Be the First to Know About JTIC 2026
Challenge Details
The Jacob Teen Innovation Challenge is a global virtual competition that empowers students aged 13-18 to become changemakers by using design thinking to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. Aligned with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this challenge encourages teens to tackle pressing social, economic, and environmental issues in their communities and beyond.
Who can join?
The challenge is open to:
🔹 Educators & Schools – Teachers who want to bring real-world problem-solving into their classrooms.
🔹 Youth Program Leaders – Organizations and mentors guiding teens in leadership and innovation.
🔹 Teen Participants (Ages 13-18) – Students ready to explore challenges, think creatively, and create impact-driven solutions.
Why participate?
- Engage students in real-world problem-solving
- Foster creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking
- Connect with a global network of educators
- Make a meaningful impact on the UN SDGs
💡 No cost to participate! Thanks to generous donations, this challenge is completely free for educators and students.
By participating, teens gain hands-on experience in innovation while developing solutions that drive social good.
Prizes
Winning teams and their solutions will be celebrated in the Pactful Community and the media. In addition, winning teams will receive certificates celebrating their success, plus:
- The winning team of the ‘Best Overall Social Innovation’ will receive an award of $2,000.
- The winning team of the ‘Most Local Impact Award’ will receive an award of $500.
- The winning team of the ‘Most Global Impact Award’ will receive an award of $500.
- The winning team of the ‘Most Creative Innovation Award’ will receive an award of $500.
- The winning team of the ‘Advances Social Justice and Equity Award’ will receive an award of $500.
In addition, we’re giving out $25 Storyteller Awards to teams who share their project and team progress on social media with the hashtag #JTIC25.
*Depending on the country of residence, the winning teams’ award can be distributed in one of the following ways: designate a charity to receive the award in the team’s name, donate the award to your non-profit school, or select an Amazon gift of your preference for your classroom.
Additional Awards
We are excited to offer an additional, sponsored prize to this year’s challenge from DRS Daylight Solutions, the Photonics Innovation Award. Student teams who create a solution in the field of photonics are eligible to receive:
- An award of $500 for a charity* of their choice
- Recognition from DRS Daylight Solutions who will share the news via their marketing channels
- Certificates of their achievement
- Mentoring from DRS Daylight Solutions to help take their solution to the next level upon request
To qualify for this award:
- The solution must relate to the field of photonics, the physical science of light waves. Photonics deals with the science behind the generation, detection, and manipulation of light and plays an important role in many technologies that we use every day in our lives. Examples include:
- Lasers
- Light
- Fiber optics
- Infrared
- Submissions must include an additional writeup as to how their solution aligns to and furthers the field of photonics.
- Award consideration will only be provided for solutions that meet the general submission requirements for the challenge event as well as being substantially complete solutions.
Pactful partners, Cloudcast Media, have announced their sponsorship of an additional Jacobs Teen Innovation Challenge award, the Most Impactful Messaging Award.
- An award of $500 for a charity* of their choice
- Recognition from Cloudcast Media who will share the news via their marketing channels
- Certificates of their achievement
Award Criteria:
- Aesthetic Appeal – Does the design look polished, attractive, organized, has a branding tone and is engaging? This means making sure everything looks neat, visually appealing, and fits the overall style you’re going for. It’s about creating a design that grabs attention and keeps people interested! 🌟🎨
- Use of Color and Sound – Are the color and sound choices effective, harmonious, and aligned with the theme? This means picking colors and sounds that work well together, fit the overall vibe, and enhance the message you’re trying to convey. Also, make sure that any speech is clear and easy to hear. It’s all about creating a cohesive and engaging experience! 🎨🎶🗣️
- Typography & Readability – Is the text legible and well-placed? Does it enhance the design? Is it consistent? This means choosing fonts that are clear, placing text where it’s easy to see, and making sure everything looks uniform. Good typography can really enhance your design! 🖋️✨
- Composition & Layout – Is there a clear visual hierarchy that directs where people look first? This means arranging elements so that the most important parts stand out and guide the viewer’s eye naturally. It’s like creating a path for their eyes to follow! 🖼️🖌️
- Impact & Memorability – Does the design leave a lasting impression? This means creating something that people will remember long after they’ve seen it. It’s about making your work stand out and be unforgettable! 🌟
- Technical Execution – Is the work well crafted with high-quality visuals? This means making sure everything looks polished and professional, with clear and sharp images. It’s all about paying attention to the details to make your work stand out! 🎨✨
Curriculum
The Pactful Design Thinking Curriculum is a powerful tool that can help participants of the 2025 Jacobs Teen Innovation Challenge develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. By guiding students through the design thinking process, the curriculum equips them with critical skills like empathy, creativity, and problem-solving, which are essential for impactful social innovation.
The Pactful curriculum is available to educators and students at no cost thanks to the generous support Dr. Irwin Jacobs and Joan Jacobs of blessed memory.
