Innovation Fest

Introducing Innovation Fest

Young people today face interconnected global challenges on a unprecedented scale: rising inequalities, the climate crisis, and the age of big tech are forcing a fundamental rethinking of how the world works.

Innovation Fest is your space to develop genuinely transformative solutions to these Grand Challenges, through the lens of systems change. You’ll team up in small groups to develop genuinely transformative solutions to real global challenges through the lens of systems change. Choose from four tracks and take on a live challenged posed by an enterprise partner, spanning Mental Health and Wellbeing, the Climate Crisis, Inequalities and Data Empowered Societies. Across four days, you’ll rapidly ideate and prototype, culminating in a pitching competition to take your enterprise to the next level.  

Innovation Fest is your sounding board: to know how you want to change the world, and what you can do about it.

Why join?

1. Understand how social enterprise and innovation function as effective levers of systems change, enabling genuinely transformative solutions to global challenges. 

2. Learn about a range of diverse approaches to social enterprise and innovation. 

3. Build innovative solutions to interconnected global challenges, applying your university knowledge beyond the classroom.

4. Develop an entrepreneurial mindset by practicing skills such as prototyping, ideating, pitching and failing fast. 

5. Work effectively in interdisciplinary teams, strengthening collaboration skills and building valuable connections. 

What will we actually be creating and pitching? 

Teams will respond to problem statements set by social enterprise partner organisations. Each challenge is grounded in a real-world context and shaped by the needs of the partner organisation, meaning the final output will vary depending on the track you have selected. You might develop prototypes, frameworks or business plans- but it's ultimately up to your creativity.

Global challenges, social enterprise solutions

Innovation Fest is a UCL Grand Challenges event. This means we'll be taking an interdisciplinary approach to systems change, structured around four global challenges. As part of Innovation Fest, you'll choose one of the four tracks below:

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Mental health is one of the greatest societal challenges of our time. Rising rates of mental illness, particularly among young people, combined with global disparities in care and treatment, require innovative and comprehensive solutions. Mental health impacts everything from individual well-being to economic stability, demanding a multifaceted approach that addresses prevention and early intervention.

Climate Crisis

The world faces an escalating climate crisis, with rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and biodiversity loss. Urgent action is needed to reduce emissions, adapt to changing ecosystems, and develop sustainable policies that benefit both people and the planet.

Data Empowered Societies

As data-driven technologies rapidly evolve, society faces both opportunities and risks. While data can unlock solutions to pressing global issues, there are growing concerns about privacy, fairness, and inclusion. Unequal access to data, misuse, and the ethical use of technology presents significant challenges in creating a society empowered by data, not hindered by it.

Inequalities

Inequalities are rising in London, the UK and globally. Public narratives increasingly trivialise or attack Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), while societies live through overlapping crises that place the heaviest burdens on the most vulnerable. At the same time, expert knowledge and lived experience are being contested, precisely when they are most needed to drive innovative solutions. 

Event programme

How do I sign up

You will be required to complete a short application form when purchasing your (free) ticket. Please note that this is not a confirmation of your place. 

Applications open February 23rd and will be assessed on a rolling basis. The closing date for applications is May 18th but we may close them earlier if capacity is reached, so get yours in ASAP.

FAQs

Do I need to be part of a team already?

No. You will be sorted into teams according to your interest and background, but you don't need to come with a pre-formed group- or with anyone at all!

Do I need to be an expert in innovation, or any of the themes of the event?

No. Innovation Fest is totally beginner friendly. There will be plenty of opportunities to build your confidence, grow your knowledge and develop your skills across the week.

Do I need to attend all four days?

Yes, you must be free for all four days. There will be plenty of opportunities for unstructured collaboration across the week, but your attendance will be required. 

What will the prize be for the winning team?

We'll announce this nearer the event.

Who we are

About Student Social Enterprise

Student Social Enterprise is a hub for UCL students wanting to build social impact ventures, collaborate with community partners and scale ideas. Based in Students’ Union UCL, we exist to create a culture of social entrepreneurship at UCL. We support students from idea to impact through programmes that build practical skills, foster community development and create meaningful networking opportunities.

About Grand Challenges

UCL Grand Challenges tackles complex global, national and local issues through interdisciplinary research and collaboration, harnessing UCL's diverse expertise to drive meaningful change. We fund, support and facilitate new research, education and industry partnerships that work across the boundaries of academic disciplines.