Award-winning ideas
The Big Bang Competition recognises and celebrates the achievements of young people in science, engineering and technology.
From special prizes to overall category winners, students have the opportunity to get recognition for their creativity, innovation and problem solving skills.
Cash prizes, trophies and certificates are awarded across a range of categories, with additional special awards up for grabs.
Core prizes
Finalist projects compete for prizes across science, engineering and technology categories. Awards are presented across junior, intermediate and senior age groups.
Science | Engineering, supported by Thales | Technology, supported by Siemens |
Junior (Years 7 to 9) | Junior (Years 7 to 9) | Junior (Years 7 to 9) |
2 runners up: certificate | 2 runners up: certificate | 2 runners up: certificate |
Intermediate (Years 10 to 11) | Intermediate (Years 10 to 11) | Intermediate (Years 10 to 11) |
2 runners up: certificate | 2 runners up: certificate | 2 runners up: certificate |
Senior (Years 12 to 13) | Senior (Years 12 to 13) | Senior (Years 12 to 13) |
2 runners up: certificate | 2 runners up: certificate | 2 runners up: certificate |
Overall winners
The highest honours in The Big Bang Competition are awarded to 3 outstanding projects selected from all entries. Students from any eligible age category can be considered for these awards.
At the awards ceremony, which takes place at The Big Bang Fair, judges award exceptional achievement for the following titles:
Big Bang UK Young Scientist of the Year
£1,000 and trophy
Big Bang UK Young Engineer of the Year, supported by Thales
£1,000 and trophy
Big Bang UK Young Technologist of the Year, supported by Siemens
£1,000 and trophy
As a global technology company, we empower our customers to make their industries more sustainable.
Employing around more than 10,000 people in the UK, our technology provides innovative solutions to help tackle the world’s major challenges, across the key industrial sectors of infrastructure and cities, energy, industry and healthcare. Our technology transforms the everyday for everyone.
— Siemens, proud supporter of UK Young Technologist of the Year Award
Thales is a global leader in advanced technologies for the defence, aerospace, and cyber and digital sectors.
We invest more than €4 billion per year in research and development in critical environments such as AI, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies. We develop product and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive.
In 2024, the company generated revenues of €20.6 billion with 83,000 employees in 68 countries.
Thales in the UK is a team of more than 7,000 experts including 4,500 highly skilled engineers, located across 16 sites.
— Thales, proud supporter of UK Young Engineer of the Year Award
In 2016 I was the proud recipient of The Big Bang Engineer of the Year award in the Junior category. I am now a Graduate Engineer at Jaguar Land Rover and completing a part-time PhD in Metal Additive Manufacturing with the University of Birmingham.
— Previous Competition winner
29%
more young people entered The Competition in 2026 than the previous year
61%
of Competition projects met our priority schools criteria
<200
secondary school students were announced as finalists
8 in 10
teachers have delivered STEM outreach in the past year
Supported by
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