How Pactful Supports the 2025 Jacobs Teen Innovation Challenge
- Understand Phase
- Students learn to identify real-world challenges by conducting research and interviews.
- Encourages empathy-driven innovation by understanding the perspectives of those affected by the problem.
- Helps participants define their problem statement, ensuring that their ideas are focused and meaningful.
- Ideate Phase
- Encourages brainstorming and divergent thinking to generate multiple creative solutions.
- Uses structured techniques like mind mapping and “How Might We” questions to refine and expand ideas.
- Promotes collaboration, allowing teams to combine insights and build stronger concepts.
- Prototype Phase
- Teaches participants how to build low-cost, quick prototypes to test their ideas.
- Focuses on rapid iteration, helping students refine their concepts based on feedback.
- Prepares teams for real-world innovation by encouraging hands-on creation and experimentation.
- Pitch & Share Phase
- Develops students’ ability to effectively communicate their solutions through storytelling and compelling presentations.
- Prepares them for the final pitch of the Jacobs Teen Innovation Challenge, ensuring that they can clearly explain their ideas and impact.
- Builds confidence in public speaking and persuasive communication.
By following the Pactful curriculum, 2025 Jacobs Teen Innovation Challenge participants will be better equipped to develop, test, and present their innovative solutions, making a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.
We have developed both teacher and student guide components. Check out our Educator and Student pages for more information.
JTIC 25 Calendar
Step 2: Plan it
Plan all details. How many educators are working with you? When will it take place? During class time? After school? For how long? Daily? Weekly? Do you have to recruit students? Pick activities.
Step 3: Launch it
Get students excited. Decorate classroom. Decorate the stage. Make an announcements. Have an SDG selection party. Invite community members, guest speakers.
Step 4: Building a better world using design thinking
Hold consistent time for students to go through the thinking design process. USE YOUR PLAN.
Use Pactful curriculum, and Pactful learning platform to provide feedback.
Step 5: Fuel your innovators
Keep the momentum but spreading the word. Bring in the community to provide feedback.
Also, don’t forget to share progress through social media and JTIC groups.
Step 6: Pitch it!
Make sure there is time to create, record, and edit the video Pitch.
Step 7: Inspire
Educators submit finalized pitches through the Pactful learning platform. Then, celebrate as a class, as a school, as a community. Hold local presentations.
Step 8: Beyond the JTIC
Host an ImPactful camp, or join the Beyond Lab challenge to see how you can build on your JTIC innovation.
2025 Jacobs Teen Innovation Challenge Judges
Sydney Platt
Manufacturing Engineering Manager, Firefly Aerospace
Sean Yiath
Senior Bioprocess Specialist, Genentech
Roberto Carlos Navarro Félix
Biotechnology Engineering student at Tecnológico de Monterrey
Rita Kuckertz
Krantz Pro Bono Fellow, DLA Piper
Rachel Lee
Associate Producer, Cloudcast Media
Paine Harris
Electrical Engineer, Clarity Design
Nancy Hernández Rodríguez
Winner of 2024 Jacobs Teen Innovation Challenge Best Overall Social Innovation Award, PrepaTec Guadalajara in Jalisco, Mexico
Michael Doyle
Lead AI Research Engineer, MITRE
Melissa Ahrens-Víquez
Planning Engineer, Aquarion Water Company
Lissette Martínez
Senior Director of Media Relations, University of San Diego
Laura Calderon
Grants and Gifts Administrator; SOLES Sponsored Initiatives Incubator, University of San Diego
Kate Kelly
Medical Student, Counselor; T.H. Chan School of Medicine
Justine Rapp Farrell
Department Chair of Marketing, Professor of Marketing; University of San Diego
José Rivera
Lead Test Engineer, Firefly Aerospace
José Louise Negrete
Project Intern; Beyond Lab, United Nations Geneva
Janice Deaton
Staff Attorney – Trainer, Lecturer; University of San Diego
Jane Schlosberg
Director of Development and Operations, Classroom of the Future Foundation
Heidi Knuff
Managing Director, SDSU Wendy Gillespie Center for Advancing Global Business
Gustavo Riestra
Director of Scientific Culture; Ministry of Education and Culture of Uruguay
Drew Schlosberg
Host; "Spotlight on the Community" Podcast, Cloudcast Media
Davide Fanciulli
Assistant Program Management Officer; Beyond Lab, United Nations Geneva
David Shirk
Professor, USD Department of Political Science & International Relations; Director, Justice in Mexico
Danielle Silvaggio
Research Associate, Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education
Chau Duong
Graduate Assistant, Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education
Charles Parisi
Founder & CEO, Cloudcast Media
Caroylne Komen
AI for Social Good Adovcate
Carla Penha Vasconcelos
Research Associate, Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education
Brian LeDuc
Principal, Design Strategist + Consultant; Learning, Designed
Brandon Joe
Founder & CEO, Treasure Hacks; Associate Producer, Cloudcast Media
Benito Behar
Senior Enterprise Services Manager; Amazon Web Services
