A4S International Case Competition
The competition
The A4S International Case Competition (A4SICC) is an exciting opportunity for students across the globe to help shape a future where sustainable business is business as usual. This is the chance for your ideas to be seen and heard by leaders from some of the world’s largest and most influential companies.
With a different focus every year, the A4SICC attracts a diverse group of business and accounting students – the business leaders of the future – and harnesses their drive and creativity to help today’s business executives solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.
This year, we invite students to work together as action-oriented problem-solvers to focus their business skills on corporate decarbonization, within the broader context of a fair and just climate transition.
The competition is free to enter.
STILL NEED TO JOIN A TEAM?
You can form a team with your fellow students on your course, or build a multidisciplinary team with peers from other programmes. If you really want to branch out beyond your campus walls you can join the competition’s LinkedIn page where we currently have over 250 students also looking for teammates.
Key information
- Prize – CA$10,000 for the winning team and CA$5,000 for the runner-up.
- Timing – the entry window is open from 11 November 2024 to 19 January 2025. Semi-finals take place 24-28 February 2025, with the final on 3-4 April 2025.
- Format – video presentation, business proposal and panel presentation.
- Language – English.
- Participants – the competition is open to teams of 3–5 students and attracts both graduate and undergraduate students. There are no restrictions on the discipline(s) you are studying, but the financial rigour of models presented will be carefully evaluated, so a healthy dose of business/accounting acumen is strongly recommended.
- Geography – global. Semi-finals are virtual and the in-person networking event and finals take place at Schulich School of Business, York University in Toronto, Canada (a travel fund is available).
The case 2025
The A4SICC 2025 is focused on the climate transition. We are inviting students to:
- Examine a selected company’s current approach to decarbonization
- Identify one or more significant or challenging areas for their decarbonization
- Propose one or more solutions that help to address the selected area(s)
- Ensure as part of the solution(s) that affected stakeholders are treated in a fair and just manner
- Prepare a presentation for the CFO, setting out the business case for your proposed solution(s)
Download our Competition Entry Guide for more details on the task and top tips for your submission.
Background and context
The Paris Agreement is an international treaty on climate change that was adopted by world leaders in 2015, at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21). The agreement aims to keep global temperatures well below 2°C above preindustrial levels and to aim for a maximum 1.5°C rise.
In 2023, the first UN-led ‘global stocktake’ took place, assessing how much progress the world has made against the Paris Agreement. The global stocktake was finalized at COP28. The stocktake stressed the need to accelerate action on climate. It also called on governments to make a faster transition “from fossil fuels to renewable energy such as wind and solar power in their next round of climate commitments” (United Nations, The Paris Agreement).
In response to this urgent call to action, we are focusing A4SICC for 2025 on corporate decarbonization, within the broader context of a fair and just climate transition.
Fair and just climate transition
The Paris Agreement also emphasizes the importance of a just transition for workers and the creation of quality jobs at the same time as tackling climate change. As organizations work towards zero-carbon goals, they must also consider the rights of workers, communities and vulnerable populations (World Benchmarking Alliance (2021), Just Transition Methodology). The concept of a fair and just climate transition recognizes that the shift to a sustainable economy must address social equity and provide opportunities for all segments of society.
A fair and just transition will require collaboration between the private sector, communities, workers, unions and policymakers. A well-planned transition can achieve sustainable growth, create new job opportunities and foster social stability. Poorly planned transitions can lead to social challenges, including unemployment and civil unrest.
Download our Competition Entry Guide for more details.
Why get involved?
Beyond the cash prize, the A4SICC is a unique opportunity for students to:
- Access internship opportunities
- Connect with industry leaders and potential future employers
- Connect with students across the world
- Feel empowered and encouraged by developing viable solutions, with support from A4SICC mentors
- Develop much-needed, long-term solutions for a sustainable economy based on real-world data and insights
- Learn practical applications of business solutions
- Cultivate invaluable research, teamwork and presentation skills through professional and expert feedback and mentoring
- Have your voice heard in critical discussions around sustainable business development
- Inspire others, and be inspired by, a diverse range of perspectives, problems and solutions
FAQs
Do we have to be from a business school?
No, but the financial rigour of analysis presented will be carefully evaluated, so a healthy dose of business acumen is strongly recommended. You do have to be enrolled in a current higher education programme during your entry submission and finals.
Is there any cost to enter?
No.
When can we submit our entry?
The competition entry window opens on 11 November 2024 and closes on 19 January 2025. Register your interest now to access additional learning resources, attend our information sessions, and receive A4SICC bulletins with tips and guidance on preparing your submission.
Which company should I base my entry on?
Your entry should be based on one of the world’s 2,000 most influential companies form the World Benchmarking Alliance SDG2000 list. The SDG2000 list shows the 2,000 most influential companies globally who can help or hinder achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Do we need to have any previous knowledge about our selected company or decarbonization?
