About the Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge
The Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge is an international ideas competition to unite and support young people in developing world-changing business solutions to social and environmental problems. SThree has stepped up as a partner for the challenge and launched the STEM prize.
The competition brings together innovators, aged 18-30, and their ideas, that relate to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The non-profit group, Social Shifters aims to build a global community of social leaders while contributing to the UN Sustainable Development goals.
We're delighted to have the opportunity to use our expertise to support the next generation of STEM innovators and help young people build their own STEM enterprises.
“From climate change to life-saving vaccines, we work every day to bring skilled people together to help develop solutions for some of the most complex problems facing the world. This challenge is helping to kick-start new STEM based social ventures, developing the STEM talent pipeline and showing people a STEM career is one with purpose." Gemma Branney, Head of ESG, SThree
Meet the finalists and their social enterprise ideas
The STEM prize finalists showcased their ideas at the Social Enterprise World Youth Forum on Monday, 27 September. The WayPoints team have been announced as the winners and Metacarpal as runners-up - they'll receive $10,000 and $5,000 worth of funding from SThree to kick-start their social venture.
Providing access to medical testing through mobile and logistics technology
This health tech start-up uses mobile and logistics technology to provide access to medical testing, including COVID-19 in rural Nigeria.
Improving mobility and quality of life through 3D printed prosthetics
Improving mobility and quality of life through 3D printed prosthetics
Digitising water utility operations to reduce water shortages in Africa
How the WayPoints team developed software that brings water utility operations in Africa into the 21st century.
Tackling bacterial diseases in agriculture and beyond
The Uniphage team are hoping their innovative STEM business concept will create platform technology to cure bacterial diseases in agricul...
Alleviating single-use plastic in the fast food sector
A team of students from India developed sustainable food packaging to reduce the amount of plastic packaging being produced
What if you could turn single-use face masks into clean energy?
Living Energy are hoping their innovative STEM business concept will turn our global single-use plastic problem into a clean energy source.
Transforming the construction market with a low-carbon alternative
A team of young entrepreneurs from India have developed a low-carbon alternative that could transform the global construction market.
Who knew cows loved the salty taste of seaweed?
Based in the UK, a team of students have developed a cow feed that uses seaweed to reduce the amount of methane entering the atmosphere
Read more insights
Our role in a wider society
Supporting carbon offsetting initiatives with Earthly.
Breaking the Glass (BTG) programme helps to address gender disparity in STEM
Empowering women to access roles and promotions in STEM through our Breaking the Glass community programme.
Diversity in engineering
Advising and supporting our clients on how to hire without bias.
Carbon dioxide removal is increasing demand for STEM expertise
Capturing and storing carbon dioxide is set to play an important part in efforts to halt climate change. What jobs and skills will be nee...
The women in science who are building a sustainable world
Celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science who are in the fight to build a better world.
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Our research shows that contracting continues to grow in popularity, but will temporary roles soon outnumber permanent ones? Explore what...
ESG during a recession – why should employers still care?
SThree’s Director of Purpose and Inclusion, Gemma Branney, shares her views on why ESG becomes even more important during economically to...
Flexible staffing solutions for challenging times
Companies increasingly want to staff projects with on-demand and agile STEM skills, during tough times employers want flexible options. F...