STEM Next’s AI Innovation Challenge
Enter for a chance to win up to $5,000 for your program! Submissions due November 19, 2026.
STEM Next’s AI Innovation Challenge, created in partnership with the Panasonic Foundation, challenges high school youth in structured afterschool programs to develop innovative projects addressing real-world challenges using AI. Youth identify a local or global issue they care about, then use AI to research the issue, explore ideas, and strengthen their proposed solution.
The challenge gives young people the chance to learn how to use AI responsibly as a research and development partner as they create innovative solutions to issues that matter to them — all while competing for a cash prize for their afterschool program.
Program leaders provide guidance and support while youth lead the research, idea development, and presentation of their projects. Program leaders can sign up now to enter the challenge with their youth team(s), with a deadline to submit by 11:59 PM EST on November 19, 2026.
The Prize
- Two first-place projects: $5,000 each
- Three second-place projects: $3,000 each
- Five third-place projects: $1,000 each