A competition has been launched to find the best ideas from the UK university community to support innovation for future research in the UK.

Run by the UK’s edtech not-for-profit, Jisc’s latest edtech challenge competition will reward the best ideas around innovating research with artificial intelligence (AI) and pioneering ways of applying mixed reality.  

Ideas may include new technology, applications for existing equipment or any other clever combinations of technologies.

Hannah Kinley, senior co-design manager and moderator of the challenges comments:

“Sometimes the smallest ideas can create the biggest change and we’re asking staff and students in the higher education sector to help colleagues and peers of the future to make a difference. AI, machine learning and mixed reality are already supporting and changing research, and we want to hear how these technologies can be applied in a way that will support future research.

“Sometimes the smallest ideas can create the biggest change and we’re asking staff and students in the higher education sector to help colleagues and peers of the future to make a difference.” 

Entries into this challenge will inform Jisc’s work in promoting, supporting and innovating research practices for the benefit of UK higher education and research. Ideas will be assessed for their (a) benefits for researchers, (b) innovation, and (c) desirability.

The challenges will be open for submissions from 3 June 2019. Winners will be announced on the competition website in early September and invited to participate in a two-day design sprint with a dedicated team of technical experts to create a proof of concept for the winning idea. The deadline for ideas, which should be submitted online, is 09:00 on 31 July 2019.

For more information, visit the edtech challenges page or get in touch with the moderator for the challenges, Hannah Kinley (hannah.kinley@jisc.ac.uk)