With a focus on emerging talent, the competition is open to student engineers, PhD candidates and junior engineers working in the industry. To enter, applicants need to visit the Future of Engineering microsite and submit information about their background. They’ll then be asked to provide information on what they hope to achieve in the engineering field and how they plan on using their knowledge and skills to create a product or business that will have a profound and positive global impact.
The winner will receive a cash prize of £10,000 to put towards the development of their business or idea, while the runner up will receive £5,000. In addition to the prize money, both finalists will be given mentoring and advice from some of the most senior and widely respected members of the UK’s engineering community to fast track their ideas from concept to reality.
The Academy has also created a guide to help young entrepreneurs understand the process of taking an idea through from concept to the beginning of a business, which has been produced in partnership with Entrepreneur First and Beauhurst, who provide an overview of business funding opportunities.
“The UK is home to an exceptional pool of engineering talent with real leadership potential,” said Zoe Jervier, global head of talent, Entrepreneur First. “Our aim through this programme is to stretch the aspirations of individuals already demonstrating engineering excellence and who want to make a much larger impact through technology".
The Enterprise Hub at the Royal Academy of Engineering harnesses the expertise, insight and networks of Academy Fellows, who include some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs and business leaders, to support the country’s most promising entrepreneurs in all areas of engineering and in all parts of the UK.
Commenting on the competition Suranga Chandratillake, fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and recipient of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Silver Medal in 2012 said: “Through the 'Future of Engineering' competition, we will discover inspirational and innovative young people, whose ideas have the potential to make the world a better place.”
