Finalists announced for STEM innovation competition

Young innovators across the UK have been named finalists of The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Competition 2026. Selected from hundreds of entries, the young finalists will now go through a final round of judging and receive feedback from industry experts, before the winners are announced at an exciting awards ceremony at The Big Bang Fair in June.

Run by EngineeringUK, the UK’s top annual STEM competition encourages young people to think big, challenge facts, ask questions and invent solutions. Biomimicry in aircraft design, renewable energy generation through everyday movement, an AI-powered recycling bin and a sustainable floating farm are just some of the innovative STEM projects battling it out for coveted top prizes.

This includes The Big Bang UK Young Engineer of the Year Award, supported for the first time by Thales, The Big Bang UK Young Technologist of the Year, supported by Siemens and The Big Bang UK Young Scientist of the Year.

Phillip McShane, associate director of engagement projects at EngineeringUK said: “It is brilliant to see so many young people making the connections between their own creativity and how STEM can help solve-real-world challenges. Once again, the standard of projects has been incredibly high. The environment, artificial intelligence (AI) and health are project themes that continue to be popular as young people look to engineering and technology to provide solutions. This year we continue to see entrants using a greater mix of STEM skills to create their projects.”

Also on offer are a host of special awards supported by key engineering and tech industry partners, including ​​Accenture, Catapult Energy Systems, Energy Institute, Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management (IHEEM), Intellectual Property Office, Network Rail, Stantec, and the 67th London International Youth Science Forum 2026 (LIYSF). ​

The Big Bang Competition
James Mackay, head of STEM in the UK at Thales, said: “Congratulations to all the young people who have entered The Big Bang Competition - your curiosity, creativity, and passion for discovering new possibilities are truly inspiring. At Thales, we’re proud to support the competition for the first time, helping to nurture the next generation of engineers and innovators.

“I know myself and my colleagues have loved looking over and providing feedback for some of the submissions - it is been wonderful to see such exciting ideas. Their ideas today have the power to shape a brighter tomorrow, and we encourage all young people to keep exploring, questioning, and believing in their potential.”

Mark Wood, social sustainability lead, Great Britain & Ireland, at Siemens said: “Congratulations to all the finalists in The Big Bang Competition, supported by Siemens. As always, the competition has been fierce, but the finalists should be so proud of what they have already achieved, and I look forward to meeting them to hear more about their projects. Technology holds the key to solving the problems we face every day, so competitions like The Big Bang Competition, which embed creativity as well as real-world solutions using technology, have never been more important to our environment, our society and our world.”

Finalists will be invited to showcase their projects to industry professionals, employers, and other young people at The Big Bang Fair taking place 9 to 11 June 2026 at the NEC in Birmingham. Winners will be crowned at an awards ceremony to take place on 9 June.

The annual Big Bang Fair is the largest free celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) for young people aged 10 to 13 in the UK. Through hands-on activities, incredible shows and career panels, the fair inspires students about the diverse careers in STEM.