The #DigiInventors 2025 Kicks Off with a Challenge to Change the Game
- Aug 18
- 3 min read
The #DigiInventors Challenge returns with new partners, a new website, fresh challenge questions, and even bigger opportunities for young people to innovate.
The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) has launched its international school’s competition, the #DigiInventors Challenge 2025, calling on secondary school pupils across Scotland and the UAE to design digital solutions to real-world digital health and social care challenges.
Now open for entries, the Challenge encourages pupils in S1-S6 to work in teams, identify a health or wellbeing issue, and create an innovative digital idea that could help solve it. Participants will develop a concept, submit a video pitch and compete for the chance to amazing tech prizes, recognition at a national health conference, and accreditation through the Young STEM Leader Award.
Two New Questions, One Global Stage
For the first time, pupils will choose between two challenge questions:
How can digital innovation challenge stereotypes, inspire girls and women to play football, and support healthy lifestyles?
Can you identify a real problem related to people’s health or wellbeing, and develop a digital idea to help solve it?
Finalist teams will go on to attend a brand new two-day entrepreneurial bootcamp and pitch their solutions to expert judges from industry and academia during the live-streamed final in December.
Key Dates
18 August 2025 – Challenge Launch (Scotland)
25 August 2025 – Challenge Launch (UAE)
10 October 2025 – Entry Deadline
17–18 November 2025 – Entrepreneurial Bootcamp
8 December 2025 – International Final
10 December 2025 – Winners Announced
February 2026 – Award Ceremony
More Inclusive and Accessible Than Ever
This year’s Challenge introduces several exciting updates designed to widen participation and deepen impact:
Teams can now include up to 6 pupils, from any year group
Refreshed teaching resources, fully editable and curriculum-linked
Streamlined entry process and updated scoring criteria
Official recognition through Young STEM Leader Awards (Level 4 + 4 formal)
Bigger prizes, including an iPad for each winning team member
Powered by Industry and Education Leaders
The Challenge is delivered by DHI in partnership with an fantastic group of organisations spanning education, innovation and health, including:
Education Scotland, SSERC, Skills Development Scotland, Developing Young Workforce, NHS Education for Scotland, Young Enterprise Scotland, SmartSTEMS, City of Glasgow College, University of Strathclyde Inspire, Heriot Watt University Dubai, Scottish Women’s Football, RAiSE, dressCode, and the GSA School of Innovation and Technology.
Making a Lasting Impact
Since its launch in 2017, the #DigiInventors Challenge has engaged over 2,700 young people and attracted more than 700 team applications. The programme has become a recognised competition that provides real life learning in the classroom and is scaling internationally.
Free Resources for Schools
Teachers can access a full set of editable lesson plans, guides and templates via the #DigiInventors website. Resources are now filterable by Essential and Additional content to help schools tailor their approach.
How to Enter
Schools and teachers can now download resources and submit entries online. The Challenge is free to enter, and support is available throughout the process.
For additional guidance, support or to request more information, email the team at: info@digiinventors.com
About the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI)
The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI), a national innovation centre funded by the Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Government and hosted by the University of Strathclyde and the Glasgow School of Art, leads research and innovation in digital health and social care. We aim to transform services and improve lives by building a future-ready workforce equipped with digital and entrepreneurial skills.
