Accelerate NexGen is the result of merging two prior company initiatives—the Accelerate Challenge and the Digital Generation Award—into an integrated model that addresses challenges across the infrastructure and industry sectors. According to Siemens, the goal is to promote a more cross-functional approach to technological innovation, aligned with current sustainability and digitalisation demands.

The program is aimed at students enrolled in vocational, undergraduate, or master’s degree programs at educational institutions in Portugal.

Participants can choose between two tracks: infrastructure, focused on developing solutions for energy consumption, distribution, and efficient use, and industry, geared towards areas such as cybersecurity, energy efficiency, optimisation of production processes, and thermal analysis of critical infrastructure.

Teams must consist of two students and will receive support from Siemens specialists and access to the company’s tools and software. The competition culminates on 28 May with the final presentation of the projects to a jury comprising representatives from various entities and sectors.

The awards vary by area of study and include, in addition to paid internships, visits to Siemens’ benchmark projects and automation equipment. According to the company, the internships allow young people to work on technologies applied to global challenges such as climate change, energy dependence, and industrial productivity.

Siemens data indicate that more than half of participants who completed internships joined the company, and approximately 10 former applicants are currently working on its teams.

The multinational also emphasises that the program’s impact extends to participants who do not reach the final stage but still secure professional opportunities within the company or with partners.

This initiative is part of Siemens’ strategy to strengthen its ties with academia and attract young talent. In 2025, the company received 184 interns in Portugal, with an 80 percent integration rate. Siemens currently employs more than 4,300 workers in the country, 22 percent of whom are under 30, and has approximately 140 open positions across various locations.

According to the company, investing in training and attracting talent is crucial to addressing the shortage of qualified professionals, especially in technological fields.