Oxford University Innovation and TORCH are delighted to host the Humanities Innovation Challenge. We are keen to encourage researchers, students, and staff to develop entrepreneurial ideas which can potentially enrich their own work, communicate to a wider audience, and develop new perspectives in the Humanities and heritage space.
To this end, you are invited to propose innovative ideas which can lead to entrepreneurial activity, social impact, or enterprise. Although the Challenge is open to individuals, we would also like to encourage cross-disciplinary teamwork, in which case at least one member of the team should come from a Humanities discipline.
Even if your idea doesn’t win a prize, an expert from Oxford University Innovation will discuss the potential of your idea and give you useful feedback, so in any event it will be a great learning experience.
The Challenge
The challenge is to develop your best ideas by summarising them in a quick 2-minute video. The video should cover the following – What is it? Who is the audience? How does it make use of humanities research/ ideas? Entrants selected will be given mentoring to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges, in front of a virtual audience, for a cash prize of £500 and for in-kind support. The idea may come out of your academic work, or your other interests.
To apply, please complete the HIC form and submit your video to clara.rittscher@innovation.ox.ac.uk before 5pm on Monday 17th May 2021. Entrants will be notified of the outcome within a few days of the competition close.
To give you an idea, here is an example video.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/KDkQFfeWrbg
Prize
The winner will receive a cash prize of £500. They will also receive in-kind support, including:
Mentoring and support for the next steps and throughout your project
A chance to enter into the Oxford University Innovation Incubator programme with access to networking, funding, marketing, legal, and accounting services, or development of a University spin-out company and help with team building.
Second and third places will receive in-kind mentor support to progress your project. Prizes will be given out at thefinal pitch day on the 2nd of June.
Judges
The judging panel will be made up of entrepreneurs, creative thinkers, and experts in innovation.
Eligibility and Process
Teams or individuals can apply as long as at least one team member comes from a department which focuses on a Humanities discipline. Entrants need not be researchers; they can be students or support staff as well. If in doubt for eligibility, do contact us at the email address below. Entries containing already incorporated companies will not be considered.
