Winners from the 2025 National Innovation Challenge (NIC) have been experiencing a once in a lifetime immersive visit to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – enabling the students the chance to explore innovation, research, and entrepreneurship alongside world-leading scientists and engineers at the prestigious university, based in Boston, USA.
The exhilarating trip also included visits to Harvard University, the MIT Museum, and some whale watching. During the visit the excited UK students also experienced an eye-opening presentation from Glenn Wong at MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), and then stepped into the world of international relations hosted by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for an introduction to diplomacy.
The Challenge is organised by Harrow, Richmond and Uxbridge Colleges (HRUC) in collaboration with the MIT Industrial Liaison Program (ILP). The competition challenged students to develop practical solutions to real-world sustainability issues.
The winning innovators who joined the trip were:
- Secondary Schools: Home-e-stasis by Robert O'Callaghan, Matthew Rawcliffe and Sean Carlyle (St Bede’s Catholic High, Lancashire) – a digital twin tool designed to improve household emissions through retrofit upgrades
- Colleges and Sixth Forms: TideTidy by Emily Cheesman (The King John School Sixth Form, Essex) – a passive device used to collate litter from coastal waters, starting with Southend’s busy 7-mile shoreline
- HRUC : The Cranial Cooler by Valentina Vicario (Uxbridge College) – a smart wearable headgear created to ease migraines, reduce swelling, and aid neurorehabilitation.
Reflecting on the experience, Valentina said, “I was surprised by the amount of support provided by the British Consulate for entrepreneurs.”
Emily shared her enthusiasm for the academic side of the trip, saying, “I was really excited to see the real-life impact of policy decisions with the climate simulator.”
Robert added, “It’s so rewarding to see our concept has potential in the USA as they are dealing with similar problems we have in the UK.”
Harrow, Richmond, and Uxbridge Colleges (HRUC) has a partnership with MIT's Industrial Liaison Program, which includes the National Innovation Challenge, via the West London Institute of Technology. The first-ever NIC awards in July were hosted by TV presenter and children’s author Konnie Huq, at a stunning inaugural awards evening held at the historic Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) in London. The celebration brought together students, educators, industry leaders, and special guests to honour innovation in sustainability.
Yaseen Akhtar, Managing Director of WLIoT Business Growth, Skills and Partnerships, said: “This was an incredible opportunity for these talented students to learn from the best and develop their remarkable and sustainable ideas.”
The 2026 Challenge will be launched shortly, with registration open to secondary schools and colleges across the UK from 18 November 2025.