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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 challenge 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 your solution, then pitch it for the chance to win an exclusive mentorship package with leading social innovation experts.
Innovation Fest is your sounding board: to know how you want to change the world, and what you can do about it.
Why join?
Understand how social enterprise and innovation function as effective levers of systems change, enabling genuinely transformative solutions to global challenges.
Learn about a range of diverse approaches to social enterprise and innovation.
Build innovative solutions to interconnected global challenges, applying your university knowledge beyond the classroom.
Develop an entrepreneurial mindset by practicing skills such as prototyping, ideating, pitching and failing fast.
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.
What is the prize for winning teams?
The winning team will receive guided support from Student Social Enterprise to implement their business solution with their Social Enterprise partner.
Each member of the winning team will also access a bespoke social entrepreneurship mentorship with industry partners from Cambio Consultancy and BSI.
For each winning student, this will include:
- 3 x 1:1 mentorship sessions with a social entrepreneurship mentor at Cambio Consultancy
- Referral to industry expert in area of your interest from Cambio's network for 1:1 session
- Group mentorship and networking session with mentors at BSI
- Referral to industry expert in area of your interest from BSI's network for 1:1 session
- Opportunity to join a standards development committee with BSI
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
| Date | Location | Day |
| June 1st | UCL East: Marshgate Building | Day 1: Launch Meet your group, your Social Enterprise partner organisation and understand the challenge you've been set. |
| June 2nd | UCL East: Marshgate Building | Day 2: Developing Transformative Solutions to Global Challenges Ideate solutions in your groups, get inspired through research sprints and start prototyping. |
| June 3rd | UCL East: Marshgate Building | Day 3: From Prototype to Pitch Refine your prototype to it's final form and use impactful storytelling techniques to prepare your pitch |
| June 4th | UCL East: Marshgate Building | Day 4: Pitch Day Final practice and then it's pitch time. Plus networking lunch and drinks with academic and industry partners. |
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.
Part of the ExtendED Learning Programme
The ExtendED Learning Programme is a collaboration between UCL and Students’ Union UCL with a focus on ensuring you leave university confident and empowered in your abilities. Packed with hands-on opportunities in Term 3, all designed to help you explore new interests without the pressure of grades or deadlines, the programme focusses on transferable skills that will support you in whatever your next steps might be. Explore new interests without the pressure of grades or deadlines in Term 3. Now is the time to invest in your future at your own pace, by curating your own learning experience, and having fun while making friends at the same time.
👉 Find out more about the ExtendED Learning Programme
UCL200 Summer Festival by Students' Union UCL
This event is part of our UCL200 Summer Festival, and we've got a whole programme of activity planned to celebrate the bicentenary in style. The Main Quad will be transformed for a week of music, film, debate and a big student-only celebration - the Bicentenary Ball. During the days, come and get involved in a range of activities, workshops, and events, or just join us in the sunshine to take in the atmosphere in the Quad.
👉 Find out more about the UCL200 Summer Festival
The Marshgate Building is fully wheelchair accessible, with step-free access.
Getting Inside
- The approach to the building is step-free and level.
- Marshgate has three entrances.
- All entrances have two sets of automatic double doors.
All entrances provide step-free access to the main atrium on the ground floor of the building. - The main and side entrances are not named or signed.
The rear entrance is signed UCL East Marshgate. - The main accessible entrance at the front of the building provides step-free level access to the reception desk on the ground floor.
Getting to the Rooms
- There is step-free level access throughout the building on all floors.
- Programming for Innovation Fest will take place on Levels 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6.
- Getting to Level 1: Lift from Ground Flooor.
- Getting to Level 2: Escalator from Ground Floor or Lift from Ground Flooor.
- Getting to Level 4: Escalator from L2 or Lift from Ground Flooor.
- Getting to Level 5: Lift from Ground Flooor.
- Getting to Level 6: Lift from Ground Flooor.
Please let us know in advance if you will be bringing an infant.