How can you get children excited about technology? Through the Innovation Challenge, KIVI invites Year 7 and 8 pupils in North Brabant to get involved as young engineers. The pupils investigate a current challenge and work together to devise a smart and sustainable solution.

Technology plays a key role in solving societal issues. At the same time, there is a shortage of engineers. That is why it is important to introduce children to science and technology from an early age. As a professional association for engineers, KIVI aims to contribute to this. By letting children investigate, design and devise solutions for themselves, they gain an initial insight into what it means to use technology to contribute to the world around them.

From problem to solution
The Innovation Challenge is all about curiosity, creativity and collaboration. A class works together on a theme and selects a problem or challenge within that theme. The pupils then research the topic, come up with various solutions and work together to develop one idea further.

The challenge consists of six steps:

  1. Theme and challenge
    The class starts with a theme that ties in with the curriculum and decides which problem or challenge will be the focus.
  2. Research and brainstorming
    The pupils gather information, investigate the issue and come up with possible solutions.
  3. Developing a solution
    The class chooses an idea and develops it further. This could be, for example, a design, prototype, plan, film or animation.
  4. Telling the story
    The pupils explain which problem they have chosen, why it is important and how they arrived at their solution.
  5. Presenting and assessment
    The class presents the final result. An independent jury assesses both the process and the final solution.
  6. The final
    Three finalists will present their solutions on 10 March 2027 during Engineers’ Day at Eindhoven University of Technology. The winner of the Innovation Challenge will also be announced there.

The teacher decides how the challenge will be incorporated into the curriculum and how much time the class will spend on the various steps.

Get your primary school involved
KIVI is looking for primary schools in the province of North Brabant whose Year 7 or 8 pupils would like to take part. Do you know of a school that might be interested? Download the registration form and send it to innovatiechallenge@fique.eu.

This gives pupils the chance to discover for themselves how much fun it is to use technology to come up with creative solutions for the world around them.

Read the brochure