Future Innovators Take on Australia’s Food, Climate and Health Challenges in Bayer-Sponsored Competition
2026 AIESEC in UNSW Innovation for Impact Case Competition focuses on real-world challenges at the intersection of agriculture, climate resilience and human health
Bayer Australia and AIESEC at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have joined forces to give emerging STEM talent the opportunity to tackle a complex challenge with significance for Australia's future.
Through the 2026 Innovation for Impact Case Competition, participating students will work in teams to examine how a changing climate could affect Australia’s $100 billion agricultural industry and influence the trajectory of human health.
The partnership is designed to bring aspiring scientists and engineers closer to the challenges faced by industry and society. Through the competition, students will discover the importance of innovation in preserving and expanding the country’s farming outputs. It will also expose students from a range of STEM fields to the breadth of careers available in agricultural and health sciences.
“As a company that is focused on the two greatest challenges facing humanity – health and hunger – we have a responsibility to the next generation of innovators,” said Bayer ANZ Pharmaceuticals Managing Director, Manoj Saxena. “Overcoming real obstacles in the real world requires students to not only master the fundamental disciplines they learn at university, but also to be able to translate what they know into practical solutions. Bayer is proud to partner with AIESEC at UNSW, to inspire ideas that can generate true impact for the students and the world.”
Four classes of Australian agricultural output have been selected for the case brief, chosen because each is economically significant and traces a direct line from the paddock to human health and nutrition. Students must present an implementable solution that addresses the impact of rising global temperatures on one of the following:
- Cotton, whose fibre and cellulose are used in wound dressings, swabs and medical textiles, and whose seed is pressed for cooking oil and stockfeed
- Wheat, barley or canola, staple food crops that also supply the biofuel and industrial markets
- Fruit and vegetables, significant export earners central to nutrition at home and abroad
- Medicinal crops such as poppy, where Tasmania alone supplies almost half the world's licit alkaloid material used in pain relief medicines
“Agriculture fundamentally underpins Australian lives and livelihoods,” said Bayer Sustainability Reporting Manager Dr. Jana Phan.
“Aussie farms contribute so much – jobs, food, exports and, in some cases, even the raw materials for medicines. As growing conditions become more adverse, our ability to increase crop yields and protect the industry’s viability depends on research. As STEM students are designing their career paths, we aspire to see agricultural science ranking high in their consideration set.”
Finalists are scheduled to present their ideas at the AIESEC at UNSW Case Competition Live Finals on 24 October 2026. Bayer ANZ leaders will feature on the judging panel and select the winning team.
The judging approach will consider innovation, impact on people and planet, understanding of trade-offs and implementation risks, and the strength of each team's proposed solution and presentation.
Following the competition, Bayer will also offer mentoring experiences to the winning team.
“Research increasingly shows that young people can bring a distinctive advantage to innovation because they are often less constrained by established assumptions, professional norms and accumulated experience,” adds Bayer ANZ Managing Director for Consumer Health, Ayumi Uyeda. “I’m excited by the bold possibilities that can come from solving real problems with science that surprises, and the chance to be inspired by exploring new solutions with fresh minds."
AIESEC at UNSW will lead student engagement and competition delivery, connecting participants with an experience intended to build leadership, collaboration, problem-solving and communication skills alongside technical capability.
“At AIESEC, we believe leadership can be developed in anyone, anywhere, and that belief shapes every opportunity we create for young people,” said AIESEC Branch Manager Steven Su. “Through Innovation for Impact, STEM students tackle real-world business challenges while building the problem-solving, communication and leadership skills they need for the future. We are proud to partner with Bayer to bring this experience to students at UNSW and hope it inspires them to realise the power they have to change the world around them.”
About AIESEC in UNSW
AIESEC, originally short for Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économiques et Commerciales, is a global youth-led organisation that develops leadership through practical experiences and cross-cultural collaboration. Founded in 1948 and active in more than 100 countries and territories, AIESEC is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and recognised by UNESCO. AIESEC in UNSW connects students with opportunities to develop leadership skills, engage with industry and create positive impact through real-world challenges.
Media Contacts:
Mitzi Begent
Mitzi.Begent@bayer.com
+61 472 513 935
Steven Su
Steven.Su@AIESEC.net
+61 474 699 954