Name: CADeX
Start: 2026-09-18T14:30:00.000Z
End: 2026-09-19T13:30:00.000Z
Location: Vellore, Tamil Nadu

CADeX is an immersive engineering design competition organized by Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, as part of its Gravitas'26 technical festival. The event goes beyond conventional CAD by simulating the constraints of real-world product development, challenging participants to balance design quality, cost, time, resources, and uncertainty while developing their solutions.

Who It's For:

Undergraduate, engineering, and science students
Teams of 1–4 participants
Individuals passionate about CAD, product design, and strategic problem-solving

What to Expect:

Realistic Product Development Simulation: Teams begin with a fixed virtual budget and an engineering problem statement. They must navigate a dynamic marketplace where component prices change based on supply, demand, and market events.
Make vs. Buy Decisions: Participants choose whether to model components themselves in CAD or purchase them from the marketplace, adding a layer of strategic resource management.
Adaptability Challenges: As the competition progresses, teams face changing requirements, component shortages, and unexpected disruptions, requiring them to adapt their designs and strategies while staying within their available resources.
Structured Event Phases:
- Event Start (18 September, 8:00 PM): Briefing on rules, scoring criteria, auction mechanics, and CAD submission requirements. Teams receive starter capital and begin the challenge.
- Review 1 (19 September, 1:00 AM): The problem statement each team is working on is permanently locked.
- Review 2 (19 September, 1:00 PM): Progress review as teams continue developing their designs.
- Final Results (19 September, 7:00 PM): Final submissions are evaluated and winners are announced.

Skills Tested:

CAD design and engineering skills
Cost and resource management
Make vs. Buy decision-making
Time management
Strategic thinking
Adaptability to changing constraints
Real-world engineering problem-solving

Event Details:

Format: Engineering Design Competition
Team Size: 1–4 participants
Eligibility: Undergraduate, Engineering and Science students
Registration Fee: ₹354 per person
Duration: 18–19 September 2026
Registration Deadline: 16 September 2026

CADeX challenges you to think beyond the drawing board. Design the right solution, manage your resources, adapt to uncertainty, and deliver under pressure. This is an excellent opportunity for engineering students to showcase their skills, learn strategic decision-making, and compete in a dynamic, realistic environment.

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