Innovation in Action is a digital project and is available for S4 – S6 students from all across Scotland! Kindly supported by NCR Foundation. 

Are you ready to innovate and make a real impact? 

This is your chance to design a smart, sustainable product or App that improves life for visually impaired people. Your challenge is to think creatively and develop a solution that is both practical and eco-friendly.

Whether it’s a useful everyday tool, a game-changing App or a clever new idea. Your design should be well thought out, with consideration given to materials, costs and how it could be made. You can sketch your concept by hand or use CAD software.

If you are feeling ambitious, you could even create a prototype. Throughout the process, you’ll document your ideas, research and decisions in a project report, showing how your design has developed.

Finally, you’ll bring it all together in a short, recorded presentation to share your vision with the judges. This is your chance to think smart, solve real problems and make a difference.

Innovation in Action programme aims to help students to develop a comprehensive understanding of design and sustainable manufacturing processes while fostering teamwork, technical writing and presentation skills tailored to diverse audiences, including those with visual impairments.

Participants will gain an insight into the daily challenges faced by visually impaired individuals, learn how to adapt tasks accordingly and acquire foundational knowledge of project management and budgeting to support well-rounded professional growth.

Innovation in Action in summary

A digital project allowing all schools in Scotland to participate | Available for all S4 to S6 students | Teams of 2 - 6 students per team | This project is silver CREST aligned | Winning team will receive money vouchers.

Timeline for 2025

Register a team by Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Project Launch (supporting resources sent to registered teams): Wednesday, 3 September 2025

Online Ask the Expert sessions: Tuesday, 30 September & Thursday 2 October 2025

Project submission: Friday, 7 November 2025

Online Presentation Day: Monday, 8 December 2025

Winners announced: Monday, 15 December 2025

If you wish to register a team please fill out an online form here.

For more information please email Wendy Findlay at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Looking for resources for younger students? Check our Pioneers of Progress programme.