ACTIVE

Imperial Global Challenge Lab 2026

Imperial College London
◉UK (Virtual)
Application Deadline:30 Jun 2026

1. Program Overview

The Global Challenge Lab (GCL) 2026 is a 14-day immersive virtual innovation sprint hosted by Imperial College London and supported by Futurize. It brings together over 1,000 students from Imperial and partner universities (including IIT Madras) to tackle the world's most pressing issues using the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a roadmap.

2. Program Structure & Dates

  • Format: 100% Virtual (via Zoom and Slack)
  • Time Commitment: Approximately 2-3 hours per day during the sprint phase.
  • Slack Platform Opens: 15 June 2026
  • Sprint Phase: 14 – 24 July 2026
  • Project Submission: 26 July 2026
  • Virtual Demo Day & Pitching: 30 July 2026

3. Team Formation Rules

Participants must work in teams of 3 to 6 members. To foster cross-cultural and interdisciplinary collaboration:

  • Teams must represent at least two different faculties (e.g., Engineering & Business).
  • Cross-university teams are highly encouraged.
  • You can register solo and find a team via the official Slack platform, Zoom networking sessions, or through random allocation by the organizers.

4. Innovation Tracks

Teams will choose one of four technical tracks curated by Imperial Global Hubs:

  • 🌱 Climate & Sustainability: Resilient Infrastructure, Green Finance, Sustainable Agriculture.
  • 🏥 Health & Technology: AI-Driven Diagnostics, Genomics, Last-Mile Delivery.
  • 🛰️ Space, Security & Connectivity: Satellite Analytics, Cyber-Resilience, Future Networks (6G/IoT).
  • 🏙️ Smart Cities & Urban Futures: Intelligent Mobility, Adaptive Urbanism, Green-Blue Infrastructure.

5. Eligibility & Benefits

  • Eligibility: Open to all current Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and PhD students.
  • Benefits: Compete for a share of the £3,000 Prize Pool, gain 1:1 mentorship from industry experts, master Design Thinking, and earn an official certificate from Imperial College London.

6. Application Process

📅 Registration Deadline: 30 June 2026

Students must register directly through the official program portal. Select the ticket for 'Partner University Participant' during registration.

🔗 Registration Link: Global Challenge Lab 2026 Portal