Challenge Works (Nesta)

This Earth Day, we're powering up for the planet 🌏 Here at Challenge Works, we believe innovation can be a force for good – especially when it comes to tackling our planet's urgent environmental challenges. In our latest blog post, we spotlight 8 of our challenges – past, present and potential – that support this year's Earth Day theme: Our Power, Our Planet. 👀 Read how our challenges are discovering innovations for a better planet: https://ow.ly/8zrJ50VFrxX #EarthActionDay #OurPowerOurPlanet #InnovationForGood #OpenInnovation #NetZero #CleanTech

🚀 Don’t miss out! Sign up for our webinar on tackling health inequalities: the Mayor's big ideas challenge, taking place at 14:00 on Thursday, 24 April 2025. In this webinar the team will take you through the entry process in detail and answer any questions you might have before the entry deadline on 7 May 2025. 🌿 Ideas could focus on connecting people to green spaces, encouraging home-cooking, boosting sleep and exercise, or community-based farming – the sky's the limit! 20 finalists will receive £20,000 and tailored support, with 3 winners awarded an extra £100,000 to bring their solutions to life. 🗓️ Date: Thursday, 24 April 2025, at 14:00 🔗 Save your spot: https://ow.ly/QGZ450VvNrV #BigIdeasChallenge #Innovation #HealthEquality #WestYorkshire West Yorkshire Combined Authority West Yorkshire Business and Skills Nexus Leeds Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire

🤩 Huge congratulations once again to the winners of the inaugural Manchester Prize – Polaron, an AI technology that dramatically accelerates the development of new advanced materials from decades to just one day. This spotlight from Ingenia showcases how Polaron's innovation stood out in a field of brilliant ideas. From novel concepts to practical, scalable solutions, they're paving the way for a more sustainable, energy-secure future. 👀 Read the article here: https://ow.ly/5Siw50VCeKW 🔍 And find out more about the Manchester Prize here: https://ow.ly/efyW50VCeKY #ManchesterPrize #Innovation #BigIdeas

🚀 We're thrilled to see another fantastic article featuring The Aqualunar Challenge. Here, Igenia highlights how SonoChem System from NAICKER SCIENTIFIC – the winning team – was inspired by everyday household objects to create an innovation that could help extract water from frozen lunar soil. 💧🌕 The Aqualunar Challenge set out to find breakthrough ideas to support sustainable life on the Moon and SonoChem System's innovation is a brilliant example of how bold thinking and collaboration can drive the future of space exploration. 👀 Read the feature: https://ow.ly/9LgM50VBOlz 💡 Learn more about the challenge, discover the other winning teams and meet all the finalists: https://ow.ly/SsP350VBOly #AqualunarChallenge #Innovation #SpaceTech

🚀 Join us for our entry walkthrough webinar on tackling health inequalities: the Mayor's big ideas challenge! 🗓️ Date: Thursday 24 April 2025 ⏰ Time: 14:00 If you're an SME in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, or Wakefield with an innovative solution to address health inequality in West Yorkshire, this is your chance to make a positive impact. In this webinar the team will take you through the entry process in detail and answer any questions you might have before the entry deadline on 7 May 2025. 🔗 Save your spot: https://ow.ly/NYSP50VvN5p #BigIdeasChallenge #Innovation #HealthEquality #WestYorkshire West Yorkshire Combined Authority West Yorkshire Business and Skills Nexus Leeds Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire

📰 It's been absolutely incredible to see all the wonderful press coverage for The Aqualunar Challenge – the interest from around the world has been phenomenal. Huge congratulations once again to our fantastic winning teams: 🥇 Grand Prize Winner: SonoChem System from NAICKER SCIENTIFIC 🥈 1st Runner-up: Team FRANK from RedSpace 🥉 2nd Runner-up: AquaLunarPure from Queen Mary University of London We've loved seeing these incredible innovations making headlines here in the UK as well as in the US, Korea, Japan, Australia, Turkey, and more! Here are just a few celebrating the teams' achievements: 🧪 VICE News – Scientists are Microwaving Moon Ice to Make Drinkable Water: https://ow.ly/X94050VBr2A 🌕 The Independent – Meet the Winner of the Aqualunar Challenge: https://ow.ly/Lqpt50VBr2B 🛠️Gizmodo.com– Ingenious Microwave Could Turn Moon Ice Into Drinkable Water: https://ow.ly/P2Q150VBr2E Congratulations to all our Finalists and the winning teams. 🎉 Meet all the teams and find out more about the challenge here: https://ow.ly/F5sG50VBrCG UK Space Agency Exotopic #AqualunarChallenge #Innovation #WaterPurification #SpaceTech

If you watched last night's The One Show on BBC One, you'll have spotted that The Aqualunar Challenge got a fantastic mention from the amazing Maggie Aderin-Pocock – she talks about the incredible impact that the challenge will have on future moon exploration. 🌘💧 Missed it? Catch up on the episode here: https://ow.ly/TaFc50VB3hG 👀 And find out more about the challenge and meet the incredible winning teams and their innovations here: https://ow.ly/1u7150VB3jI UK Space Agency Exotopic #AqualunarChallenge #Innovation #WaterPurification #SpaceTech

We’re delighted to have co-authored the practical guide “Accelerating Sustainable Futures” with UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme), building on our collective work delivering challenge-driven innovation in cities 🏙️ What’s inside the guide?  📌 An introduction to challenge-driven innovation 📌 Five practical steps to design and run a city innovation challenge 📌 Real-world examples and resources for inspiration Download the guide: https://lnkd.in/dSQ7S_Sv

🌟 From food to transport, health to manufacturing, creative services to finance - the Mayor's big ideas challenge is tackling health inequalities and paving the way for a more prosperous, sustainable and happier West Yorkshire. If you're driven to address health inequalities in the region, then this is your chance to make a positive difference for yourself and local people. The challenge is calling on SMEs based in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield to accelerate innovative solutions to help local communities live healthier, happier lives. 20 finalists will be awarded £20,000 in funding and a tailored package of support with access to experts and mentors to help bring their ideas to fruition. Your innovation can come from any sector - if it's big and bold, we want to hear it! Have an idea? Submit your entry by 7 May for an opportunity to create a meaningful, positive impact. 👉 Enter the Challenge now: https://ow.ly/zrw150VvMXW #BigIdeasChallenge #Innovation #HealthEquality #WestYorkshire West Yorkshire Combined Authority West Yorkshire Business and Skills Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire Nexus Leeds

Are you an SME in West Yorkshire? Submit your ideas for the Mayor’s big ideas challenge on tackling health inequalities! 🌟 This flagship innovation challenge calls on local SMEs with bold ideas or solutions to create positive societal impact and improve the lives of people in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield. Up to 20 finalists will receive £20,000 in funding and a tailored package of developmental support. It includes skill-building, access to experts and mentorship to help accelerate their ideas to market-readiness. 📈 Health inequalities arise from many areas, so the challenge is looking at solutions from organisations across all sectors. Whether you’re innovating in food, manufacturing, the environment or community initiatives, you can get involved! Find our more and enter by 12noon on 7 May 2025... https://lnkd.in/ex_bPcjf #BigIdeasChallenge West Yorkshire Combined Authority Challenge Works (Nesta) Nexus Leeds