RAF Engineering Competition
2018 is the National Year of the Engineer and to coincide with that, the RAF has just launched its first ever Engineering Competition.
The competition is an 18-month team challenge, with cash prizes, that aims to encourage a widespread interest in engineering across the Whole Force and to inspire people of all ages to get involved in Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths (STEM).
There will be 2 competitions run in parallel: a Senior Competition and a separate Youth Engagement Competition. The Senior Competition is open to: all RAF personnel across all trades and branches; the Whole Force & Joint participants in teams comprising a majority of RAF personnel; the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS); and University Air Squadrons (UAS). The Youth Engagement Competition is open to: RAF Air Cadets including CCF(RAF), Air Scouts and the Girls Venture Corps.
To encourage maximum breadth of thought and vision and to promote innovation, ingenuity and Thinking to Win (T2W), entries can be submitted against 4 broad themes:
* Royal Air Force – the next 100 years.
* Size, weight and power.
* Height, reach, speed and endurance.
* The Information Age.
The Competition will run in 2 distinct Phases. Phase 1 is when teams can register their interest and then submit their concept (what, why, how) with a rough outline design. All submissions will then be judged and sifted with 15 entries from both competitions proceeding to the Finals.
In Phase 2, each of the 30 Finalist teams will receive £3000 to aid concept refinement and production of a prototype or concept demonstrator. They will also have access to a pool of Industry Mentors. The overall Competition will culminate with a finale event in Autumn 2018 which will include a pitch to a panel of expert judges drawn from senior RAF, Industry, PEI, Entrepreneurs & Inspirational figures followed by an Awards Ceremony with the following prizes.
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Senior Competition |
Youth Engagement Competition |
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Winners: £5000 |
Winners: Flight Sim for the unit + STEM Bundle |
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Second Place: £2000 |
Second Place: STEM Bundle + VIP visit (Industrial visit, Red Arrows, RAF Stn, or Bloodhound Project) |
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DTUS/UAS Academic Excellence Award: £1000 |
All Finalists: STEM Bundle |
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Women in Engineering Award for best all-female team: £1000 |
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Ingenuity Award for originality of thought: £1000 |
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The Competition launches on 18 Apr 17 and to view the rules, FAQs and promotional material simply go to the Competition website here
Teams need to Register by 1 Aug 17, with concept entries submitted by e-mail by 1 Oct 17. The outcome of Phase 1 judging will be announced in Nov 17.
The central STEM theme gives the wider RAF Family a chance to participate in the national drive to inspire the next generation. The Competition is aligned with the RAF’s Strategic Objectives of Building a Workforce Fit for the Future and Delivering the Next Generation Air Force Capability. It will also Embrace ‘T2W’ through innovation in engineering and deliver activities that help to Promote Women into Science and Engineering (WISE) whilst retaining and attracting RAF personnel in STEM roles.