Konnie Huq has been taking to the airwaves to champion the 2026 National Innovation Challenge, as interest grows among students and schools across the UK.
Speaking alongside Jo Withers, HRUC’s Executive Director, Business Growth and Partnerships, in over 20 media interviews, she highlighted how the Challenge is inspiring young people to think boldly about the future.
Led by Harrow, Richmond and Uxbridge Colleges (HRUC) in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the National Innovation Challenge is now in its second year. The initiative encourages students to develop real-world solutions to global issues while building their technical, creative, and collaborative skills.
BBC presenter, and STEM ambassador, Konnie Huq is a competition judge for the second year running, and said, "Helping young people achieve things they never dreamed possible is all about unlocking their full potential and nurturing their creativity. It’s really exciting to see them challenge themselves, think big, and tackle issues like sustainability and the use of AI head-on."
This year’s theme, Sustainability and AI, challenges participants to design practical innovations that could help shape a more sustainable world.
Winning teams will earn a life-changing educational and cultural visit to the United States, where they will work alongside leading experts in science, technology, engineering and innovation — taking their ideas from the classroom to the global stage.
Click here to enter the National Innovation Challenge
The deadline for entries is Friday 13 March 2026.