Explore our challenge prizes
Want to help solve some of society’s biggest problems? You’re in the right place
This could be your opportunity to help solve some of the world’s biggest problems.
Challenge Works supports smart ideas and ingenious solutions, wherever they come from. We believe inventors can come from any background or sector, so we work to break down barriers, support long-term success and nurture innovation talent every step of the way.
We have worked with thousands of innovator teams and dozens of funders to find solutions to problems, draw attention to societal issues, and bring about real change.
Read on to find out more about our current and past portfolio of challenge prizes.
Flying High Urban Drones Prize
Water Breakthrough Challenge 3
The fourth round of the Water Breakthrough Challenge ‘Breakthrough 3’ was part of the Ofwat Innovation Fund, a pioneering programme unleashing waves of innovation in the water sector.
Mombasa Plastics Prize
The Mombasa Plastics Prize encouraged young innovators in Mombasa County to develop solutions that tackle the problem of marine plastic waste mismanagement within informal settlements.
Longitude Prize on Dementia
The Longitude Prize on Dementia sought the development of breakthrough technology that can learn from a person living with dementia, adapting and compensating for their condition as it progresses, and enabling them to continue living independently for longer.
Ghana Science and Tech Explorer Challenge Prize
GSTEP is inspiring the next generation of inventors and entrepreneurs in Ghana by encouraging practical learning and the development of STEM and ICT skills through a series of challenge prizes.
Horizon Prize for the Cleanest Engine of the Future
Reducing emissions in real driving conditions to the lowest possible level
Horizon prize for the Cleanest Engine Retrofit
Finding retrofit solution for existing engines and powertrains that best addressed the issue of greatly reducing emissions of NOx, particles, hydrocarbons in real driving conditions.
Horizon Prize for the Reduction of Air Pollution Materials
Seeking the most affordable, sustainable and innovative design-driven material solution able to reduce the concentration of particulate matter in urban areas.
Zero Power Water Monitoring Horizon Prize
The Zero Power Water Monitoring Prize aimed to empower water distributors to promote the transition of ICT technologies in the water sector.
Horizon Prize for Better Use of Antibiotics
Improving antibiotics prescribing and reducing AMR through diagnostic tests.
Tactile Display Horizon Prize
The Tactile Display Horizon Prize rewarded the individual or team who came up with an affordable, portable, internet-enabled device with a full-page tactile display to be used by visually impaired and blind people.
European Innovation Council Horizon Prize on Blockchain for Social Good
The Horizon Blockchains for Social Good Prize rewarded the development of scalable, efficient and effective decentralised solutions to sustainability challenges which exploit the Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) used in blockchains.
Challenge prizes
Discover how challenge prizes work, why they attract the right innovators and how they can help solve urgent problems where solutions are lacking.