2025 INNOVATORS’ GLOBAL CHALLENGE
Frequently Asked questions
POSTER COMPETITION
Do I need to email my poster to you?
Yes, we do this to ensure all entries get to us on time. However, if your poster has 3D elements and you would like it to be displayed as the original, you can also send us the poster in the mail to 4 Hamilton Place, London, W1J 7BQ. Please remember to also send us a scan or photograph in case the poster is lost or damaged in the mail.
Can I enter on my own?
Yes, if you prefer to work on a poster alone, then you are welcome to do so.
Can I enter if I’m home schooled?
Yes, you will just need your parent or guardian to submit the poster on your behalf
What if I don’t have a scanner?
You can submit a high-quality colour photograph instead, just remember to ensure there are no glares obstructing your hard work.
How and when will the posters be judged?
The posters will be put on display at the Sustainable Skies conference on the 14th – 15th of May and the people attending the conference will be invited to vote for the best poster. This is why we ask you not to include your real name or personal details on your poster.
How will I found out if I won?
The Air League will contact the winner or winning team through the email address you submitted your poster with to inform you if you have won.
What is the prize for winners?
The winner or winning team will be given a flying experience day. This will take place on a weekend so your family can come along and watch you.
PROPOSAL COMPETITION
Do I need to adhere to a word or page count on the written part of the project?
Yes, the 1000 word limit is to help you focus your work on the really important aspects. It’s important to be as precise as possible when creating your submission. You will have the opportunity to expand on your work if you are successful in getting through to the pitching stage.
What is the prize for winners?
Please note this is not an exhaustive list of the prizes and will be updated.
All finalists will be invited to expand on their ideas in a Dragon’s Den style pitch to a panel of judges at the Sustainable Skies conference at Farnborough on the 14th of May with reasonable travel expenses included.
First prize offers:
- The opportunity for the winning team to present their proposal to the wider Sustainable Skies conference on the 15th of May. This is a fantastic opportunity to pitch your ideas directly to industry and potential investors.
- A tour of the engineering department with one of the Air League’s Corporate Members*
- An experience flight
- One year’s free individual membership to the Air League.
- Expert lead support in developing their pitch ready for presenting.
Second prize offers:
- The opportunity to attend the international conferences as guests of the Air League and will be able to benefit from exclusive network opportunities with industry professionals
- One year’s individual membership to the Air League
Third prize offers:
- Access to the international conference resources and opportunities
- One year’s individual membership to the Air League
*Available to permanent UK residents only.
Should I include any project finances?
Yes, we encourage you to include a brief section on project finances. This could include anything from the list below, however you will have more time to cover this if successful in the pitching stage, and we would prefer you to spend more time focusing on the core idea of your project for your 1000-word submission.
⁃ Staff salaries
⁃ Contracting costs
⁃ Material costs
⁃ Testing facility costs
⁃ Any other miscellaneous expenses
For the first submission, a simple project finance overview is sufficient.
Can I claim expenses for any costs incurred during the research phase of the competition?
Unfortunately, expenses cannot be claimed at this stage of the competition and any costs incurred during research or testing must be covered by the team.
Do I need to pre-record a presentation to submit?
No, first round submissions are in written format only.
Where can I find material to research and reference my project?
A number of academic platforms exist in which thorough research can be conducted and correctly referenced. We suggest ResearchGate, Google Scholar or Microsoft Academic. Your education provider or local library may also be able to offer you free access to additional academic journal databases. It is important to correctly reference your work.
Do I need to create a timeline for my proposed project?
We advise a timeline is included within your submission. This can include details of how you expect your idea to develop and is not included in the word count.
Does my project have to be focused on the commercial aviation sector?
No, we welcome projects which look at all aspects of the aviation sector: commercial, general, business and military.
Shortlisting – How does the shortlisting process work?
Once applications are received on the 25th of April, a shortlisting process will take place. We will notify successful candidates by the 2nd of May. Six finalists will be chosen and will then have until the Sustainable Skies Conference on the 14th of May to prepare their pitch for presentation in front of a judging panel of industry experts in the final.
The final will be an in-person event, taking place at Farnborough at the Sustainable Skies Conference on the 14th of May 2025, although the ability to join remotely will be option.
In the shortlisting stage, the focus will be on the method by which the proposal tackles achieving net zero emission by 2050. In the final judging phase, more emphasis will be placed on the commercial viability of your idea.
We will hold an information session at British Airways HQ in London on the 8th of April.
All applications will be judged anonymously with only the team name visible to the judging and shortlisting panels. This is to ensure all teams are judged on an equal level for the competition.
Can I enter as an individual or do I need to make a team?
While we accept single entries, the competition will demand a lot of your time and dedication and we therefore feel the workload would be easier to share amongst teammates, however if you feel you are able to manage all aspects yourself, then please apply as a single entry.
Can the Air League help me find teammates?
Unfortunately, the Air League or Sustainable Aviation will not be able to help with finding teammates.
If you are applying as a team and want to add new team members later in the competition, the competition delivery team will have discretion whether new team members can be added at a later point.
What if someone submits a similar entry to mine?
It is always possible that entries we receive may consist of similar proposals, especially if they are tackling the same category. All applications are judged on their own merits and by how well the proposal is researched, referenced and executed.
Information for Education Providers and Apprentice Leads
We actively encourage education providers and apprentice leads to get involved and organise a group of students. Any shortlisted teams will be provided with access to industry expert mentors who will provide further support. This access will be virtual and between initial shortlisting and final judging we do not expect travel to be necessary.
Education providers and apprentice leads may act in a supporting role to applicants during their design proposals, but we kindly ask that teams provide a brief description of any external help provided in their application emails.
