International Case Competition @ Maastricht (ICC@M) 2026
For the 16th consecutive year, the School of Business and Economics (SBE) proudly welcomed some of the world's brightest business and economics students to Maastricht for the International Case Competition @ Maastricht (ICC@M). From 17 to 22 May 2026, 64 students representing 16 accredited business schools from across the globe, including a team from SBE itself, came together to test their analytical skills, creativity, and ability to solve complex business challenges under pressure.
Yet ICC@M 2026 was about more than competition. This year's event offered a powerful illustration of SBE's philosophy Global Minds, Local Roots. The students were invited to engage with challenges that are deeply connected to our region, bringing together international perspectives and local knowledge to address issues that matter to our communities.
Global perspectives meet regional innovation
The competition began with a 16-hour case provided by Canon Production Printing. To immerse themselves in the challenge, participants were given a tour of Canon's Production Printing's global headquarters in Venlo, where they gained first-hand insights into the company's operations, technologies, and strategic ambitions.
Reflecting on the experience, Dick Moerkens, Senior Vice President Manufacturing & Logistics at Canon Production Printing, highlighted the value of engaging with student talent “Innovation thrives on fresh perspectives. The students’ creativity, energy and problem-solving mindset showed exactly why collaboration with future talent is essential.”
After an intense round of analysis and presentations, the division winners for the Canon Production Printing case were Western University, HEC Montréal, Wilfrid Laurier University, Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Solving local challenges through global and local collaboration
The second 16-hour case brought SBE's “Global Minds, Local Roots” philosophy to life even more directly. Developed in partnership with Nationaal Programma Heerlen Noord, the case challenged students to address a strategic question with direct relevance to the socio-economic development of our region: how entrepreneurship and small business vitality can contribute to creating sustainable opportunities for local communities. Teams were asked to apply international knowledge, diverse experiences, and innovative thinking to a challenge rooted in Limburg, balancing ambitious ideas with practical considerations around implementation, funding, and long-term impact. In doing so, the case offered a powerful example of how diverse perspectives can help address local challenges.
The division winners for this case were Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Universidad Panamericana, HEC Montréal, Wilfrid Laurier University.
A high-pressure final
The competition culminated in a dynamic final round featuring four exceptional teams: Erasmus University Rotterdam, HEC Montréal, Wilfrid Laurier University, and Western University.
In a true test of agility and strategic thinking, finalists were given just 90 minutes to prepare a five-minute pitch responding to an additional question linked to the Heerlen Noord case. Presenting before an entirely new panel of judges, the teams demonstrated remarkable composure, creativity, and business acumen.
After an outstanding final round, Erasmus University Rotterdam emerged as the overall winner of ICC@M 2026.
The final rankings were: Erasmus University Rotterdam, HEC Montréal, Wilfrid Laurier University and Western University
Building Bridges Through Education
By connecting students, academics, businesses, and public-sector organisations, the competition creates a platform where students can contribute to real-world challenges while building lasting international networks.
This year's collaborations with Canon Production Printing and Nationaal Programma Heerlen Noord showcased how different perspectives can generate meaningful insights for organisations operating in our own region.
As Roy Broersma, Director of ICC@M, noted: "ICC@M demonstrates that universities and businesses are not separate worlds. They are partners in solving the challenges that define our shared future. By bringing students, academics, and companies together around real strategic questions, ICC@M turns the university into what it should always be: an active force in both economic vitality and social well-being."
We would like to thank our participating institutions, case partners, judges, volunteers, advisors and students for making this year's competition such a success. We are also grateful to our sponsor, Rabobank, whose support helped make ICC@M 2026 possible and further strengthened the connection between business education and practice.
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