Bring your creativity, entrepreneurial skills and engineering knowledge together to tackle a real-world sustainability challenge – and compete for a share of £3,000 in prize money!
Are you ready to make a difference? Join the DMU Made Engineers and Scientists in Business (ESBF) Competition 2026 and work as part of a team to develop an innovative idea that addresses a real-world sustainability problem.
Open to current DMU students from all years and faculties, this exciting two-part programme is your opportunity to collaborate, think creatively and put your entrepreneurial skills into action.
What's involved?
You'll work in a team of 4–10 students to develop a solution to a sustainability challenge, with support from your fellow students and the opportunity to compete for up to £3,000 in prize money, sponsored by ESBF.
You can register as an existing team or meet other participants and form a team during the first session.
Important team requirement: Every team must include at least one student from the Faculty of Technology, Arts and Culture. Students from other faculties are also welcome to take part.
Key dates
Week One: Challenge launch and team formation
Tuesday 17 November 2026 | 12.30pm–1.30pm
We'll introduce the sustainability challenge and give you the opportunity to form your teams. You'll brainstorm potential solutions, share your knowledge and creative skills, and begin developing an innovative idea to pitch in the second session.
You'll also need to allocate roles within your team, as you'll have two weeks to develop your idea and prepare your presentation in your own time.
Week Two: Present your idea
Tuesday 1 December 2026 | 5pm–6.30pm
It's time to pitch!
Each team will deliver a 10-minute presentation to a panel, explaining their proposed solution and the thinking behind it. Be prepared to answer questions and demonstrate why your idea deserves to win.
The best ideas will compete for a share of the £3,000 prize fund!
Important: You must attend both sessions!
To be eligible to win a share of the prize money, all participants must attend both Week One and Week Two.
If you miss either session, you will not be eligible for a prize, even if you have contributed to developing the idea or preparing the presentation.
Please make sure you register for both sessions when booking.
Already running a business or side hustle?
If you already have a business, work freelance or run a side hustle, DMU Made can help you too!
Tell us more about what you're doing via our DMU Made survey.
Ready to take on the challenge?
Don't miss this opportunity to develop your entrepreneurial skills, collaborate with other students and turn an innovative idea into a real-world solution.
Click here to register today.
Have questions? Get in touch with the DMU Made team at dmumade@dmu.ac.uk.
