InternationalQuantitativeInvesting Challenge

A quantitative trading competition for high school students: one week to declare your strategy, three weeks to trade it, 200 points on the line.

Risk / return universe

01 / The Initiative

What is IQIC?

The International Quantitative Investing Challenge is an annual educational competition that introduces high school students to quantitative investing, portfolio construction and data-driven decision-making.

Run as a non-profit initiative by STEMise, IQIC lasts four weeks. Entries submit a written strategy declaration in week one, then trade a simulated portfolio for three weeks. Returns alone don't win it: half the 200 available points come from the strategy behind them and how well it is documented. Entry is free and open worldwide.

Learn

Free workshops and resources on strategy design, factor investing and risk.

Declare

One week to write up your thesis, rules, method and risk limits. Worth 80 points.

Trade

Three weeks of live simulated markets on StockTrak, ranked on risk-adjusted return.

02 / Format

One period, four weeks

Full structure →

Week 180 points

Strategy Declaration

Each entry submits a written report setting out its thesis, rules, quantitative method and risk limits before trading opens.

Weeks 2–4100 points

Live Trading

Three weeks of trading a simulated portfolio, ranked against the field on Sharpe ratio, alpha, Treynor ratio and absolute return.

Registration for the 2026 challenge is open.

Free to enter · Individual or team · Open worldwide