The prize is independent of the IChemE Global Awards, although winners will be recognised as part of the awards ceremony.

If you are interested in sponsoring this event or any future events please do get in contact via yeais@icheme.org.

For more information please email yeais@icheme.org.

• UK only: 16–18-year-olds who are participating in the Davidsons Inventers Challenge
• Undergraduate or equivalent: members studying full time for their first degree or undertaking an apprenticeship or related qualification.
• Postgraduate or equivalent: members studying for an additional Masters qualification, PhD or other postgraduate qualification.
• Early career: who are working in a chemical, process or biochemical engineering field.

There are additional topic awards dependent on sponsorship and the winner will be selected from any age category. This list will be updated as required but the additional awards are currently:

The UK Clean energy and climate action award (sponsored by the Environment Agency)

The UK Responsible production, innovation and industry award (sponsored by Elsevier)

These awards are open to all members aged 18 to 30 regardless of geographic location.

All entrants must be aged 18 to 30 at the point of submission and current members of IChemE. The only exception is for the UK category of 16 to 18 year olds in full time education who will not eligible for IChemE membership.

Yes. A maximum of four people per group who ideally (*) must all be in the same category**. All members of the group must be members of IChemE. The maximum group size for the UK 16-18 year old category is 6. Entrants in this category are not required to be members of IChemE.

Yes. Submissions from non members will not be judged. The only exception to this rule is for the UK 16 to 18 category. Join IChemE today.

Enter your details into this application form. Please ensure you download the poster template, complete it and email it to yeais@icheme.org.

To ensure your award qualifies, please use the poster template provided.

Only entrants who have completed the application form above and submitted a poster using the provided template will be eligible for judging.

Please note: for school students (UK only), all entries must be submitted by a member of the school teaching staff.

If you are shortlisted as a finalist, you will be asked to submit a video pitch of your work (3 minutes maximum) to demonstrate your communication skills and your ability to clearly communicate the key aims and deliverables of your project, what problem is being solved and how the solution will be delivered. This will need to be sent via a video platform and details will be posted here over the coming weeks

For those attending the showcase events you will be invited to present your work to an invited audience, the videos are simply for the purposes of judging the shortlisted entries.

1. Has the entrant demonstrated how a chemical, biochemical or process engineering concept can support the delivery of one of the Global Sustainable Development goals or the IChemE’s priority topics? 
2. Has the entrant clearly communicated the key aims and deliverables of their project? What is the problem that is being solved and how will the solution be delivered?
3. Has the entrant clearly demonstrated the benefit to society in a qualitative or quantitative manner?
4. Is the idea innovative and what aspect of it is novel or new?
5. Has the entrant demonstrated an understanding and application of chemical engineering principles (eg chemical processes, thermodynamics, mass and energy balances, process design etc)?
6. Science communication - how visually stimulating and/or easy to access is the information on the poster? How clearly has the entrant communicated their project?

We do advise you to let appropriate colleagues, lecturers etc know as you may want to gain approval for intellectual property or any commercial sensitivities with them before you submit your entry. We are sure they would be keen to support you in any way they can. For UK entries into the 16 to 18 age category, only teachers /school staff will be able to make submissions on behalf of this age group.

Your entry can be based on either your own research that you have completed at any stage of your studies/career OR your own ideas of how current practices can be developed for new applications.

It is the responsibility of the entrant to ensure that they are NOT submitting commercially sensitive information.

No, you can submit work completed for any other competition or award to this prize as long as your work is repurposed into the required template. You would then need to contact the organisers of other awards to see if the reverse is true. Work is underway to align other prizes to the YEAIS awards.

If you would like to find out more about the application process and ask any questions, why not come along to a Q&A session to find out more.

Please note the time zones and select the session that is most useful to you.

Thursday 6 February 2025, 16:00–16:45 (GMT)

Register to attend

Tuesday 4 March 2025, 14:00–14:45 (MYT)

Register to attend

Tuesday 4 March 2025, 16:00–16:45 (AEDT)

Register to attend

There are no financial prizes being offered. Winning entrants will receive a:

• trophy and certificate to recognise their achievement
• feature article in The Chemical Engineer
• digital badge so they can invite others to share in the success and celebrate with them on social media.

Finalists will be notified on 16 May 2025.

• Finalists will be notified on 16 May 2025.
• Announcements of winners will take place on 4 June 2025.

Not necessarily – please refer to the Terms & Conditions.

There will be several networking events where finalists and winners are invited to showcase their work to distinguished guests. Although more opportunities may be added, the current list of showcase events is:

• London UK – 16 June 2025 (in person)
• Trinidad and Tobago - (in person) TBC
• UK virtual event – 10–13 June 2025
• Australasia virtual event – 19 June 2025
• Malaysia virtual event – 16 June 2025

IChemE member volunteers will dedicate their time and expertise to help with the judging and celebration event. They will rigorously assess all entries against the set criteria and select the following for each category:

• 1-2 x highly commended.
• 1 x category winner.

Guests will not be invited to virtual events but for any in person events, individual entrants will be invited to bring one guest (in a professional capacity eg lecturer, supervisor or colleague). Where a submission is made by multiple entrants, further guests may be permitted but by request. Please note that IChemE will not cover travel or accommodation costs for guests this must be met by themselves.

For undergraduates attending an in-person event, a maximum bursary of £200 sterling or equivalent will be paid upon submission of a member expense form and supporting receipts. 

For postgraduate students and early career members attending an in-person event, a maximum bursary of £100 sterling or equivalent will be paid upon submission of a member expense form and supporting receipts. 

No, but we have curated a list of local accommodation that you may wish to book. Please email yeais@icheme.org to request this.