IMechE Design Challenge New Project Specification Contest

Deadline 22 May 2026: We are delighted to announce we are launching a new device in 2027 and we want to hear from our Design Challenge Community on what you would like to see.

For 2027, the Design Challenge Steering Committee is looking for innovative projects that could still be scaled in two different levels of complexity and perform a task – mission or a series of operations.

The Design Challenge (DC), organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, is an annual competition for engineering and engineering sciences students from universities and university technical colleges (UTCs).

To get involved, please email your project to designchallenge@imeche.org by 22 May 2026.

The 2027 project should follow these requirements:

1. The device shall represent basic functions of an existing series production solution, either as volume – serie production, prototype, concept and / or large infrastructure installation.
2. The device shall use hydraulic (normal water) as key element of the funciton either as workign fluid, energy transmission media or environment it operates in. Maximum quantity of water needed is 25L (twenty-five litres) per device.
3. Device name or definition: max 4 words; the title should be specific and descriptive of the device function and mission.
4. Device and challenge description – Concept and Foundation classes: max 200 words to describe a project where no programmable electronics could be used. Only mechanical and analogue electrical circuits shall be specified. The whole device shall be designed, assembled and tested in a small facility by undergraduate/UTC students. The device mission should be a repetition of activities. Max budget / cost for the realisation £40.00.
5. Device and challenge description – Advanced class: max 200 words to describe a project where programmable electronic devices (Arduino, Rasberry and similar) can be used. The whole device shall be designed, programmed, assembled and tested in a small facility by undergraduate/UTC students. The device mission should be a sequence of activities, similar but not a repetition of the same task. Max budget / cost for the realisation £90.00.
6. 1 sketch representing one of the competing devices to be associated to the submission.
7. All in maximum two A4 pages, including full name and contacts of the team – university/UTC – individual submitting.