The STEAM Grand Challenge: “Innovating for a Sustainable Ghana” is the premier competition of the Global Youth Innovation STEAM Fest, a festival designed to inspire and empower the next generation of innovators. This challenge is an opportunity for young minds to tackle real-world problems and propose innovative, scalable, and impactful solutions using Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.

We believe that genius can be found anywhere. This competition is open to every young person with a big idea and the passion to make a difference, regardless of their background or formal education.

Competition Categories & Eligibility

The challenge is divided into two categories to ensure fair and balanced competition:

• Category 1: Elementary & Junior High School Innovators (Ages 9-14)
  • This category celebrates creativity and curiosity. Projects will be judged on the originality of the idea and the enthusiasm of the team.
• Category 2: High School Innovators (Ages 15-18) High School & Below, no college or university students. High School dropouts can be part of it, but can’t be over 20 years old
  • This category is for aspiring professionals. Solutions should demonstrate a deeper understanding of STEAM principles with greater emphasis on feasibility and technical execution.

Team Formation & Affiliation:

• You can participate as an individual or in a team of up to eight (8) members. No affiliation with a school, organization, or club is required. (If you are affiliated with a school, that is also acceptable, but not required.)
• This competition is open to all Ghanaian students. We also welcome students from around the world to submit a project and participate. Students who are part of the Expanding Boundaries International STEAM Exchange program are also encouraged to submit a project.

• You do not need to be affiliated with a specific school, organization, or club. We welcome all young innovators, including homeschoolers and school dropouts.

Challenge Themes & Submission Process

Participants must choose one of the following themes for their project:

• Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security
• Renewable Energy & Waste Management
• Clean Water & Sanitation
• Creative Industries & Digital Solutions (Tech for Good)
• Security & Safety Innovations
• Transportation & Infrastructure

Competition Format & Timeline

Phase 1: Project Submission: All individuals and teams must submit a comprehensive report via the event’s online portal.

• Submission Deadline: Feb 20, 2026

Phase 2: Video Submission: After reviewing the initial reports, judges will select the top 20 projects from each category (40 total) as official semifinalists on April 10th.

Semifinalists must submit a 3 to 5-minute short video showcasing their project

• Video Submission Deadline: April 15, 2026

Phase 3: Grand Finalist Notification: The judges will select the top 10 projects from each category to be Grand Finalists, based on their reports and videos.

• Grand Finalist Notification: May 30, 2026

Phase 4: Live Exhibition & Public Presentation (on July 11, 2026): The festival day will feature both an exhibition and a presentation.

• Semifinalist Exhibition: All 40 semifinalist groups will have a table at the festival to exhibit their projects.
• Grand Finalist Public Presentation: The 20 Grand Finalists (top 10 from each category) will present their projects on the main stage. Each finalist will have 5 minutes to present to a live audience, followed by a 3-minute Q&A with the judges.

Judging & Voting:

Projects will be evaluated on: Innovation, Feasibility, Community Impact, Use of STEAM Principles, and Presentation Quality. The top projects in each category will receive awards based on a combination of scores from a judging panel and votes from a select audience of partners and sponsors.

Awards & Prizes

All projects will be evaluated on Innovation, Feasibility, Community Impact, Use of STEAM Principles, and Presentation Quality. Awards are for submission, not individual should you submit as a team.

• Category 1 Awards (Elementary & Junior High School):
  • Grand Prize: GHS 5,000 cash & an advanced STEAM kit.
  • Second Place: GHS 2,500 cash & a high-end tablet.
  • Third Place: GHS 1,000 cash & a coding/science exploration set.
• Category 2 Awards (High School):
  • Grand Prize: GHS 10,000 cash & a professional internship.
  • Second Place: GHS 5,000 cash & a six-month mentorship opportunity.
  • Third Place: GHS 2,500 cash & a new laptop.
• Semifinalist Recognition:
  • All 40 semifinalists will receive an official “STEAM Grand Challenge Semifinalist” certificate and a medal.
  • Accommodation: Semifinalists and one accompanying adult will receive complimentary hostel accommodation on campus.
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided for all semifinalists and their one adult on the day of the event.
  • Transportation: EBI will work on arranging group transportation, though this is not guaranteed.

Official Rules & Ownership

Official Rules

• All submissions must be in English.

• Only one entry per student or team.

• No AI-generated work can be submitted as your own.

• Students may use AI tools (for research, analysis, design support, etc.), but the idea, direction, and final work must be the student’s own. Any AI assistance should be acknowledged in the submission.

• Do not include external links, files, or videos (e.g., YouTube or Canva) on the first round.

• Submissions must include only original content or content you have rights to use. No copy and paste of other people’s work.

• Submissions must exclude any identifiable information (names, contact details, etc.).

• Content must not include inappropriate, hateful, or harmful material, or infringe on the rights of others.

• No defamatory content regarding EBI, a political party, or any individual or entity is allowed.

• No use of prescription drugs, harmful, or illegal substances are allowed. Grocery items (i.e., baking soda, vinegar, salt, lemon juice, etc.) are appropriate.
• No Human subjects used to test (i.e., taste test, poking, pain reaction, sniffing, etc.)

• Submissions should avoid sensitive topics, such as religious or political messages.

• No content involving personal information of individuals under 13 unless parental consent is obtained.

• Do your best to utilize everyday items found around you to limit cost. Please do not spend more than 500 Cedis or 100 USD or its equivalent on your project. If you must go over, you must justify your reason.

Failure to comply with these rules may lead to disqualification. EBI reserves the right to assess the appropriateness of all submissions. By submitting, you agree to hold EBI and its affiliates harmless if you later find that you did not fully comply with these rules.

Ownership: Student video entries, project titles, abstracts, and images may be displayed on Expanding Boundaries International and its partners’ websites. PDF submissions containing original research, patent information, or intellectual property will not be displayed without permission.

Important Conditions

• Parental Consent: All participants under 18 must have signed consent from a parent or legal guardian.

• International Participation: EBI will not be able to sponsor travel to Ghana for international participants.

• Disclaimer: The organizers reserve the right to modify the rules, timeline, or prizes. The decisions of the judges are final.