School Innovation Award
A challenge for secondary and vocational students to invent sustainable solutions combating waste.
What it consists of
The School Innovation Award is organized by Associação Benfazer within the scope of Repair Café Algarve. Teams of 2 to 5 students, guided by a lead teacher, research a concrete waste issue and propose a sustainable solution, fostering circular economy principles, critical thinking, and ethical innovation.
Finalist teams selected by Associação Benfazer showcase their projects at the Repair Algarve Fair and pitch them to a guest panel of judges.
The 4 thematic areas
Electronic Waste (E-waste)
Rethinking production systems and product design at the source (preventing waste before it occurs rather than merely focusing on circularity or recycling), alongside fast diagnosis, modularity, repairability, and second life for components.
Textile Waste
Rethinking production systems and manufacturing at the source (rather than acting solely on post-consumer circularity or recycling), as well as upcycling, fibre recovery, durable garments, and uniform reuse.
Food Waste
Rethinking production chains and sourcing at the root (preventing waste proactively rather than merely managing leftovers and circularity), alongside canteen reduction, meal planning, natural preservation, and surplus rescue.
Editorial & Advertising Waste
Rethinking print production processes and communication formats at the source (avoiding unnecessary materials and print runs rather than solely focusing on recycling), plus creative reuse of banners, posters, and book restoration.
Applications relying on animal exploitation or animal-derived ingredients/materials are excluded.
Team Registration
Teams of 2 to 5 students, with 1 responsible teacher. A school may register multiple teams.