The Husqvarna Ideation Challenge 2025 for Students - Smart Solutions for Combating Invasive Species

OVERVIEW

Husqvarna Forest and Garden, the Seeker for this Challenge, invites and tasks university students in Europe to design ideas for innovative smart tools to combat invasive species, for use in recreational and managed landscapes, such as golf courses, recreational spaces and parks.

As invasive species continue to disrupt habitats and agricultural systems worldwide, this challenge seeks to harness cutting-edge technologies like AI, IoT, and robotics, to detect, control, and prevent their spread.

As Solvers and university students, you are invited to share your ideas for smart solutions to help manage invasive species and protect outdoor green spaces. This is a chance to make a real impact on one of today’s biggest environmental challenges.

University students are the innovators of tomorrow, bringing fresh perspectives and technological savviness to address urgent global challenges. By inviting your creative energy into this challenge, Husqvarna aims to identify groundbreaking ideas and nurture emerging talent to combat invasive species.

The Husqvarna Ideation Challenge 2025 is a unique opportunity for European students to showcase their talent to Husqvarna.

By taking part in this Prize Challenge, you have a chance to win the cash award and the exclusive opportunity to visit Husqvarna’s HQ, including contact with R&D. A Final Presentation Event is planned for October 2025.

The best solution will win the guaranteed Award of 5,000€. The Challenge requires a written proposal to be submitted and the Award will be contingent upon the theoretical evaluation of the proposal by Husqvarna and their evaluation team against the Solution Requirements. To receive the Award, the winning Solver is required to grant non-exclusive rights to the Intellectual Property (IP) in their proposed solution. There is no assignment of IP Rights with this challenge. Solvers will retain all rights to any proposal not Awarded.

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on August 11th, 2025.

Please review the later Participation Guidance section before submitting a proposal.

- Login or register your interest to take part and start solving!

ABOUT THE SEEKER & ELIGIBILITY

Globally recognized for its cutting-edge outdoor power tools and technologies, Husqvarna Forest and Garden, a pioneer in green space solutions, is committed to environmental stewardship through innovation. Established as a leader in creating state-of-the-art solutions for landscape and garden maintenance, the company is uniquely positioned to address the challenges associated with invasive species.

The Husqvarna Ideation Challenge is a unique opportunity for students domiciled in Europe to share their ideas and show their creativity to Husqvarna.

Click the banner above to register for an upcoming informational webinar about the Husqvarna Ideation Challenge!

THE CHALLENGE

Background

Regions around the globe are grappling with invasive non-native species; plants, pests, and animals rapidly spreading in new environments, overpowering native species, outcompeting local flora and fauna, disrupting habitats, and leading to ecological degradation. From invasive plants that alter soil chemistry, to pest species that devastate crops, invasive organisms are not only an environmental issue but an economic and social one as well.

Traditional methods, often labor-intensive and chemically destructive, struggle to meet the scale and complexity of managing non-native species invasions effectively and sustainably.

Invasive species are a growing problem for golf courses, parks, and other public green spaces. These places are especially at risk because of heavy use, landscaping, and exposure to the environment. To protect them, we need smarter tools and new ways of managing these spaces.

Thanks to new technologies like IoT, AI, and robotics, Husqvarna sees a future where smart, sustainable tools not only maintain these spaces but actively help protect them from harm.

The Husqvarna Ideation Challenge 2025 is a call to act now, before invasive species cause lasting harm. Early detection, targeted action, and raising awareness are all key. This is your chance to be part of the solution.

The Challenge

The objective is for you to propose innovative solutions with user-centric designs (acknowledging the potential diverse user base across the world) that go beyond traditional approaches to detect, control, and prevent the spread of invasive species.

The Husqvarna Ideation Challenge 2025 invites you to showcase your revolutionary ideas for creating smart, sustainable tools that address this growing threat. Participants are tasked to conceptualize innovative tools or technologies that assist in detecting, controlling, or preventing invasive species while aligning with Husqvarna's commitment to environmentally friendly designs and scalable implementation.

The focus of your ideation revolves around aforementioned landscapes like golf courses and recreational spaces, where the presence of invasive species can degrade both biodiversity and the economic value of these areas. Solutions can employ advancements in technology, such as AI, IoT, robotics, or sustainable materials, to help mitigate this issue.

