EXTON, PA, Sep 10, 2025 – Bentley Systems and Enactus brought together university teams from the U.S., Germany, Canada, the UK and Ireland (competing jointly), and Brazil for the 2025 iTwin4Good Challenge, where students applied digital twin technology to real-world problems. From waste and renewable energy to resource management, the competition highlighted how entrepreneurial thinking, and digital tools can shape sustainability solutions. This year’s iTwin4Good competitors used digital tools to tackle waste, renewable energy, and resource use, showing how future leaders merge entrepreneurship and technology to deliver sustainable solutions.
The winning teams include:
- The Winner, SiTESalvage from the UK & Ireland, addressed one of the largest sources of global waste: construction and demolition. With World Bank estimates showing these projects account for up to 40% of 2.24 billion tons of annual solid waste, the team built a digital twin platform and marketplace to help divert materials from landfills. By using iModels to make demolition plans visible, the platform showed how stakeholders could identify, plan, and repurpose materials – reducing the industry’s environmental footprint.
- The Runner-Up, Basola from Germany, addressed plastic waste by creating a solar-powered pyrolysis reactor that converts discarded plastics into fuel. Using iTwin technology with IoT sensors, the system tracks reactor’s performance, improves safety, and simplifies maintenance. The project demonstrates how digital innovation, and clean energy can combine to solve plastic pollution and fuel production.
- The Second Runner-Up, EcoTwins from Canada, tackled land-use challenges in renewable energy by exploring how abandoned gold mine sites could be repurposed for solar and wind projects. Their framework combines technical, social, and environmental factors to evaluate energy potential of the sites and address conflicts around land use. Their approach highlighted how digital insights can align renewable energy development with environmental stewardship and community considerations.
“At Bentley, we are inspired by how this year’s student teams applied digital twin technology and innovative thinking to real-world challenges,” said Chris Bradshaw, chief sustainability and education officer at Bentley Systems. “SiTESalvage, Basola, EcoTwins, and the other global student competitors demonstrated the transformative potential of combining creativity with digital solutions to drive more sustainable infrastructure outcomes for communities and the planet.”
George Tsiatis, president & CEO, Enactus global & resolution project added, “These projects highlight the ingenuity and passion of young leaders who are proving that business innovation can be a powerful force for good. By tackling global issues like waste, energy, and sustainability with cutting-edge technologies, these students are showing what it means to create lasting impact.”
The 2025 iTwin4Good winner, SiTESalvage, will go on to represent their project at the Enactus World Cup 2025 in Bangkok.
Source: Bentley Systems
About Enactus
Enactus, founded in 1975 and based in Springfield, MO, is a global nonprofit organization that engages university students in applying entrepreneurial skills to address social and environmental challenges. The organization works with more than 1,700 university teams in over 36 countries, providing training, mentoring, funding opportunities and international competitions such as the Enactus World Cup. Over its history, student teams have launched more than 75,000 projects with community impact. Enactus operates as a nonprofit supported through donations and corporate partnerships. Enactus continues to focus on building socially conscious leaders and advancing youth-driven entrepreneurship with programs that promote economic and social development.
About Bentley Systems
Bentley Systems, founded in 1984, develops software for infrastructure engineering with a focus on supporting the design, construction, and operation of critical assets across transportation, water, energy, urban, and utility sectors. Its solutions are used globally by engineers, architects, constructors, and asset owners across various disciplines and project phases. The company provides integrated tools for modeling, simulation, project delivery, and asset performance management. A key area of focus is enabling digital twins to improve data integration and decision-making throughout the infrastructure lifecycle. Bentley’s software supports workflows across multiple engineering domains, helping users manage complexity and improve the reliability and resilience of infrastructure systems. Headquartered in Exton, PA, Bentley Systems operates in 40 countries with a workforce of around 5,500 employees. It serves approximately 41,000 customers in 190 countries. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, the company reported revenues of about $1.4 billion, reflecting its continued role in advancing infrastructure technologies on a global scale.