The CEC
About the CEC
The Canadian Engineering Competition (CEC) brings together more than 220 engineering students from more than 45 institutions across the country. These future engineering professionals, demonstrating great talent and motivation, compete in 8 challenging challenges that challenge their creativity, composure and technical skills.
From March 20 to 23, 2026, the Université de Sherbrooke will be proud to host the 42nd annual edition of the CCI.
Competitions
Senior Design
The senior design test involves teams of 4 people, having 8 to 12 hours to manufacture a robotic solution that responds to a problem imposed on the day of the competition. At the end of this marathon of creativity and resourcefulness, each team will present the ingenuity of their solution by completing the task in front of an audience and the jury. This test is reserved for students who have completed 50% or more of the university credits in their program.
Junior Design
The junior design test is very similar to the senior design test, but the level of difficulty is more adapted to the academic path of the participants. In teams of 4, they must design a robot capable of carrying out the given problem. This test lasts between 4 and 8 hours and is reserved for students who have completed less than 50% of the university credits in their program.
Innovative design
The innovative design challenge allows teams of up to 6 people to showcase their entrepreneurial spirit by designing an innovative product. Product design takes place throughout the weeks leading up to the event. The teams then present their respective products during the competition days and are judged on their creativity and sense of innovation.
Reengineering
The re-engineering test aims to test the teams' ability to improve and optimize existing products placed under new constraints. The solutions of teams composed of 2 people are presented in front of a jury allowing participants to showcase their technical skills, creativity and oratorical talents.
Programming
The programming challenge challenges participants to design and present a software solution that addresses a given engineering problem. By mobilizing their skills in algorithms, software development and problem solving, the teams must propose a functional and original program, accompanied by a presentation in front of the judges during a demonstration.
Consulting Engineering
Consulting engineering teams aim to offer innovative, effective and daring solutions to given technical problems during the competition. The team must develop an ingenious solution in a limited time and present it to a panel of judges who will evaluate them on their communication skills. They will need to demonstrate that their solution is viable, meets the customer's needs and has a positive impact on society.
Extemporaneous debates
Debates allow teams to demonstrate their ability to communicate eloquently and charismatically, while quickly formulating logical and structured reasoning in a short period of time. In teams of 2, participants must defend or refute a resolution and skillfully convince the jury of the validity of their position with a clear and solid argumentative plan, supported by concrete examples.
Engineering Communication
Science communication tests the ability of teams to demonstrate a thorough understanding of a topic by popularizing complex and technical concepts in front of an experienced jury. They will be assessed on the clarity and consistency of their presentation, their oral communication skills, and their ability to make an engineering topic accessible to all.
