Week two of the programme will be led by Imperial Enterprise Lab and will challenge you to solve a real-world issue. Drawing on your entrepreneurial skills, you will work with students from other subject areas to share expertise, collaborate and to evolve an idea to answer the challenge question. In 2025 groups will focus on projects related to Global impact, choosing from the themes of Climate, Health and Wellbeing, AI and Robotics or Social Impact.
As a team, you will present your solution to a panel of judges and fellow Global Summer School students. This challenge is your opportunity to show originality and to build the skills you will need at university including, teamwork, presentation and communication skills.
Imperial Enterprise Lab is a dedicated support service for students, staff and alumni who want to develop their entrepreneurial mindset, skills and networks. The Enterprise Lab team talk through ideas, guide you through their programmes and point you in the direction of experts who can help.
The Imperial Enterprise Lab will lead sessions covering topics such as:
- What is entrepreneurship?
- Contextualising innovation in health and wellbeing
- Meet the founders – you will hear from a series of student startups
- Introduction to ideation, generating and choosing ideas
- Business models
- Pitching and performance
Week Two: Sample Session Outline
Introduction to the challenge and ideation workshops. Here you’ll learn the principles of identifying a problem worth solving and how to create new and worthwhile solutions.
You will continue to work on defining and refining your solution during ideation workshops.
Pitch Performance and independent work: Throughout the day, each group will have a pitch performance session, this will help you understand how to deliver a compelling pitch and hints and tips for performing on stage. You will also have time to finish off your project ready to present it the next day.
Pitch time: In the morning you will pitch your idea to the room for a chance to be your group champion, and in the afternoon the winners from each room will pitch to the whole group to be crowned champion of champions.
Meet the teachers
Sarah Ranchev-Hale
Head of Imperial Enterprise Lab
What is the Innovation Challenge all about?
Hear from Sarah Ranchev-Hale, Head of the Imperial Enterprise Lab, about week two of Global Summer School. Develop skills around entrepreneurial ideation and learn how to apply these skills throughout your university career and beyond.
Group project planning
Prototype building
Prototype building