Participants are encouraged to consider one or more of these three primary focus areas, with some examples for you:

1. Detection & Monitoring: smart sensors together with other technologies to detect and identify invasive species; AI-powered tools to map, predict, and track infestations; robotics, automation, or IoT-enabled devices for large-area surveillance.
2. Control & Eradication: eco-friendly tools for targeted removal, suppression, or confinement of invasive plants, pests, or animals; robotics, automation, or IoT-enabled devices for large-scale interventions.
3. Prevention & Education: community-driven tools like apps or smart barriers to stop the spread of invasive species; educational platforms to integrate with Husqvarna’s outdoor systems to raise awareness.

SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS

Solvers are encouraged to center their ideas on golf courses, parks, and other recreational spaces, and to consider one of more of these three primary focus areas.

Husqvarna is particularly eager to see the scope for your proposed solution to be adapted to be effective across different global regions while being scalable to cater to diverse users, from individuals to professional landscapers and policymakers.

Therefore Husqvarna requests your submissions contain the following:

1. Your Vision: Outline the problem your idea addresses and why it’s important.
2. Your Solution: Describe your smart tool, how it works, and how it impacts invasive species management. Include the main types of invasive species your idea targets.
3. Sustainability & Feasibility: Highlight how your idea is eco-friendly, cost-effective, and scalable.
4. Prototype (Optional): Visual mockups, diagrams, or working models will earn you extra points.

The judging panel will be most interested in your solution’s:

• Innovation: Is your vision and idea groundbreaking and unique?

• Effectiveness: How well does your solution address the issue of invasive species?

• Sustainability: Is it a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution through and through?

• Feasibility: Can the idea be realistically implemented?

• Scalable User-Centric Design: Is it practical and accessible for diverse users (e.g., homeowners, landscapers, governments)?

Solutions with Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 1-3 are invited.

The Husqvarna Ideation Challenge 2025 has the following features:
 

1. By taking part in this Prize Challenge, you have a chance to win the cash award and the exclusive opportunity to visit Husqvarna’s HQ including contact with R&D. A Final Presentation Event is planned for October 2025.
2. The best solution will win the guaranteed Award of 5,000€.
3. The Challenge requires a written proposal to be submitted and the Award will be contingent upon the theoretical evaluation of the proposal by Husqvarna and their evaluation team against the Solution Requirements.

To receive the Award, the winning Solver is required to grant non-exclusive rights to the Intellectual Property (IP) in their proposed solution. There is no assignment of IP Rights with this challenge. Solvers will retain all rights to any proposal not Awarded.

YOUR SUBMISSION

Please login and register your interest, to complete the submission form.

The submitted proposals must be written in English and can include:

1. Eligibility - Please confirm you are domiciled in Europe.
2. University – name the academic institution you attend.
3. Primary Focus Area – Detection & Monitoring, Control & Eradication, Prevention and Education, or more than one of these.
4. Problem & Opportunity - highlight your vision, the innovation in your approach to the Challenge, its point of difference, and the specific advantages/benefits this brings (up to 500 words).
5. Solution Overview - detail the features of your solution (500 words, there is space to add more in the summary field, and attach supporting data like visual mock-ups, diagrams, details about working models).
6. Sustainability & Feasibility - Highlight how your idea is eco-friendly, cost-effective, and scalable (up to 500 words).
7. Experience - academic use cases and skills you have in relation to your proposed solution.  (up to 500 words).
8. Online References - provide links to any publications or articles of relevance (up to 500 words).

PARTICIPATION GUIDANCE

1. Submission Close Date: Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on August 11th, 2025.
2. Late submissions: Late submissions will not be considered.
3. Multiple submissions, 3 Maximum: In case of multiple submissions by the same Solver, only 3 submissions – the final 3 submitted – will be considered. Any other submissions will be deleted prior to evaluation.
4. Submission form and attachments: Your submission will be evaluated by the evaluation team first reviewing the information and content you have submitted at the submission form, with attachments used as additional context to your form submission. Submissions relying solely on attachments will receive less attention from the evaluation team.
5. Evaluation notification steps: After the Challenge submission close date, Husqvarna will review all proposals and select the winning ideas according to the timeline in the Challenge header. Everyone who submits a proposal will be notified about the status of their submissions.
6. Use of AI: Please note that any submissions produced solely with generative AI are not of interest.
7. Learn more: Find out more about participation in Wazoku Crowd Challenges.