CompetitionMTA (Manufacturing Technologies Association)

TDI Challenge (Technology, Design and Innovation) 2026/27

Entrants devise an original product or concept design and explain how it would benefit users. They enter online or at a regional event, then the best go to a Grand Final at Mazak in Worcester. Free to enter.

By the Born to Engineer editorial team Checked 23 Oct 2026

At a glance

Run by: MTA (Manufacturing Technologies Association)
Who it’s for: Young people aged 14 to 19 interested in engineering and design, including D&T and Engineering students^[1]
Entry: Students or a school can enter
Worth: Top three in each of two categories get a behind-the-scenes visit to the TGR Haas F1 Team factory in Banbury^[2]
Cost: Free^[3]
Year groups: Year 10, Year 11, Year 12, Year 13
Where: UK-wide (Finals in Worcester; regional events in Gloucester, Silverstone, Brighouse and Derby)
Format: Hybrid
Dates: 8 July 2027

Sources

4 sources

MTA
The TDI Challenge, About the Challenge
14–19
Checked 23 October 2026
MTA
The TDI Challenge
behind-the-scenes visit to the TGR Haas F1 Team's UK factory in Banbury
Checked 23 October 2026
MTA
The TDI Challenge
Free to enter
Checked 23 October 2026
MTA
The TDI Challenge
Deadline date for ONLINE entries: 3 June 2027.
Checked 23 October 2026

Details checked 23 October 2026 by the Born to Engineer editorial team. Always confirm dates on the provider’s site before applying.

Apply by

3 Jun 2027

Online entries close 3 June 2027. Grand Final on 8 July 2027 at Mazak, Worcester^[4]

Apply on thetdichallenge.co.uk (opens in a new tab)

More competition opportunities

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Sentinus Young Innovators 2026 (Young Engineer of the Year)

Closes in 7 days

CompetitionSentinus

Students choose a Sentinus engineering challenge (Retrofit Revolution, Flood Futures or Smart Streets) or their own idea and submit an online poster. Finalists are invited to Belfast to be judged by industry experts.

Worth: £1,000 for each category winner. The overall Sentinus Young Innovator wins a funded trip to the International Science and Engineering Fair 2027 in the USA, plus an accelerator programme and industry links.
Who: Individuals or teams of up to 3 for the Young Engineer category (there are also Young Scientist, Young Mathematician and Young Coder categories). Applicants must be aged under 19 on 1 July 2027.
Entry: Students or a school can enter
Deadline: 31 October 2026Registrations close 31 October 2026. Online poster submission by 6 November 2026. Live finals on Thursday 26 November 2026 at Ulster University, Belfast.

Visit sentinus.co.uk (opens in a new tab)Details: Sentinus Young Innovators 2026 (Young Engineer of the Year)

Davidson Inventors Challenge 2026/27

Closes in 8 days

CompetitionUniversity of Cambridge Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, with IChemE

Teams pick a UN Sustainable Development Goal, research a real problem and propose a sustainable, innovative engineering solution. Each team gets a mentor and the process runs from November to a final in April.

Worth: An expert mentor for each team, webinars, and for the winners a cash prize, a trophy and a day at the department.
Who: Teams of Year 11 and Year 12 students from UK schools. Maximum of two submissions per school; up to 100 projects selected.
Entry: A teacher or school enters
Deadline: 1 November 2026Team sign-up and initial project outline by 1 November 2026. Final reports mid March 2027, shortlisted teams announced early April, final at the Cambridge department in late April 2027.

Visit ceb.cam.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)Details: Davidson Inventors Challenge 2026/27

QEPrize Create the Trophy 2027

Closes in 34 days

CompetitionQueen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Foundation

Design the trophy for the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering using a free 3D design app and submit it online. The winning design is 3D printed and presented to the prize winners in London.

Worth: A high-end laptop, a model of the winning trophy, and a trip to London to see the 3D printed design presented to the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering winners.
Who: Anyone aged 14 to 24 on 27 November 2026 (UK students can enter). Entry is individual, via the free QEPrize 3D Design Studio app.
Entry: Students apply themselves
Deadline: 27 November 2026Entries opened on 1 September 2026. Closing date is 23:59 GMT on 27 November 2026.

Visit qeprize.org (opens in a new tab)Details: QEPrize Create the Trophy 2027