An idea to develop an app that encourages young people and their families to enjoy healthy living at home has picked up first prize at the inaugural #DigiInventorsChallenge.
Announced last night (7 November) by Andy Murray at his sell-out SSE Hydro event, the winning team from Erskine’s Park Mains High School, ‘Enpower Fitness’, received £2,000 cash for their school, new personal tech and the opportunity to have their idea made into a reality.
Judges commended ‘Enpower Fitness’ for the team’s high quality professional pitch and the enthusiasm each member showed by working together to build a working prototype. They also recognised the potential of the app to transform lives by focusing on the family as a whole, and not just individuals.
The runner up team was named as IT Fitness, a group of four teens from Fife College, who want to develop a smartphone personal trainer that learns how to keep the user motivated.
During the winner announcement, which took place after Andy’s match with Roger Federer, the tennis star also launched the next #DigiInventorsChallenge, which is now accepting registrations for 2018.
Andy commented: “We hoped that the next generation of innovators would rise to the challenge and they’ve certainly done that. Improving the health and fitness of everyone in Scotland, not just young people, is really important to me personally. So it’s great that the winning idea is an app that could help the whole family to improve their wellbeing together. I congratulate all the entrants for their creativity and hard work and look forward to seeing even more excellent ideas in 2018.”
Speaking of the team’s success, Olivia Bell, Active Schools and Community Club Development Officer at Park Mains High, said: “The #DigiInventorsChallenge has inspired a very talented group of our pupils to collaborate on a project that has tested their creativity, leadership, communication and presentation skills.
“What’s more, the creation of the group’s app will allow pupils to utilise technology that is already at their fingertips to enhance the health and wellbeing of our school and community. The students really enjoyed the chance to be able to develop something that will help with an important issue that affects us all, while also developing new skills such as teamwork, for themselves.”
Fiona Lydiate, the team mentor for runners up, IT Fitness from Fife College, also commented: “#DigiInventorsChallenge has been a fantastic opportunity for our students. The students gained so much from the bootcamp and we are very grateful to the Digital Health & Care Institute to have been given the opportunity to take part.
“As team mentor it has been a real pleasure to see the team develop their skills and grow their idea. The skills they developed during the bootcamp helped them deliver a professional pitch to the judges with confidence. We are proud to be named as winners of the second prize in the first ever #DigiInventorsChallenge.”
Launched in January this year in association with Andy Murray and the Digital Health & Care Institute, the #DigiInventorsChallenge works with young people in Scotland to find life-changing digital health and care inventions with a specific focus on addressing trends relating to obesity, inactivity and nutrition.
Shortlisted teams will then be invited to the #DigiInventorsBootcamp where they will develop their proposed idea by attending a series of master classes hosted by industry experts, as well as prepare a professional pitch for their idea, which they will present to a panel of expert judges, including Andy himself.
The successful team will then see their design developed into a prototype and evaluated through DHI’s own innovation processes. Support will also be sought from Scottish SMEs and investors with a view to commercialising the successful solution. The prize package includes exciting new technology for all shortlisted entries plus more tech and £2,000 funding for the winning school or youth group.
The initiative is a keystone of the five-year partnership between DHI and Andy Murray, who was named DHI’s ambassador in 2016. The #DigiInventorsChallenge represents Murray’s personal ambition to promote healthier lifestyles amongst Scotland’s younger generations as well as skills development and career opportunities in this emerging market.