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Technovation Challenge is an international project, the aim of which is to bring science and innovation closer to girls between the ages of 10 and 18. It is a programme by Iridescent, a global non-profit technology and engineering organisation, and is the biggest technology entrepreneurship programme for girls. The aim is to encourage innovation and creativity, as well as to reduce the gender gap that exists in STEM degrees (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Since its creation in 2009, over 15,000 girls from 100 different countries have taken part in the competition.

Every year, Technovation Challenge challenges groups of a maximum number of 5 girls to develop a business plan and a mobile application in order to solve a problem in their community and respond to a social need related to the areas of education, equality, the environment, health, peace and poverty. For twelve weeks, from January to April, the participants get together every week, either in person or remotely, in order to work on their project alongside the mentors that come from the world of technology, who volunteer to guide them in this process.

In the regional final which is being held for the second year running at the UC3M, the teams will present the applications in a short pitch of around four minutes to a panel of judges made up of experts from ABB, Amazon, Capgemini, Everis, Microsoft, Mioti, Mirada and Telefónica, among other companies. They will also showcase their projects at a science fair and spend the day with their mentors and families.

145 teams will be taking part in this event, coordinated and organised by Power to Code, regional ambassadors of the Technovation Challenge, 50% more than last year, made up of 577 girls. In the final there will be 97 junior teams, made up of girls between the ages of 10 and 14; and 48 senior teams, with girls between the ages of 15 and 18. What’s more, 240 mentors and over a hundred people from the panel of judges will be intervening. Nine teams will be chosen as regional finalists and will attend the virtual global semi-final, which will then decide which teams will attend the 9th Technovation Challenge World Summit, which will be held in August in Silicon Valley (USA). There, 12 teams from all around the world will present their applications and business plans to a panel of experts from the technology industry for the opportunity to win scholarships and advance in their education in STEM degrees.

The UC3M incorporates this competition into its STEM4GirlsUC3M programme for the encouragement of technological and scientific vocations, aimed at girls in secondary school and sixth form. Funded by the Women’s Institute, this programme has been developed throughout the academic year 2018/19 with the holding of different technological workshops, a mentoring programme, the exchange of experiences between researchers and students and a performing arts project.

For more information: The UC3M Technovation Challenge 2019 website