Primary School
National Challenge
The #DigiInventors Challenge is organised by the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) as it's flagship schools’ competition in collaboration with leading partners in education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and healthcare across Scotland.
The next challenge launches January 2026. Challenge questions and teaching materials are currently being developed.
Big ideas start early!
Our Primary Challenge is specially designed for young innovators in P5 - P7 across Scotland. It’s all about teamwork, creativity and discovering how digital ideas can help people live healthier, happier lives.
The Primary Challenge invites P5-P7 pupils in Scotland to explore one big question:
Can you identify a real problem related to people’s health or wellbeing, and develop a digital idea to help solve it?
This challenge provides a fun way to learn about digital opportunities, entrepreneurship, design innovation, science, tech, teamwork and creative problem-solving in the classroom and helps develop critical STEM skills for the future.
Pupils will:
-
Talk about daily health and wellbeing challenges people face (e.g. healthy eating, staying active, managing stress)
-
Research how digital tools like apps, games and smart devices could make life better
-
Work together to plan a simple idea or solution
-
Create a sketch or visual to show how it works
-
Share their idea in a short written or video pitch
-
-
Open to all Primary Schools in Scotland
-
Pupils in P5-P7
-
Teams of up to 4 pupils (mixed stages/genders encouraged!)
-
Each team must have a teacher or adult mentor to guide them
-
05/01/2026 - Challenge Launch
27/02/2026 - Application Submission Deadline
02/03/2026 - 20/03/2026 - Judging Period
23/03/2026 - Winners & Runners-up Announced
28/04/2026 - Award Ceremony
Step 1: Form your team, up to 4 pupils
Step 2: Explore the big question and brainstorm ideas
Step 3: Research, plan and sketch your solution
Step 4: Use the resources pack to prepare your pitch
Step 5: Submit your entry before the deadline!
All participants will receive a #DigiInventors Challenge Certificate and can use their submission to apply for the YSL Level 2 Auto Award.
Runners-up get:
-
Certificate for each pupil
-
Fun goodie bags for all team members
Winners get:
-
The #DigiInventors Challenge Trophy for their school
-
Certificate for each team member
-
Fun goodie bags for all team members
-
A fantastic tech prize for each team member
-
Multi-ColourZ
(Newton Farm Primary, South Lanarkshire)
A groundbreaking app to support young people with colour blindness, featuring colour overlays, AI voice support, customisable settings, and a full colour reference and advice hub.
JH Grow and Glow
(Wellington School, South Ayrshire)
An engaging wellbeing app for children aged 5–12, supporting healthy habits in sleep, nutrition, hydration, and exercise – all guided by a friendly avatar called Glow.
Sweet Tooth
(Carolside Primary, East Renfrewshire)
An innovative dental care app for young people with braces, using Bluetooth chips to allow orthodontists to monitor oral hygiene remotely.
As a teacher, it’s been incredibly rewarding to guide our team of four students through the #DigiInventors Challenge. The boys worked diligently on every aspect of the project, from market research to user experience, and even explored manufacturing processes and production costs. The hands-on experience they gained was invaluable and seeing them present their ideas to both local and international teams, a critical step towards ultimately winning the competition, was truly inspiring. I would highly encourage other schools to get involved in #DigiInventors - it’s an excellent program that helps students develop critical skills in design, technology, and teamwork, while also fostering a real-world understanding of how innovation can positively impact society.
Josh Farquhar - Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh, Scotland
Partnering with the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre has been a fantastic experience for Scottish Hockey. It has allowed us to connect with partners and change-makers beyond our usual scope. We highly recommend getting involved with the #DigiInventors Challenge.
Keith Macleod, Scottish Hockey
The #DigiInventors competition has been an incredible experience for our school, as we have participated for many years now. It’s been amazing to see how the challenge refines each year, consistently raising the bar in innovation and engagement. Our students benefit greatly from interacting with insightful professors and leaders from the UAE and Scotland, receiving invaluable feedback on their ideas and pitching techniques. They also have the unique opportunity of interacting with students who reside in Scotland!
Mrs Zaineb Mahdi, Assistant Headteacher & Cluster Director
Innovation and Digital Technology, GEMS Wellington International School Dubai