Exeter College hosts National Innovation Challenge launch event
Exeter College has hosted a launch event for a national competition offering a once-in-a-lifetime prize that will see the winner visit the world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States.
The National Innovation Challenge (NIC) came to the College on Thursday 24 September, encouraging students to submit their projects on the theme of Tomorrow’s World. Now in its third year, the NIC is challenging students from schools, colleges and sixth forms across the UK to imagine the future and develop bold, practical solutions that could shape the way we live, work and interact.
The winning teams will embark on a life-changing trip to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States in autumn 2027, where they will have the chance to collaborate with world-leading researchers, gain new technical skills, and build international networks.
Yaseen Akhtar, Managing Director of the West London Institute of Technology, and Dr Niamh Shaw, NIC ambassador and chair of the independent judging panel, gave an assembly at the College to encourage students to submit their projects for the chance to have their ideas recognised on an international stage.
Toby Coombes, Group Executive Director of College Information Services at Exeter and North Devon Colleges Group, said:
“We were delighted to host the NIC and give our students the opportunity to engage with such an inspiring programme. Dr Niamh Shaw’s story, energy and passion for science, space and pushing the boundaries of what is possible really resonated with our students. The sessions encouraged them to think ambitiously, challenge themselves, and recognise that their ideas can have real impact.”
At the 2026 final in central London earlier this year, the finalists had the chance to network with representatives from MIT, Amazon, BT, and more.
Yaseen Akhtar, Managing Director of the West London Institute of Technology, said:
“It was fantastic to see nearly 400 students at Exeter College engage so enthusiastically with the NIC. Their curiosity, ambition and willingness to think big were genuinely inspiring. The Challenge is about giving young people the confidence and opportunity to turn ideas into action, and potentially take their thinking all the way to MIT. Exeter College demonstrated exactly the kind of energy and talent we want to inspire across the country.”
Led by HRUC (Harrow, Richmond and Uxbridge Colleges) in collaboration with the MIT Industrial Liaison Program, the NIC aims to empower young people to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues. Previous projects have included a synthetic tree to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, a new type of diabetes pump powered by AI, and a smart road hump which helps to create renewable energy.
The 2027 winners will be announced at an awards ceremony next summer. Students looking to enter can register their interest here: www.hruc.ac.uk/mit-program/national-innovation-challenge
