About

As part of the Caterpillar Building the Future Workforce Initiative, Caterpillar has designated $25 million of its $100 million pledge to launch the Building the Future Workforce Challenge. This includes an initial $5 million allocation in year one to support future‑ready training for high‑demand manufacturing and technician roles.

The Building the Future Workforce Challenge welcomes bold ideas from all sectors and regions, awarding up to five teams $1 million each to implement transformative solutions over a two‑year project period.

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The Caterpillar Building the Future Workforce Challenge seeks bold, sustainable, tech‑forward training solutions that can close today’s—and tomorrow’s—advanced manufacturing and industry technician skill gaps. We’re looking for ideas that can flex with rapid technological change and strengthen the talent pipelines our communities and industry depend on. Eligible nonprofit and for‑profit organizations anywhere in the world are invited to propose solutions that can be implemented in the United States, Brazil, India, or Mexico. Winning solutions will have the opportunity to be implemented in Caterpillar facilities and Caterpillar communities—providing a testing ground for introduction, replication, and scale.

Take our readiness tool to help determine your fit for the challenge, and review our resources and scoring rubric to learn more about solution categories, problem statements, evaluation criteria, how we’ve defined a strong proposal, and more.

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Solution Categories

A core requirement of every solution is its ability to stay relevant as technology evolves—ensuring breakthrough innovation and human potential rise together. All proposals must align with one or more of the following solution categories of the Building the Future Workforce Challenge.

Build interest and awareness of advanced manufacturing and industry technician careers

Shift perceptions among students, teachers, parents, and/or other key influencers by showcasing the opportunities available in modern manufacturing and technician careers.

Prepare new workforce entrants for “day one” success

Implement flexible, sustainable solutions that keep pace with technology and industry needs, enabling learners to arrive job‑ready and increasing the likelihood of retention.

Upskill and reskill the current manufacturing and industry technician workforce

Expand career pathways and mobility by implementing flexible, sustainable solutions that keep pace with technology, enabling current employees to build new technical and leadership capabilities.

Strong proposals for Building the Future Workforce Challenge will meet four criteria outlined in the scoring rubric:

1. Future-proof

Bold solution that builds a responsive, tech‑savvy workforce ready for today’s needs and tomorrow’s advancements, with the ability to quickly adapt to new technologies introduced in the industry. A cutting‑edge strategy or scalable model that strengthens existing efforts and transforms the advanced manufacturing or technician workforce.

2. Sustainable Impact

A sustainable, evidence‑based solution with a strong vision and clear potential to deliver compelling ROI and sector‑wide impact. A business‑friendly approach backed by robust plans to demonstrate long‑lasting results, including a well‑defined path to financial sustainability beyond the two‑year project period.

3. Feasible

Feasible approach led by an impressive team of experts well‑positioned to exceed expectations. Strong, detailed implementation plans and a data‑driven approach that allow the team to anticipate challenges, adapt effectively, and deliver meaningful, long‑term impact.

4. Scalable

An exceptional vision supported by a nimble, well‑defined solution with proven ability to adapt across diverse contexts and workplaces worldwide. The solution establishes replicable, low‑resource practices that are easy to implement and capable of delivering sustainable, long‑lasting results.

About the Awards

The Caterpillar Building the Future Workforce Challenge will identify and scale solutions that will help equip the advanced manufacturing and technician workforce with skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital and autonomous environment. Up to five winners will be awarded $1 million each to test and implement their proposed solutions in a Caterpillar facility or community based in the United States, Brazil, India, or Mexico.
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Awards will be determined through multiple evaluation phases. Based on the results of Peer‑to‑Peer Review and the Evaluation Panel, along with additional considerations (e.g., variety of solution types, geographic balance, and feasibility), up to five applicants will be selected for awards of $1 million each.

Whether it is Caterpillar investing in the future of work, or Caterpillar employees volunteering, the company’s culture has always been about supporting communities where its employees live and work. This ongoing commitment to serving communities helps create an environment in which everyone can thrive.

Asha Varghese

Caterpillar Head of Corporate Social Responsibility

About the Caterpillar Building the Workforce Initiative

Caterpillar’s $100 million pledge aims to help workers and communities prepare for the future. The world is changing fast—and companies, workers, and communities need to ensure that no one is left behind. The pledge will help ensure that breakthrough innovation and human potential rise together, transforming industry, education, and workforce systems to prepare every worker with skills for the future. The pledge is making strategic investments across three pillars:

Innovative workforce training & development

Identify high‑impact, sustainable training solutions to pilot and scale so that more students and workers can access sustainable, tech‑forward training that evolves as technology changes.

Industry linkages

Build or strengthen coalitions of employers, training institutions, and innovators to align training pipelines with industry needs—ensuring more students and workers gain industry‑relevant skills, including AI, robotics, and digital tools.

Perception shift

Help students, parents, teachers, and other influencers gain a clearer view of modern manufacturing and technician careers to spark interest.

ABOUT CATERPILLAR

Here is a read-only version of the submission requirements and the evaluation criteria to understand how you can submit a competitive application then register to participate no later than 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Thursday, July 30, 2026 (registration is required to submit an application). We look forward to reviewing your innovative proposal to strengthen today’s and tomorrow’s advanced manufacturing and industry technician workforce. The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

Join the Building the Future Workforce Challenge

Together, we can transform the advanced manufacturing and industry technician workforce—building the talent communities need today and unlocking the skills the industry will depend on tomorrow.