Oxford Saïd Global Climate Tech Challenge 2026
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
📌About the Event
The Oxford Saïd Global Climate Tech Challenge 2026 is an international innovation competition that invites high school students and teachers to develop technology-driven solutions for major climate-related problems. Presented by Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, the challenge gives young innovators and educators an opportunity to transform creative ideas into practical climate action and present their work on a global platform.
ℹ️ Event Details
- Student category: Participants must propose an innovative, technology-based solution to a selected climate challenge.
- Teacher category: Participants must develop a series of lesson plans that use technology to engage students in climate action.
- Challenge themes:
- Air pollution
- Extreme weather events
- Food security
- Biodiversity
- Water scarcity
- Mode of conduct: The initial application and project-submission process is conducted online.
📅 Important Dates
- Applications opened: 1 December 2025
- Submission deadline: 17 August 2026, 11:59 PM GMT
- Announcement of finalists: September 2026
- Global finals at Oxford: October 2026
🎯 Eligibility & Rules
- Who can participate:
- Student applicants must:
- Be between 15 and 18 years old.
- Participate in a team of three to five students.
- Submit only one team entry, as individual student entries are not accepted.
- Obtain a signed parental or guardian consent form for every team member.
- Teacher applicants must:
- Be a secondary-school or high-school teacher.
- Apply individually, as team entries are not accepted in the teacher category.
- Submit lesson plans suitable for integration into their school curriculum.
- Geographical eligibility: Students and teachers from all countries can participate.
- School participation: The competition is open to eligible students and teachers worldwide.
🏆 Benefits for the Participants
- Winning student team:
- A full scholarship to attend an Oxford Youth Education climate-tech summer programme in 2027.
- Access to sessions led by academics and climate-innovation experts.
- Programme-related expenses covered by the organizers.
- Winning teacher:
- A place on an Oxford Saïd Executive Education programme in 2027.
- Programme-related expenses covered by the organizers.
- Finalists:
- An all-expenses-paid trip to Oxford for the October 2026 global finals.
- Travel and accommodation expenses covered.
- Opportunity to present at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.
- Exposure to an international community of students, educators, academics and climate practitioners.
- Participation recognition:
- Students and teachers whose submissions are approved will receive a certificate of participation from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.