Seven engineering projects from the United States and the United Kingdom have been named finalists in the 2026 Create the Future Design Contest, sponsored by Mouser Electronics, Intel and Analog Devices (ADI).
The finalists represent seven categories: aerospace and defence, automotive and transportation, electronics, energy and propulsion, manufacturing and materials, medical, and robotics and automation. They will compete for the $25,000 grand prize during a live presentation round in New York City on 6 November.
The annual competition, organised by SAE Media Group and Tech Briefs magazine, recognises engineering designs intended to address practical challenges across a range of industries. COMSOL is also a principal sponsor.
The 2026 finalists and their projects are:
- Aerospace and Defence: LZ Guardian AI: Ground-Deployed Safety for Helicopter Landing Zones – Charles Cain, Covington, US.
- Automotive and Transportation: GenSteer: Fail-Operational Steer-By-Wire without Redundant Electronics – Allison Salkeld, Waukesha, US.
- Electronics: ScaldStop – Belal Nada Ali, London, UK.
- Energy, Power and Propulsion: A Transformative Battery Architecture That Changes What Batteries Can Do – Alfred Piggott, Novi, US.
- Manufacturing and Materials: Supply Chain Independent SolidStir Additive Manufacturing – David Dress, Blacksburg, US.
- Medical: Regenerative Breast Tissue – Kianna Young, Denver, US.
- Robotics and Automation: MyoStep: A Soft Exoskeleton with Smart Actuators for Pediatric Gait Assistance and Rehabilitation – Sarai Juarez Uribe, Houston, US.
Mouser, which has sponsored the contest for more than a decade, said the finalists demonstrated the range of ideas emerging from the global engineering community.
“Mouser congratulates the 2026 Create the Future Contest finalists and celebrates the creativity and ingenuity demonstrated by all of the participants,” said Kevin Hess, senior vice-president of marketing at Mouser Electronics. He added that the company was proud to support engineers and innovators developing ideas for future electronic design.
Established in 2002 by the publishers of Tech Briefs, the contest aims to encourage engineering innovation and recognise designs that could improve quality of life, advance healthcare or contribute to more sustainable solutions.
Previous editions have attracted more than 16,000 design submissions from engineers, entrepreneurs and students across more than 100 countries.
Further details about the finalists and their projects are available on the Create the Future Design Contest website.
