The Bright SCIdea Challenge provides support for students based in the UK and Republic of Ireland to develop an innovative science-based idea into a business plan and to compete for a £5,000 prize.
SCI supports entrants to the competition by delivering free, exclusive training. Teams with the strongest business plan are invited to deliver their pitch to an expert panel of experienced, successful senior business people and innovators
Registrations for the Bright SCIdea Challenge 2021 will be open later this year. If you are a student at university UK or ROI, you can register your interest now to receive email updates about the competition.
If your company would like to support talented young innovators through the Bright SCIdea Challenge, get in touch with us via email to discuss the different ways that you can get involved.
Team Glucoguard fought off stiff competition from an excellent field of finalists to win the inaugural Bright SCIdea Challenge with their pitch for a genetically modified bacterium for treatment of pre-and type II diabetes.
In the face of tough competition, Plastech Innovation emerged triumphant in 2019 with their pitch for a new method of processing waste plastic into plastic aggregates for use in construction materials.
The 2020 Final for the Bright SCIdea Challenge will be held in November. Find out more about the teams who have made it to the final.
An exclusive video training course featuring masterclasses on numerous aspects of developing a business pitch, including how to market your product, protect your idea and manage your money.
Networking opportunities and advice from successful entrepreneurs, investors and patent lawyers.
Templates for all aspects of your business plan, and advice on completing them.
“Bright SCIdea Challenge appealed to us because it seemed an excellent way to develop skills unobtainable at University. Although it promotes heavily academic thinking and creativity, we were most excited to receive professional entrepreneurial training. Also, the best way to influence everyday reality is trying to change it yourself. We wanted to immerse ourselves in a challenge like this.”AATBox
“Bright SCIdea gave us the opportunity to exit our comfort zones and immerse ourselves in entrepreneurial activities. It was so exciting and also nerve racking to pitch our business to a live audience. Employers are always looking for scientists with other skills, Bright SCIdea gives you a unique opportunity to learn vital business skills.“Plastech Innovation
“The BrightSCIdea Challenge will help us connect with the scientific community, to compete with other bright minds and will give us vital feedback, helping us with improving our product and its future.”Team QMUL
