More than 1,000 entries for Harper Adams University's Young Innovator challenge

Posted 16 May 2014

More than 1,000 young people have stepped up to a challenge set by Harper Adams in a bid to be named Harper Adams University Young Innovator of the Year 2014. 

In its inaugural year, the Young Innovator competition challenged 11- to 19-year-olds to design a robot for the future, which could be beneficial to society. 

With their sights firmly set on the title and £500 top prize, teenagers throughout the UK, many spurred on by their schools, set to work investigating modern day problems and possible solutions.   

“The response has been astonishing,” said Lorraine Westwood, one of the University Directors overseeing the competition. “From the point when Young Innovator was launched back in January we received so much support from both teachers and young people working on their own. Schools were asking for more fliers and posters and inspiring pupils to really go for it!

“The ideas that have been put forward are wide ranging, highly imaginative and demonstrate the volume of talent we have here in the UK. From the Poverty Banishing Bot, to the Ultimate Fire-fighting Machine to the Foodinator, we have received more than a thousand bright ideas supported by sound reasoning - and often a sprinkling of good humour! Our thanks go to everyone who entered or supported an entry. 

“The deadline for entries has past, so the mammoth task of judging the submissions has now begun. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to Harper Adams in the summer for the formal prize-giving, when the winners will be revealed.”

Prizes of £100 will be awarded to four winners – best boys and girls in age categories 11-15 and 16-19. From those four, the overall Young Innovator of the Year will be selected, winning a £500 personal prize. The final prize of £300 will go to the school which has the highest standard of combined entries from all of their students when judged as a group.