AM Best opens 2027 Student Challenge for risk management innovation
AM Best’s 2027 Student Challenge seeks student innovations in data center insurance, parametric tech, and risk transfer. First-place winners receive $5,000 and a $5,000 school donation. Submissions open now with deadlines in October and December 2026.
*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
AM Best has opened submissions for its 2027 Student Challenge, a competition designed to engage undergraduate and graduate-level students in developing innovative solutions for risk management and insurance. The initiative aims to connect academic talent with industry experts, fostering collaboration on emerging risk challenges.
The challenge focuses on three specific areas: insuring data centers, parametric technology and triggers, and innovative risk transfer solutions. Participants will submit proposals that are judged based on innovation, feasibility, impact, and implementation potential.
Competition Structure and Prizes
The competition offers significant financial incentives and professional exposure. The prize structure is as follows:
- First Prize: $5,000 cash award, plus a $5,000 donation to the winning team’s school.
- Second Prize: $3,000 cash award.
- Third Prize: $2,000 cash award.
In addition to monetary rewards, winners will receive an interview with AM Best TV, a feature article in Best’s Review magazine, recognition on AM Best’s social media channels, and an academic medal and trophy.
Timeline and Submission Process
Submissions are reviewed by professionals in AM Best Rating Services. The process involves two rounds:
- First-round submissions: Due October 9, 2026.
- Final-round submissions: Due December 4, 2026.
- Winners notified: December 14, 2026.
Entries are narrowed down to three finalists after the initial review. Students can access detailed guidelines via the AM Best 2027 Student Challenge Handbook and register online through the company’s website.
Industry Engagement
Lee McDonald, Senior Vice President at AM Best, emphasized the educational value of the challenge. "AM Best’s 2027 Student Challenge allows students to gain first-hand experience in insurance and risk management," McDonald said. "This is an opportunity to bring their ideas to life and present them to industry experts for feedback."
McDonald noted that the initiative aligns with the company’s founder, Alfred M. Best, who prioritized meeting new public needs through ingenuity. "That’s the essence of insurance: using innovation to solve risk challenges as the world shifts," he added.
Beyond the student challenge, AM Best continues to support talent development through its internship program and Analytical Development Program. As a global credit rating agency specializing in insurance, AM Best operates in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Mexico City.
How might the winning solutions for insuring data centers influence future underwriting standards and premium structures for cloud infrastructure providers?
What regulatory hurdles could parametric insurance triggers face in gaining widespread adoption across traditional insurance markets?
Will AM Best integrate the most viable student proposals into its own rating methodologies or risk assessment frameworks in the coming years?
15
Create Custom Screeners 
Access 200+ Pre-built Filters 
Use 50+ Readymade Screener 
