Davidson Inventors Challenge 2025/26 launches
Competition to offer hybrid final for first time as booster numbers expected to enter
The Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology has launched the 2025/26 Davidson Inventors Challenge (DIC), marking the sixth year of one of the UK’s leading STEM competitions for Year 11 and 12 students.
Following last year’s record number of entries, the 2026 edition is expected to attract even more students, as the Challenge continues to grow in prestige and reach.
This year, the competition introduces a hybrid final, with shortlisted teams presenting their projects in Cambridge for the first time, while also engaging a live online audience. Winners will enjoy an enhanced prize package, including a cash award, a trophy, and an invitation to attend a Reception at one of Cambridge’s historic colleges, alongside a day at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, offering an immersive insight into university life and research.
The sign-up form will open on Monday 1 September 2025 and close at 5pm on Friday 26 September. Schools need to simply register their interest and commitment to the competition at this stage.
A launch webinar will take place on 2 October 2025, but only teams who sign up by 26 September will be sent details and able to join.
Entered teams will then develop their plans and projects with the support of bi-monthly webinars led by experts from the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and guidance from a dedicated mentor.
Kamran Yunus, Chair of the Davidson Inventors Challenge, said: “The Davidson Inventors Challenge is gaining real prominence across the UK.
“In its sixth year, it is starting to achieve our goal of opening doors for all students with interest and aptitude in STEM, regardless of background, economic circumstances, ethnicity or gender.
“It is a privilege to see the competition grow in both scale and impact, giving young innovators the chance to engage with real-world sustainability challenges at a national level.”
H20 Visionaries, from Sutton Grammar School, were victorious in last year's competition with their proposal for tackling contaminated fresh water sources
H20 Visionaries, from Sutton Grammar School, were victorious in last year's competition with their proposal for tackling contaminated fresh water sources
Last year’s winners from Sutton Grammar School in Surrey, H2O Visionaries, impressed judges with their modular water filtration system designed to tackle different types of contamination by combining multiple separation methods. Their adaptable design allows for the use of physical, chemical, or biological filtration techniques depending on the level and type of impurities present, making it a flexible and scalable solution for purifying fresh water.
Students can find full details about the competition and how to sign-up from Monday 1 September on the Davidson Inventors Challenge website.