Future Innovators Challenge
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TeenTech are super excited to be joining Manchester Digital and Amazon to deliver the Future Innovators Challenge, as part of the Digital Skills Festival in Manchester. This challenge is open to all Greater Manchester Schools.
We’re inviting Year 8 and Year 9 students across Greater Manchester to take part in an exciting project to show off their creative thinking whilst developing valuable skills for the future.
All submitted projects will receive feedback and Bronze, Silver or Gold Certificates to reflect the skills and potential shown in their ideas.
Teams with the most exciting projects will then be invited to present their ideas in a special showcase event on Future Innovators Day at Amazon, Manchester on Monday, 10th February 2025. Every school that registers and takes part will be able to bring some students to this incredible showcase event, develop their ideas further, and take part in exciting and inspiring hands-on activities.
We’re giving YOU the power to dream BIG and solve problems that matter. How can technology make your life, your school, or even your town or city better? Whether it’s a local issue or a world-changing idea, we want to see how YOU will use tech to make a difference for everyone!
Your Challenge
Look around. Can you see a problem that could be solved with technology? No idea is too small or too big—use your creativity and don’t hold back!
It might be….
- Clean Air & Water: Can you create tech that tackles pollution and protects our planet?
- Online Safety: How can tech keep us safe while we’re connected to the world?
- Making Life Easier: Could tech improve your daily life—on the way to school, at the park, or when you hang out with friends?
- Helping Others: How can tech support those who need it? Maybe an app that helps people with disabilities, connects the homeless to resources, or helps the elderly stay informed and connected?
- Skills for the Future: Could tech help young people learn new skills and land awesome opportunities like apprenticeships?
A message from Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, for schools taking part in the Future Innovators Challenge.
THINK BIG, THINK DIFFERENT!
You’re the next generation of innovators! Your ideas could shape the world, and who knows—your invention might just be the next big thing. Let your imagination run wild because your solution could lead to a better future for all of us!
Support Along the Way
Amazon’s got your back! Throughout the challenge, you’ll have access to mentoring calls—from coding and problem-solving to presentation tips. Every school will have access to mentors from Amazon, so you’ll be supported as you develop key skills like coding, communication, and leadership!
Exciting Rewards
We’ve got plenty of ways to celebrate your success! There will be:
- School Awards
- Team & Individual Prizes
- Certificates of achievement for Key Skills (like storytelling, coding, planning, communication, leadership, and problem-solving)
Future Innovators Pitch Day at Amazon Manchester
For those entries chosen as finalists for the Future Innovators Award, you will spend the day at the Amazon Manchester office, in the iconic Co-operative building, experiencing life inside Amazon and getting hands on with the latest in Amazon technology innovation. We’ll work with the teams to hone their presentation skills and you’ll pitch your ideas to big names like John Boumphrey (Amazon UKI CEO) and Andy Burnham (Mayor of Greater Manchester) on Monday, 10th February 2025!
And, to top it off, all entries will also get the chance to enter projects into the TeenTech Awards 2025!
So, are you ready? Let’s shape the future together—starting NOW!
What do I have to do?
Now: Register here to be part of Future Innovators and we’ll send you full details including a participation pack, suggested framework for thinking and a template to share your ideas. You can involve as many students as you wish working in teams of up to 5. Once you’ve registered, you’ll be sent a link where you can watch our virtual event for further information on how you can approach the project.
October 2024 – Mid-December 2024: Get working on your ideas. You might choose to do this as part of a school club or in the classroom.
Friday, 13th December 2024: Closing date for submission of projects.
Teachers should complete and submit the Participating Schools Information Form before uploading any projects.
Once this form has been completed, teachers can submit their students’ projects using the Project Upload Form by Friday 13th December. This form should be completed once per project and allows teachers to upload project files along with information about each participating team.
Early January 2025: Teams invited to present at the showcase event will be notified on or soon after Monday, 6th January 2025. All teams, whether or not attending the showcase, will receive feedback by Wednesday, 15th January 2025. All teams who have entered projects for the Future Innovators Challenge will be able to submit them into the TeenTech Awards 2025.
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My school is outside Greater Manchester. Can we be part of this project?
This project is for Greater Manchester Schools only. If you are outside the region you can enrol for the national TeenTech Awards programme here.
I have a student who would prefer to work on their own. Can we do this?
Yes, students can work individually.
I am a home-schooled student. Can I join the Challenge?
Yes, please ask a parent or carer to register on your behalf.
My school isn’t taking part but I would like to join in. Is this possible?
Yes, please ask a parent or carer to register on your behalf.
How much time will I need to run the Challenge in my school?
We have designed the challenge to be flexible. It’s entirely up to you whether you decide to run it as a lunchtime club, across several weeks or a drop-down day. We will provide you with a suggested framework, downloadable resources and certificates to reward the skills demonstrated by students along the way.
How many students can be in a team?
Teams can be up to 5 students.
How can I access support from mentors?
Our project manager will connect you with mentors and alert you to any virtual events taking place throughout the project.
Do projects need to be original?
Projects should be original and should not have been submitted for any other challenge or competition.
Can students receive outside help or feedback?
We are very happy for students to have support with projects and this should be clearly indicated on their submission. Students should clearly indicate how they have used human tech experts or AI within their project.
How will you decide which teams come to the event on 10th February 2025?
We will look for fresh ideas, which clearly identify a problem, explain who this is a problem for (and how students know – personal experience, relatives, research) , how their proposed solution will make a difference and the technology needed to make it happen. You have a very short time frame, so we aren’t looking for ‘shiny, polished projects’ but we are looking for honest ideas which can be further developed.
When will I know if my teams are invited to the showcase event on 10th February 2025?
Projects will be reviewed in December and we will alerting schools who have earned places on or soon after 6th January 2025.
What if our projects aren’t selected for the 10th February 2025?
TeenTech’s policy is to provide ALL projects with feedback. We know some teams will have a great idea but need more time to develop it. We will be inviting all students whether or not they attend the event on Feb 10th to progress to the TeenTech Awards where they can further develop their idea.