Global Challenge Lab
A 14-day immersive hackathon where students and offer holders collaborate across borders to turn ideas into real ventures with mentorship, workshops, and a final pitch for funding.
14–30 July 2026 | Virtual
What is Global Challenge Lab?
This year, the Global Challenge Lab evolves into a specialised, Imperial-led innovation sprint. While the programme is anchored by Imperial College London, it remains a borderless platform open to students, alumni, and offer holders from our official university partners worldwide.
By aligning the research themes of our Schools of Convergence Science with the strategic leadership of our four Global Hubs, we are creating a direct pipeline from concepts to global markets. Join 1,000 fellow innovators to turn how might we? into here is the solution.
Connect with 1,000+ Imperial students and incoming postgraduates.
Challenge Tracks
Track 1:
Climate & Sustainability
- Challenge: How might we build a more climate-resilient and sustainable future for all? Design solutions for renewable energy, circular economies, and green infrastructure to drive a just transition for at-risk communities.
- Focus: Resilient Infrastructure, Green Finance, Sustainable Agriculture.
Track 2:
Health & Technology
- Challenge: How might we harness technology to transform healthcare access and outcomes globally? Reimagine the future of healthcare through digital health, AI diagnostics, and personalized medicine to ensure equitable care delivery.
- Focus: AI-Driven Diagnostics, Genomics, Last-Mile Delivery.
Track 3:
Space, Security & Connectivity
- Challenge: How might we create a safer, more connected world through innovation in communication, data, and space technologies? Innovate at the intersection of satellite-based systems, cybersecurity, and digital trust to build the infrastructure of tomorrow.
- Focus: Satellite Analytics, Cyber-Resilience, Future Networks (6G/IoT).
Track 4:
Smart Cities & Urban Futures
- Challenge: How might we design intelligent, inclusive, and sustainable cities for the future? Tackle rapid urbanisation using AI and human-centred design to transform mobility, waste management, and urban health.
- Focus: Intelligent Mobility, Adaptive Urbanism, Green-Blue Infrastructure.
Learning outcomes
- 1:1 mentorship sessions with experienced founders and experts
- Global perspectives through panels and guest speakers
- Hear real founder stories from successful entrepreneurs
- Hands-on assignments to apply learning immediately
Entry requirements
- Current Imperial Students (UG/PG/PhD)
- Imperial postgraduate offer holders from any university: Joining us this Autumn? The GCL is your chance to build your Imperial network and portfolio before your first term begins. Get a head start on the Enterprise Lab ecosystem and meet your future collaborators today.
- Team size: Groups of 3–6 members.
- Diversity: Teams must represent at least two different faculties (e.g., Engineering & Business School). Additionally, we strongly encourage diversity by having team members from different universities whenever possible to foster global, interdisciplinary innovation.
- Time commitment: Approximately 2–3 hours per day during the sprint phase.
Key dates
Mark your calendars for the 2026 innovation journey:
15 May: Applications Open
Secure your spot in the 2026 Global Challenge Lab cohort.
15 June: Slack Platform Opens
Start networking and form your interdisciplinary teams.
30 June: Applications Close
10 July: Programme Kick-off
The official launch of the 2026 Innovation Sprint.
14 – 24 July: The Sprint Phase
26 July: Project Submission Deadline
30 July: Virtual Demo Day & Pitching
The Programme Experience
World-class workshops and mentorships
Innovate with direct support from a curated network of experts, bridging the gap between London’s research and global market realities.
Expert Sourcing
Guidance from the Imperial Global Hubs and ICL Enterprise Lab for solutions that are academically rigorous and commercially viable.
Regional insight
Guidance from the Imperial Global Hubs and ICL Enterprise Lab for solutions that are academically rigorous and commercially viable.
The participant journey
1. Form your team
Form a team of 3–6 members. Teams must represent at least two different faculties (e.g., Engineering & Business School). Additionally, we strongly encourage diversity by having team members from different universities whenever possible to foster global, interdisciplinary innovation.
You can register solo, but you must find a team via our Slack platform (opening June 19th), our Zoom networking sessions (4 sessions prior to the kick off date), or through random allocation by the organisers (if you have not found a team 2 days prior to the kick off date).
2. Join the sprint
Participate in virtual workshops, expert keynotes, and mentorship. As a team, you will choose one innovation track and master the tools of entrepreneurship, from problem validation to prototype design, to solve a specific challenge within that track.
3. Build your solution
Develop a solution for a real-world problem. This could be a technical prototype, app, a digital model, or a high-fidelity design. Focus on creating a tool that demonstrates clear functionality and social impact
4. Craft your pitch
Create a 3-minute pitch deck and video. You will receive guidance on how to clearly communicate your idea’s potential. Dedicated workshops will help you polish your presentation for the judges.
5. Compete for the finale
Submit your final project for review. The best teams from each innovation track will advance to the Global Demo Day on July 30th to pitch in front of international industry leaders.
6. Win and scale
Winners will receive a share of the £3,000 prize fund to help launch their startup concept. Every participant who completes the 14-day sprint earns an official Certificate of Completion from Imperial College London.
See innovation in action
Need some inspiration for your project? Check out these top pitches from the Global Challenge Lab 2024 to get a clear idea of the structure, quality, and impact expected for your final submission.
Reviewing these examples will help your team understand how to communicate your startup’s vision and technical solution to our global panel of judges.
Finalist pitch: Biocentric
Turn grape waste into medical bioplastics.
Finalist pitch: Team Ipê, GeoScape
A predictive model that assesses elevation and rainfall patterns to accurately map landslide danger zones.
Join the challenge
Partners
University Partners
Imperial Enterprise Lab
Entrepreneurship training and innovation frameworks.
Imperial Global Hubs
Regional leadership and thematic expertise.
Supported by
Futurize
Programme delivery and global ecosystem connectivity.
