BRITISH COLUMBIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
From concept to prototype: BCIT students pitch at 2026 Student Innovation Challenge

BCIT students pitched projects ranging from tested prototypes to market-ready ventures at the 2026 Student Innovation Challenge Pitch Round, a fast-paced, intense, Dragon's Den-style challenge finale held at the Burnaby campus. The event brought together students, faculty, and industry partners, creating a dynamic environment where ideas were challenged and assessed in real time.

Across the board, this year's submissions presented well beyond early-stage ideas. They ranged from clinically tested prototypes to ventures with defined markets and across both categories, students demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of their users, the problems they are solving, and how their solutions could be applied and brought to market.

"What stood out this year is how far along many of these projects are," said Dr. Justin Williams, AVP Academic. "Students aren't presenting early ideas; they're presenting prototypes and well-developed plans that are nearing real-world application. That's a reflection of the strength of BCIT's applied, hands-on approach to education."

The annual BCIT Student Innovation Challenge invites students to submit their bright ideas in two streams, Applied Research and Entrepreneurship. After a competitive review of more than 50 submissions from across all BCIT schools, six finalists advanced to the live pitch round where they presented and responded to questions from judges acrosss industry and BCIT leadership.

In the Applied Research category, top honours went to Pneumatic Uniform Bladder, a project focused on improving prosthetic socket fit for amputees. This is the second year in a row the team has competed and won, with significant progress made since last year. Over the past year, the team has moved from early concept work into prototype testing, developing a 3D-printed inflatable inner socket. Using a custom-built system, they tested multiple designs over thousands of cycles to assess performance under repeated use.

"Last year, we were still working through the concept," said Ryan Dorssers, a member of the team. "This year, we've been able to build, test, and refine the design, which gives us a much clearer path toward how this could be used in a clinical setting."

Second place in Applied Research was awarded to Resilient Vancouver, with Arctic Envelope placing third.

In the Entrepreneurship category, Lumora took first place with a compostable fibre made from surplus milk protein, designed to replace plastic baling twine and break down safely in soil after use. PhysioLens placed second, followed by SmartPost in third. Teams in this category demonstrated a strong understanding of user needs, business models, and pathways to implementation.

Mohammed Hammami (centre) with mentors and colleagues from the Smart Microgrid Applied Research Team (SMART)

Top Labs4 honours were awarded to Quantum-Secure Digital Twin for Critical Microgrid Infrastructure, a project focused on protecting energy systems from emerging cybersecurity threats, alongside Sustainable Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling, The Flashbang Destroyer, HandiHinge, and VectorStrike Adaptive Ball Launcher.

"The Labs4 awards are about what comes next," says Max Cimenti, Labs4 Project Leader. "They recognize the potential for these projects to move beyond the lab to market and making real-world impact."

The Challenge is supported by industry and community partners who serve as judges and mentors, helping students refine their ideas through real-world insight. Judges noted the high level of preparation across all finalists, with students demonstrating confidence, adaptability, and the ability to engage in thoughtful, detailed discussion.

"The level of clarity and depth this year was impressive," said Nigel Halsted, Business Development Lead at MAKE+. "Students were able to respond to detailed questions and think through how their ideas would actually work in practice."

The Student Innovation Challenge continues to highlight BCIT's applied approach to learning where students don't just develop ideas, they test, validate, and advance them toward real-world impact.

Applied Research

• 1st Place - $3,000
  Pneumatic Uniform Bladder
  Student: Ryan Dorssers
  School/Program: School of Health Sciences - Prosthetics and Orthotics
• 2nd Place - $1,500
  Resilient Vancouver
  Student: Pearl Koo
  School/Program: School of Construction & the Environment - Advanced Diploma in GIS (FLEX)
• 3rd Place - $500
  The Arctic Envelope
  Student: David Penny
  School/Program: School of Construction & the Environment - Master of Engineering, Building Science