What is the Notre Dame Innovation Challenge?
The Notre Dame Innovation Challenge is a new semester-long interdisciplinary competition open to all Notre Dame undergraduate and graduate students, where teams tackle a real-world problem, develop bold ideas, and compete for $35,000 in prizes.
The inaugural Notre Dame Innovation Challenge invites teams to develop innovative solutions that reduce, replace, recycle, or reimagine plastics used at Notre Dame athletic events.
Why this matters
Plastic waste and microplastic contamination are global challenges with local opportunities for impact. More than 400 million metric tons of plastic are produced globally each year,* while less than 10% is recycled.* Plastics are woven throughout the game day experience—from athletic apparel and equipment to water bottles, beverage cups, food packaging, and other single-use items used before, during, and after every game. The Innovation Challenge is an opportunity for student teams to reimagine the future of plastics at Notre Dame athletic events—creating solutions that could make a difference on campus and beyond.
Potential areas of innovation include, but are not limited to:
- Plastics alternatives
- Recycling & re-invention of plastics
- New processes to reduce or eliminate plastics
- Policy & behavior change solutions
* Based on information from the United Nations Development Programme.
The Notre Dame Innovation Challenge Kickoff Event
It all starts here!
The Notre Dame Innovation Challenge Kickoff Event
The Kickoff Event is your opportunity to:
- Learn more about this year’s inaugural challenge
- Meet potential teammates
- Brainstorm ideas
- Ask questions
- Register your team
How the Notre Dame Innovation Challenge Works
Build your team
The journey begins at the Notre Dame Innovation Challenge Kickoff Event. Register individually or with a team, learn more about this year’s challenge, connect with potential teammates, and begin developing your idea. Teams of 4–7 students are recommended, and interdisciplinary teams are encouraged but not required. Each team will be assigned a faculty mentor.
Develop your idea
Throughout the semester, teams will
- Participate in Breakfast & Learn sessions
- Receive guidance developing and refining ideas
- Have access to office hours with campus experts
- Learn how to craft a pitch deck
Present & compete
- Submit your initial pitch on October 12
- Present your pitch to a panel of judges on October 15
- Selected teams continue to refine their concept throughout November
- Submit final pitch on December 1
- Present your final pitch to a panel of industry experts on December 4
Innovation Challenge timeline
August 31, 2026
Notre Dame Innovation Challenge Kickoff
September 3, 2026
Team registration deadline
September–October
Idea development
Breakfast & Learn sessions
Meetings with mentors and experts
October 12, 2026
Initial pitch presentations due
October 15, 2026
Initial pitch presentations
October 20, 2026
Finalists chosen!
October 26–November 30, 2026
Meetings with mentors
Continued refinement of idea
Development of minimum viable product
Final pitch development
December 1, 2026
Final pitch presentations due
December 4, 2026
Final pitch presentations
December 7, 2026
Awards announced!
Meet the mentors
Faculty mentors will guide teams throughout the semester by providing technical expertise, design feedback, and business insights to help move teams from concept to competition.
Frank M. Freimann Professor of Structural Engineering and Hazard Resilience, CEEES; William J. Pulte Director, Pulte Institute for Global Development, Keough School of Global Affairs
Associate Professor of the Practice, IDEA Center; Director of the Innovation Lab, University of Notre Dame
Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs, College of Engineering
Teaching Professor; Associate Director, Integrated Engineering and Business Practices Program
Frequently asked questions
The Notre Dame Innovation Challenge is made possible by the generosity of Celeste (’78) & Kevin (’75) Ford, as well as Michael & Sarah Trela, Class of 2004.
It is also supported by our partners in:
- Campus Sustainability
- College of Arts & Letters
- College of Engineering
- College of Science
- Hesburgh Library
- Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative
- Keough School of Global Affairs
- Mendoza College of Business
- Notre Dame Learning
- Notre Dame Research
- The Career Center
- The Graduate School
- The IDEA Center
- Under Armour
- University Operations
- Walsh Family School of Architecture