Registration for the SIMPLE VR Contest is now open. The competition invites university students and faculty members  across the 11 ASEAN member states to design and build their own immersive Virtual Universes (VUs), translating scientific research on sustainability into immersive experiences.

The VR Contest builds on two years of VU development and classroom implementation across the Lower Mekong region, including AquaDefenders in Vietnam, BiodiVRestorer in Thailand, CropGuards in Cambodia, and AEDES in Lao PDR. The Contest offers the opportunity to a new generation of student creators to use the approach developed within SIMPLE.

Each participating team will consist of three to five members, supported by one  mentor (eg. the faculty member). Registration is free of charge and open to all ASEAN citizens.

The VR Contest unfolds in three phases: registration and initial concept note submission (3rd September – 20th November 2026), team development and training (1st December 2026 – 20th April 2027), and a Grand Finale in July 2027, where finalist teams will present their completed Virtual Universes to a panel of expert judges and a live audience.

The eleven teams who advance beyond registration will each receive an official certificate issued by IRD, alongside the fully sponsored, week-long training programme in Hanoi, working directly alongside SIMPLE’s research and development team. Of these, the three teams selected as finalists at the Grand Finale will compete for cash prizes and will each receive VR equipment for their home institution, ensuring long-term access to immersive learning tools for future students.

Interested teams can register and find full eligibility details at contest.project-simple.eu. Registration closes on 20th November 2026.

For questions about the registration process, teams can reach out to contact@project-simple.eu.