Intellectaa iChallenge · Grades 8–12 · Worldwide
Compete. Win.
Get published.
The global innovation challenge for school students. Run an experiment or build something — the best entries win cash prizes, and are put forward for publication in Intellectaa Journal for Teens, with a DOI.
Enter iChallenge See PrizesEdition 1 entries open 1 September – 30 November 2026
Why enter
More than a certificate.
Winning entries are put forward for publication in an international journal with a DOI — a permanent, citable record of the work. Every serious entry is evaluated by a real editorial board spanning four countries. And every participant receives a certificate.
Categories
Enter in the style that fits your project.
Run an experiment
Design and run a real experiment, and report what you found.
Build something
Make a device, a model, or a program — and show how it works.
Write under the headings in the template, keep it to about 1,500 words, and upload it on the Enter tab.
Enter
Submit your entry.
Important dates
| Entries open | 1 September 2026 |
| Entries close | 30 November 2026 |
| Shortlist announced | 31 January 2027 |
| Winners announced | 28 February 2027 |
Max 1,500 words · One entry per student per edition · Open worldwide to grades 8–12 (or equivalent).
Entry fee: US $20 high-income · $10 middle-income · $5 low-income countries, + applicable taxes. Your fee is set automatically by the World Bank income classification of the country you give below. Payable by the secure link we email after submission.
Schools entering several students may write to ichallenge@intellectaa.com for a bulk registration discount.
Entry received
Keep your entry reference safe — it is also your discount code for 50% off the publication fee at Intellectaa Journal for Teens if your entry is not among those waived.
We'll email the entry-fee payment link to the parent/guardian address provided. Your fee is calculated from your country's World Bank income classification: $20, $10 or $5 + applicable taxes. Your entry is confirmed once the fee is paid.
Prizes & Judging
What winners receive.
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| Winner | US $100 gift prize · publication fee waived for the accepted article · featured author spotlight |
| Two runners-up | US $50 gift prize each · publication fee waived for the accepted article |
| Top 10 finalists | Free publication · finalist certificate |
| All other entrants | Participation certificate · 50% off the publication fee at Intellectaa Journal for Teens |
Gift prizes are delivered as an Amazon gift card for the winner's country, or an equivalent transfer where unavailable. Published entries receive a DOI and a permanent, citable record.
Every entrant who does not have the fee waived gets 50% off the publication fee at Intellectaa Journal for Teens, valid until 31 August 2027. Quote your entry reference as the discount code. The article is reviewed in the normal way, and the discount applies to the fee if it is accepted.
How entries are judged.
Every entry is evaluated by our editorial board on four criteria:
| Criterion | What we look for |
|---|---|
| Originality | Your own idea, your own words, your own work |
| Scientific thinking | Sound reasoning, fair testing, honest reporting |
| Clarity | Can a student anywhere in the world understand it? |
| Impact & creativity | Does it solve, explain, or build something worth caring about? |
Entry fee: US $20 for high-income countries · $10 for middle-income · $5 for low-income, + applicable taxes, set by the World Bank income classification — payable after submission by emailed link. The fee supports prizes and independent judging — it has no influence on results.
Previous Challenges
INNOVATE 2025 — where it began.
Before iChallenge went global, our team conducted INNOVATE 2025 — a national innovation challenge for school students (classes 6–12), organized by NanoThink Spectrum (OPC) Pvt Ltd to celebrate National Science Day 2025.
12 states & 2 UTs
Entries from across India — from Chandigarh to Chennai, Rohtak to Ernakulam.
25 shortlisted
Selected for creativity and innovation from the national pool.
Lenovo Tablet
Plus mentorship for the winning student.
Winner of INNOVATE 2025 — "The Change Maker"
Ms. Amirthavalli Nanjappa, Grade 12, Presidency School, Bangalore South
Special mentions: Most Innovative Mind — Mr. Nilesh Kumar (Grade 8, Rohtak) · Futuristic Design Award — Mr. Arnav Gupta (Grade 7, Ernakulam)
iChallenge carries this forward — now international, with publication in Intellectaa Journal for Teens at the heart of the prize.
FAQ
Common questions.
Who can enter?
School students of grades 8–12 (or equivalent), anywhere in the world. Parental consent is required.
How many entries can I submit?
One entry per student per edition. Choose your best work.
What happens if my entry does not win?
Every entrant who does not have the fee waived gets 50% off the publication fee at Intellectaa Journal for Teens, valid until 31 August 2027. Your entry already follows the journal format, so you can submit it there directly. Your entry reference is your discount code — quote it when you submit and we will apply the discount to your publication fee. The article is reviewed in the normal way, and the discount applies only if it is accepted. Each reference can be used once.
Can our school enter several students together?
Yes. Schools entering several students may write to ichallenge@intellectaa.com for a bulk registration discount.
What is the entry fee, and when do I pay?
US $20 for high-income countries, $10 for middle-income, and $5 for low-income, + applicable taxes. We use the World Bank country income classification, the same basis as Intellectaa Journal for Teens, so your fee is set automatically from the country you give — no need to apply for a discount. Submit your entry first — we email a secure payment link to your parent/guardian. Your entry is confirmed once paid. Students from low-income countries facing difficulty with the fee may write to us for a supported entry.
What format should my entry be in?
A 1,500-word format, the same as Intellectaa Journal for Teens. Download the entry template for your category — iResearch or iBuild — answer its headings, add your picture or diagram, and upload it here.
Can I use AI tools?
AI as a helper (grammar, clarity) is okay with honest disclosure — the ideas, work, and words must be yours. Entries that appear wholesale AI-generated are disqualified.
When are results announced?
The shortlist is announced on 31 January 2027, and the winners on 28 February 2027. Results are sent by email and posted on this page.
Do winning entries really get published?
Winners and top finalists go through the journal's standard editorial review, like any other submission. Accepted articles are published in Intellectaa Journal for Teens with a DOI, free of charge.
Is the fee refundable?
Entry fees are non-refundable once judging has begun. We refund in full if we cancel an edition, if an entry is found ineligible at screening before it is judged, or if a payment is duplicated or incorrect. See our Refund & Cancellation Policy.