Ideate. Collaborate. Create. Iterate
Tech Futures Challenge
TFC challenges students to solve a real-world problem in their community using biology and technology for a chance to win award and prizes!
Register for Tech Futures Challenge 2025! This year’s cycle will run from January 16th, 2025 to May 31st, 2025.
TFC is for all student teams in grades 8-12 & post-secondary from across Canada.
Diverse & creative perspectives are encouraged, and there is no entrance or project fee.
What is Tech Futures Challenge?
The Tech Futures Challenge inspires and invites youth to collaborate with friends, classmates, and mentors to address sustainability challenges in their community. With the support from online resources, mentoring matching and in-person workshops, teams will explore the design thinking process in order to blend biology and technology to create a prototype solution. Teams will show off their hard-work and iterations at a showcase for a chance to win awards!
We believe youth have the power to make a difference. Together, we can create impactful solutions for your community and the world we share.
With the Tech Futures Challenge, you will:
- Learn more about the exciting world of bio-technologies like synthetic biology, bioengineering, genetic engineering and more.
- Develop wet lab skills guided by researchers in professional lab settings.
- Work directly with experienced mentors and STEM industry experts to bring your project idea to life
- Learn more about possible career opportunities in STEM industries
- Nurture your entrepreneurial mindset – your ideas could be the start for a new business!
Hear it from our participants!
Explore a decade of innovation and creativity—click here to visit our Innovation Showcase and discover incredible team projects from the past 10 years!
TFC at a glance
#1
Make a team and join us virtually at the Kick-off!
#2
Blend biology & technology to create a viable prototype with mentor support and resources.
#3
Receive seed funding, one-on-one mentorships and access to exclusive online resources.
#4
Learn new skills and meet like-minded youth innovators and workshops and events.
#5
Present your prototype model at the Prototype Showcase and compete for prizes!
TFC Stages
January 16 – February 26, 2025
Project Pitch
- Meet virtually with a dedicated mentor.
- Review & use useful resources.
- Make a short pitch video.
- Receive virtual feedback from a panel of mentors & judges with the chance to review more details in person at the Skills Building Workshop.
- Submit seed-funding applications.
- Win awards, such as: Best pitch prizes, Runner-up prizes and possibly more. Additional prizes & awards TBA!
February 26 -May 31, 2025
Project Prototype
- Participate in in-person & online at the Skills Building & Networking Workshop on March 8-9 at the Life Sciences Innovation Hub in Calgary.
- Connect with mentors in person
- Review feedback from judges
- Work in professional wet labs and makerspaces.
- Connect and network with other teams from across Canada.
- Present your project prototype and receive feedback from a panel of mentors at the May Project Showcase.
- Win awards, such as: Best pitch prizes, Runner-up prizes and possibly more. Additional prizes & awards TBA!
Meet the Mentors
Julie Legault
Amino Labs
Emily Hicks
FREDsense
Connect2Innovate self-directed projects are supported and guided by our valued volunteer mentors.
Through their mentorship and support to Connect2Innovate participants and program, mentors have the opportunity to:
- share critical knowledge and skills often unavailable in regular school environments
- be role models and share insights and experiences about STEM careers and pathways
- contribute to student projects and causes that resonate with them
- further their own specialty areas and technologies
- develop their own knowledge and skills by teaching others
The Challenge has given these kids the opportunity to explore STEM topics far beyond the scope of classroom learning and apply them to the real-world problems they are most passionate about.
The Tech Futures Challenge approach really helped us to better understand the problem we are trying to solve and build solutions that are better suited to our end-users and their needs.