Conrad Challenge (Innovation & Entrepreneurship)
A global innovation competition where students develop a product or solution addressing a real-world problem. Open to teams of students aged 13–18 with an adult coach. Rated Advanced, with difficulty mainly coming from product development, market validation and multi-stage pitching.
Verified information
Competition details can change. Always confirm dates, eligibility and entry requirements on the official organiser's website.
Official website ↗Competition overview
Key information
Eligible ages
13–18
School level
High school students ages 13-18
Registration method
School or Individual
Competition stages
Annual STEM innovation and entrepreneurship challenge from August through April; phases include Activation Stage, Innovation Stage, and Innovation Summit.
Fee
Check official rules for current season fees; fee not confirmed from captured public pages.
Online / in-person
Online
Dates
Competition timeline
Registration opens
28 Aug 2025
Registration closes
29 Oct 2025
Competition starts
21 Apr 2026
Competition ends
24 Apr 2026
Editorial perspective
Our Take
The Conrad Challenge is not simply an invention contest. Teams choose an important problem, develop an innovation and carry it through an entrepreneurial process that asks who needs the solution, how it works and why anyone should adopt it. The official competition runs through Activation, Innovation and Summit stages, with only selected Innovation Stage teams progressing to the final event. Its categories span water, health and nutrition, energy and environment, cyber technology and security, and aerospace and aviation. That breadth makes the first decision unusually important. A team can begin with an impressive technology and still struggle if it cannot identify a precise user or explain the problem with evidence. Conversely, a clear problem statement can guide research, prototyping and the business case. CompeteMap sees the Conrad Challenge as a good fit for students who enjoy crossing boundaries between STEM and enterprise. It rewards teams that can divide work without separating it: technical decisions must respond to user needs, and the pitch must reflect what the prototype can honestly do. The long, multi-stage format gives teams time to improve, but it also exposes weak project management. This is better suited to a committed group than to students looking for a quick submission.
Read full guide →Preparation support
Recommended resources
Conrad Challenge Student Guide
Open resource ↗Official guide to the competition stages, innovation brief, prototype video, business model and scoring.
Official · Free · Student guide PDF · Essential
Conrad Activation Stage
Open resource ↗Step-by-step guidance for team formation, ideation and completing the initial Lean Canvas.
Official · Free · Ideation & Lean Canvas guide · Essential
Conrad Innovation Stage
Open resource ↗Requirements for the Innovation Brief, prototype video, project website and judging progression.
Official · Free · Submission-stage guide · Essential
Conrad Rules and Regulations
Open resource ↗Current eligibility, originality, citation, intellectual-property and submission requirements.
Official · Free · Competition rules · Recommended