Challenge your mind. Change the world.
How it works | The prize | Register | Key dates | Further information
The new competition enables students to showcase their vision, proposing solutions for industry challenges.
The theme of the competition is: Sustainable impact
This competition isn’t just about ideas; it’s about shaping the future.
Schools and colleges who are interested in the challenge can REGISTER HERE
Get started
Take up the challenge!
What’s your big idea?
We are looking for projects that champion innovation and sustainability.
The challenge enables students to submit one of the following:
- A concept
- Business idea or
- Design prototype
These will outline and propose solutions for current and future industry challenges.
The initiative is part of our groundbreaking work with the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Industrial Liaison Program (ILP), in the USA.
How it works
Students can work on their projects as individuals or in groups (maximum of three).
They will be able to enter ONE of three categories including:
- Secondary schools: early registration - schools/institutions are able to register their interest now
- GFE and sixth form students: early registration - schools/institutions are able to register their interest now
- HRUC students
Further details about the competition will be provided within the information pack.
Below is an outline of what we expect from each category.
Create a sustainable concept
- Define your purpose and scope – What is the problem you are trying to solve?
- Who are your target stakeholders/users?
- What are your objectives for success?
- What are the key features and benefits?
Develop a business idea
- An initiative that can lead to services and/or products that generate income
- Target market: who will engage with your idea?
- What are the challenges pain points to consider with current services or products?
- Which industry are you interested in to take your business idea to market?
Design your prototype
- A preliminary product or sample model that is created to test ideas/concepts, functionality, usability and feasibility
- Your prototype could be on paper, a wireframe, an interactive model or animation
- Early design concepts for mass production and/or scalability are welcome.
Still not sure where to begin? Here are some ideas you may want to consider to help you kick-start your project:
- How to contribute to delivering a healthy plant
- Reducing carbon footprint
- Strategies to support NetZero
- Technology to drive the sustainability agenda
- Sustainable impact to support environmental, social and governance (ESG).
Once the competition has been officially launched you will receive an information pack, for those schools and colleges who have registered their interest.
The prize
The winners will embark on a life-changing educational and cultural adventure to the MIT.
The National Innovation Challenge will provide students with an unprecedented opportunity to gain new technical skills, work across borders, improve their personal thought process and develop international networks.
Judging Panel
Our judging panel includes many outstanding figures from across journalism, education, engineering and sport. They are:
- Konnie Huq - British television and radio presenter, screenwriter and children's author
- Richard Pennycook, CBE - Department for Education
- Kamran Lateef - Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Jason Knight - Heathrow
- Steve Whittaker - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Clare Wildfire - Mott MacDonald
- Andrew Gomarsall, MBE - former rugby union player
- George Davies - AtkinsRéalis.
Schools, FE colleges and sixth forms register now
Schools and colleges who are interested in the challenge can register now.
Key dates
- Student competition launch event: Thursday 24 October 2024
- Expressions of interest from Schools, FE colleges and sixth forms close: Friday 29 November 2024
- Information pack published on Monday 2 December 2024 to registered participants.
All competition entries must be submitted by 14 February 2025.
Shortlisting will commence in February 2025 with a final judging panel to take place in June/July 2025.
The visit to MIT will be in September/October 2025 (to be confirmed).
Further information
Please Note: Further information and terms and condition will be made available soon. Bookmark this page to keep up to date with all competition details.
Details are subject to change.
Students from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are eligible to enter this competition.
All judges decisions will be final and no further discussion will be entered into once the winners have been announced for each category.
Due to the anticipated volume of entries individual feedback will not supplied, unless your entry has been shortlisted.
