Sentinus Young Innovators 2026

Sentinus Young Innovators is Northern Ireland's flagship STEM competition, culminating in a live final at Ulster University, Belfast on 26th November 2026. It runs across four categories:

• Young Scientist — teams of up to 3 (or individuals) tackle one of three set challenges — Net Zero Neighbourhoods, Mind Matters, or Water — or their own project idea, submitted as an online poster.
• Young Engineer — the same team/individual format, with challenges of Retrofit Revolution, Flood Futures, or Smart Streets.
• Young Mathematician — open to Year 13 and 14 students, entering individually with a teacher reference; finalists face a live 90-minute maths challenge on the day.
• Young Coder of the Year — also Year 13/14, individual entry with a teacher reference; finalists take on a live 90-minute Python coding challenge, pitched at a genuinely high level.

The overall "Sentinus Young Innovator of the Year," chosen from the Scientist and Engineer category winners, receives a funded trip to ISEF 2027 in the USA. Category winners each receive £1,000, plus an accelerator programme with SIB and Invest NI, industry links, and possible apprenticeships, scholarships or work experience.

Applications for all categories close 31st October 2026, via sentinusni.fillout.com/younginnovators

Read the Summer 2026 edition free online →

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