. 

2. What is the new competition about? 
   

   Inspired by Dr. Chua Thian Poh’s legacy of innovation and resilience, the Chua Thian Poh Pinnacle Prize Competition (CTPPPC) is Singapore’s national-stage innovation competition for IHL founders (across universities and polytechnics). It is designed to spotlight and accelerate bold ideas shaping our collective future, and to champion Singapore’s next generation of innovators. Each edition tackles a national or global issue – from AI for Good to Climate Resilience – ensuring relevance and real-world impact. 

3. When is the duration of the competition? 
   

   The competition will take place from 26 February to 10 September 2026.

    *Important: Participants must be able to commit throughout the competition duration. Team(s) who is/are late or absent on the date of the competition will be considered to have withdrawn from the entire competition. 

   Eligibility and Formation of teams 

4. Who can participate in this competition? 

   All current matriculated students (full-time or part-time) of Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL) in Singapore at the time of registration, are eligible. The participating projects can be an idea, a venture plan, or a real venture at early start-up stage. At least one of the team members must be a founder of the project and be the pitch lead. 

5. How many members can each team have? 

   Each team must consist of a minimum of three (3) and up to a maximum of five (5) participants, with at least one Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident for post-competition funding. Any substitution of team members after the registration period has to be requested for in writing to the organiser, subject to approval. 

6. Are the students in each team required to be from the same IHL and/or same course? 

   No. The team can consist of students across different IHL and various disciplines as inter-IHL and interdisciplinary interactions is encouraged.  

7. Are students required to possess a certain level of tech competency or required to have prior competition experience? 

   No. The competition is open to all students, regardless of their level of technical competency or background. No prior competition experience is required and the shortlisted teams will get access to exclusive workshops as part of the competition process. If the project has received prior funding, grants, or awards from other competitions or from other institutions, the participating team is obliged to disclose this to the organiser.
   

8. Can a student participate in more than one group for the competition, each with a different project, for example, by representing two different teams?

   No, a student cannot join more than one group in the competition. Given the commitment required for the Pinnacle Prize, participants are expected to focus their efforts on a single project to ensure the quality and impact of their contributions towards the project.

9. Can a local student team up with an overseas student(s) for the Pinnacle Prize?

   Cross border collaborations are not recommended, as they may present challenges in aligning schedules and ensuring consistent progress. To work smoothly and stay fully committed to the project, it is important to avoid the difficulties of coordinating across different time zones. Therefore, teams should consist of students based in Singapore to ensure better alignment and project execution.

   Registration 

10. When can I sign up for this competition? 
    

    Registration will open on 26 February 2026.

    Prizes 

11. What are the prizes? 
    The winning team will receive a cash prize of S$100,000, second prize winner will receive S$50,000, and third prize winner will receive S$30,000. The prize money will be disbursed over two instalments.
    

Terms of Participation 

By participating in the competition, each team is deemed to have accepted and agreed to abide by the competition rules. 

All finalists will be required to represent their plan at the finals on 10 September 2026.

All mode of official communication will be through email with the competition secretariat ([email protected]).

The organiser reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions at any time without prior notice. 

Contact Us 

Please kindly contact us at [email protected] if you have further enquiries.