No, you don’t need to have previous knowledge about your selected company or decarbonization. However, submissions should show an understanding of the company, the challenging areas of decarbonization you’ve identified and relevant key stakeholders.
You should use your business and analytical skills to determine and explain your solution(s) – we do not expect you to provide lots of technological or engineering detail. You should also show your understanding of potential wider implications for your proposed solution(s), such as possible risks or unintended consequences. We provide detailed guidance on what your entry should consider and a reading list to help you.
What do you mean by one or more challenging solutions?
Each entry needs to have at least one solution to address the challenge identified, however you can choose to present more than one solution if you wish. Entries are judged on your submission’s potential to contribute to a fair and just climate transition within the company’s operations and value chain. You could achieve this by proposing one solution that contributes significantly or multiple interconnected solutions that collectively address the challenge.
Are we getting any mentors/coaching for this case competition?
Mentoring and coaching will be available for all semi-finalist and finalist teams.
Is there any funding available for competition entrants?
There is a travel fund available for the finalist teams. All finalist teams must complete and submit the travel fund application form which will be included in the information pack for finalists. The final allocation will be determined once all applications have been reviewed. While we cannot guarantee the travel fund will cover all costs, we will take into account individual needs. We will publish our policy to the finalists, but please note it can only cover economy class travel and reasonable accommodation. We do not generally cover meals.
How can I apply for an internship?
Your application for one or more of the internships can be made alongside your team’s entry to the case competition, through a separate application form. Candidate shortlists will be selected from internship applicants whose team also reaches the semi-finals of the competition. These shortlists will be made separately by each organization offering the internships. You can register your interest in the internships through the main competition registration form here.
Download our Competition Entry Guide for more detailed FAQs pertaining to the competition and task.
WATCH A4SICC 2024 HIGHLIGHTS
Watch ICC Information Sessions
Key sponsors
Hosted by
Supported by the Erivan K. Haub Chair in Business & Sustainability, Accounting for Impact and Net Impact Schulich.
Other corporate supporters
Are you a company interested in supporting the competition? Find out more – a4sicc@a4s.org
See what previous winners have to say...
Teams Greenify and High On Hemp highlight the benefits of competing at A4SICC 2023.
Teams Greenify and High On Hemp share advice for future A4SICC applicants.
Explore previous winning team ideas...
2024 winners – Team Mining for the Solution: Sustainable Sourcing from ASMs
This year's contest focused on 'Adapting Business Models to Support Human Rights for All'. We challenged students to ito select one of the 127 of the world’s most influential companies assessed by the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) in the 2022 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark, examine potential impacts on human rights in corporate business models and strategies, and to develop innovative business practices, approaches and solutions where profits and a commitment and action on human rights go hand in hand.
2023 winners – Team Greenify: Using green walls to cool our cities
In 2023 we challenged students to identify ways to scale up nature-based solutions, in an impactful and resilient way. Team Greenify, from Nanyang Business School, Singapore won with their nature-based ‘Green Wall’ solution to reduce the energy needed to cool our cities from the urban 'heat island effect'. Their solution used an innovative financing model attractive to real estate owners.
WATCH TEAM GREENIFY’S ENTRY VIDEO
2022 winners – Team Concordia: Using seaweed to reduce cattle methane emissions
Team Concordia Consulting Group, from John Molson School of Business, Concordia University, Canada, won with their idea to achieve a carbon-neutral meat industry by distributing its product (seaweed) as a supplement to cattle feed. This improves the nutrition of the meat, and drives down methane emissions per cow by up to 60%. The competition in 2022 focused on designing real-world solutions to deliver a net zero society. Teams were asked to design actionable, measurable, commercial business and financial models that achieve these goals with sustainability at the core of their business’s strategy.
2021 winners – Team E-Fishing Sea: Connecting fishers to end consumers whilst reducing supply chain inefficiencies
A4SICC in 2021 asked for real solutions to increase resilience, productivity and wellbeing of organizations and their stakeholders by creating robust supply chains. Team E-Fishing Sea from HEC Montréal, Canada, won with their idea to connect local fishers to local markets.
Note for teams: the competition rules change with each new iteration, so while you may use these examples to inspire your approach, ensure that you are aware of this year’s specifications.
Anchor Business Schools
Become an Anchor Business School
A4SICC Anchor Business Schools partner with us over a number of years, providing entrants to the competition every year. By becoming an A4S Anchor Business School, you commit to selecting at least one team of students to enter the competition. In return, we provide:
- Tutor educational materials
- Assessment rubric
- Guidance on integrating the case into programmes
This collaboration is flexible to each school, allowing you to embed the competition into programmes or extra-curricular activities as you wish.
If you would like to become an Anchor Business School, please complete the form here. We would be delighted to collaborate with you.
A4s International Case Competition Partners
