The Inform Prize, a renowned annual competition for student technology projects, is expanding to Glasgow for the first time in its 12-year history, with events scheduled in both Glasgow and Aberdeen this September. Traditionally hosted in Aberdeen, the prize brings together top Computer Science students to present software innovations to a panel of industry judges and local employers.
According to the organisers, this “friendly rivalry” will now see participants from all Glasgow universities – Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Glasgow, University of Strathclyde, and University of the West of Scotland – join the competition for the first time, in a move that “continues expanding the Inform Prize’s reach and impact”.
Events will take place at The Social Hub in Glasgow on Wednesday, September 17, and at the OGV Taproom in Aberdeen on Wednesday, September 24, both from 12:30 to 16:00.
This year’s main speaker for the Aberdeen gathering will be Sally Walker, the former Cyber Director at GCHQ. Walker has more than 25 years of expertise in cyber intelligence, having overseen numerous crucial operations throughout her career, including cybersecurity initiatives for the 2012 London Olympics. After her tenure in the intelligence agency, she has dedicated her efforts to fostering growth and innovation, mentoring professionals, facilitating business transformations, and advocating for women in leadership positions.
The keynote speaker for the Glasgow gathering has yet to be revealed.
How the competition operates
Students are challenged to develop a digital solution to an actual problem. Their initiatives will be presented through brief videos showcasing the product in action, followed by a Q&A session with a panel of judges. On the event day, each team will have a booth where they can demonstrate their application or software to attendees, including potential employers. Teams are encouraged to bring laptops or mobile devices for demonstrations, as well as prepare business cards or other contact details to assist with networking.
The Aberdeen event has been held annually since 2014, and the organisers state that the expansion to Glasgow aims to provide additional opportunities for students to connect with industry professionals.
Awards and categories
Several prizes will be presented this year:
Inform Prize – Best Presentation
Enhance Prize – Best Implementation
Grow Prize – Best Idea
Both events are free to attend, with tickets available through Eventbrite (Glasgow here and Aberdeen here).
Updates will be posted leading up to the events on LinkedIn via VeryConnect for the Glasgow edition and Intelligent Plant for Aberdeen.
Steve Aitken, Founder of Intelligent Plant, commented: “The Inform Prize is exceptionally meaningful to me and the rest of the team. Each year, it’s wonderful to witness the creative and innovative concepts that students present, along with the interaction between students and industry participants.”
