Big prizes for big thinkers

What you'll win: a trophy and £500

​​The Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management is an international Professional Engineering Institute providing guidance and development opportunities for engineers and estate managers in the healthcare sector. We’re passionate about inspiring the next generation of healthcare engineers.​ 

​​The IHEEM Innovation in Wellbeing & Healthcare Engineering Award celebrates young people’s dedication to improving the physical health and wellbeing of society. This project could be a piece of research and investigative work, an innovative design or new way to use technology. 

We're looking for:   

​Projects that may be considered for this award include:  

• Innovation in diagnostics and medicine/treatments 

• Advancement in healthcare services 

• Supporting people with their day-to-day wellbeing 

• ​Anything that positively impacts all healthcare visitors across the full range of healthcare environments. Including, but not limited to, GP surgeries, those within local health programmes, NHS properties such as acute, mental health facilities etc.

Why it's important

Young people will drive future innovations in science, technology, and engineering, tackling global challenges like healthcare and sustainability. Understanding these issues now empowers them to shape a better future through creativity and problem solving.

Good health and wellbeing are crucial everywhere! Whether your project is focused on helping a relative or friend manage their daily health needs, or is a national or global vision, we want to know your ideas! 

This award reflects IHEEM’s commitment to innovation in healthcare engineering, and the education and empowerment of our future leaders. It encourages young people to think critically and creatively, giving them the opportunity to consider and solve real world problems. By engaging the healthcare engineers of tomorrow in innovation, teamwork, making a positive impact on all healthcare users, we want to inspire the next generation to lead, learn, and build a better future in healthcare. 

Criteria

Topic:

• Accessibility and inclusivity
• Healthcare & medication
• Humanitarian
• Environment
• Food
• Wellbeing

Size: Individual and teams

Age: All ages

How did you choose your 2024/25 winner?

​​Health Hub, the 2024 winning entry to the IHEEM Innovation in Wellbeing and Healthcare Engineering Award, identified a clear, real-world problem and offered a totally new, practical solution to help those with healthcare needs. The judges were particularly impressed with the attention to detail, creativity, and the use of different kinds of engineering to improve the wellbeing and healthcare of its users. 

What you'll win: A framed certificate, a fully funded place to the 67th London International Youth Science Forum 2026 (LIYSF).

This includes the full 15-day residential programme at Imperial College London, with main lectures from top scientists, specialist lectures across a raft of STEM fields and visits out across the UK to University Departments and Science Institutions. All meals and accommodation provided. ​

Represent the UK on a global stage like no other! 500 students come together in London in a unique immersive summer STEM programme.​

​LIYSF attracts the world's leading young scientists aged 16 to 21 years old from over 80 participating countries. There is an active social calendar with events designed to enable those from around the world to learn about different cultures. The scope of LIYSF extends further than broadening scientific understanding to engage students in education on other cultures and develop lasting, international friendships. 

About LIYSF

​LIYSF is an impartial, accredited not-for-profit social enterprise established in 1959. We provide our students with a deeper insight into STEM and how science can be applied for the benefit of all humankind. Since our beginning, the idea of LIYSF is about bringing young people from different nations together to learn about each other and our different cultures through a shared passion for science.​ 

LIYSF is a 2 week residential event held at Imperial College London, with lectures and demonstrations from leading scientists, visits to industrial sites, research centres, scientific institutions and organisations, including world class laboratories and universities. 

Criteria

Topics: All topics are welcome across science, engineering, and technology. 

Age: Senior (16 to 18 years old)

Size: Individual projects

What you'll win: a trophy and £500

​​The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) is the employer-led skills, standards and qualifications body for the development of the engineering construction workforce of Great Britain. An arms-length body of the UK Government, the ECITB reports to the Department for Education. Our vision is a trailblazing Engineering Construction Industry where critical infrastructure, energy security and net zero ambitions are achieved.

​​Engineering construction is the industry that looks after the things that keep us warm, keep us fed and keep us moving. We design, build, and look after the machines and technology responsible for producing fuel, chemicals, water and food, and power.

​​This award recognises the importance of teamwork and collaboration as we celebrate young people working together to innovate and create solutions.

People with different backgrounds, skills and perspectives need to work together like never before, to find solutions to the greatest challenges of our lifetimes.

For example, if we really want to achieve net zero, teamwork is vital to find better ways to use resources and generate energy. Teamwork and collaboration is important, no matter if the problem we are solving is local, national or global. Scientists, engineers and technologists work together to solve problems such as making our daily commute more sustainable, insulating our homes to keep us warm, and improving access to clean water to drink.  

​​Teamwork and collaboration are at the very core of everything we do at ECITB.  Our industry sectors are the cornerstone of infrastructure across the globe.  Without the skills, perspectives and ideas of different people working together towards a common goal, we fail before we even get started.​ 

Criteria

Topics:

• Accessibility and inclusivity
• Sustainability
• Infrastructure
• Energy production
• Power generation
• Alternative energy sources
• Net zero

Age: All ages

Size: Teams

What you'll win: a trophy and £500

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is the official UK government body responsible for intellectual property (IP) rights including patents, designs, trademarks and copyright. Intellectual property is something that you create using your mind - for example, an invention, an artistic work or a symbol. 

​The IPO aims to support and inspire innovators and creators so they, and society, get the most out of their ideas at home and internationally. By promoting a deep understanding of intellectual property, we aim to nurture a generation capable of navigating the IP landscape, ensuring innovators embark on future careers armed with the tools to protect and propel their groundbreaking ideas. 

​​The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) Innovation Award recognises young innovators who are shaping a brighter future through their creative ideas and inventions. We're looking for projects that demonstrate: 

• Understanding of Intellectual Property (IP): Show how you've considered protecting your invention using IP rights (e.g., patent, trade mark, design registration, or copyright)
• Innovation impact: Explain how your invention or improvement addresses a real-world problem and benefits society
• Sustainable thinking: Describe how your innovation considers environmental impact in its materials or processes
• Future-focused: Demonstrate how your invention contributes to a better future for individuals or communities

Understanding and protecting intellectual property is crucial for driving innovation and economic growth. It ensures that inventors can benefit from their ideas, encouraging further creativity and technological advancement in our rapidly changing world.

​​Innovative opportunities exist everywhere - in classrooms, communities, and future workplaces. As young people develop their ideas today, they're preparing to solve real-world challenges. Understanding and protecting innovation helps build a launchpad for future success.​ 

​​At the IPO, we believe it’s important to support those who research, create, collaborate, and invent. We want the UK to be the best place in the world for inventors, creators, and innovators to build on their ideas and find success; the IP system and IP education is fundamental in achieving these ambitions.​ 

Criteria

Topics: all topics welcome

Age: all ages

Size: individuals and teams

Get support from the IPO and Cracking Ideas website. Plus, download the Protecting your creativity guide for students.

Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office

What you'll win: £500 and a certificate

Has your teacher or technician gone above and beyond in supporting you throughout your project? 

We are looking to reward teachers and technicians who have supported an individual or team in their practical investigative project work for The Big Bang Competition. This includes any support provided at school or at a STEM club. Their support will have allowed students to include sound practical elements in their experimentation. 

We can only consider applications from students who submitted their projects into The Big Bang Competition by 4 March 2026. 

The winning teachers or technicians will receive a cash prize for their school/STEM club and a framed certificate. 

Previous winners include teachers who went the extra mile, enabling, and encouraging their students to push their projects as far as they can. 

Nominate your teacher today!