The AI Innovator of the Year Award

Are you the AI Innovator of the Year?

We’re looking for undergraduates who see AI not just as a subject to study, but as a tool to challenge the status quo. This award celebrates bold thinkers who apply AI in creative, meaningful ways — tackling real-world problems, sparking new ideas, and reimagining what’s possible.

More than just a competition, this is a platform to showcase your vision, demonstrate your curiosity, and be recognised for the impact you can make beyond technical knowledge alone. It’s your chance to stand out as a future leader, share fresh perspectives, and build connections that could accelerate your career.

To apply, you must be:

  • In your penultimate year of study
  • Studying a STEM related degree
  • Have an active interest in AI

Apply

PRIZES

What could you win?

You could win a paid 12-week summer internship in Edinburgh or Glasgow! This opportunity offers exclusive 1-2-1 networking and mentoring opportunities with senior leadership, a lunch with one of Skyscanner's C-Suite colleagues, and £500 to spend on travel.

WHAT IT TAKES

What makes an award winner?

An AI Innovator of the Year is more than someone who understands algorithms or code — they are bold, creative thinkers who use AI to make a real impact. They see opportunities where others see challenges and apply AI to spark fresh ideas, solve meaningful problems, and push boundaries. The AI Innovator of the Year will:

  • Show curiosity and resilience
  • Demonstrate creative thinking
  • Inspire change

FROM OUR PARTNER

Skyscanner and the Software Engineering Undergraduate of the Year Award

At Skyscanner, we're proud to do things differently. Travel is about trying new things and having fun. Working at Skyscanner is just the same. We're made up of 1,000 talented, passionate individuals around the world who want to make planning and booking travel better for everyone.

We've got amazing opportunities for people starting out in their professional lives and our winner will join us as a summer intern. We'll give you an awesome experience where you will be a valuable and contributing member to your tribe and squad. You will also benefit from on-the-job, online and classroom-based learning.

We pride ourselves on our open, honest and collaborative culture, including weekly Town Halls with our CxOs and in-person 'Ask me anything' sessions. Each and every employee is encouraged to collaborate, share knowledge and develop themselves and there is plenty of cross-location working. You could start your day on a call with colleagues in Singapore and end the day collaborating on a project with our Miami office. We may have over 1,000 colleagues all over the world, but Skyscanner still feels like a small, close-knit business.

More about Skyscanner

From flights to hotels and car hire, we work side-by-side with our industry partners to bring people all the options they need to plan and book their perfect trips.

When we started out in 2003, we wanted to create a simple alternative to the confusing sites that make travel feel like hard work. Fast forward to today and Skyscanner has gone from a simple spreadsheet for finding the best flight prices, to global leader in travel with millions of people across the world relying on us each month.

Now part of Ctrip, we're operationally independent and growing, with offices across Europe, North America and Asia. And we're not stopping there. It's our vision to “help every traveller explore our world effortlessly, for generations to come”.

Find out more about Skyscanner here.

GOING ALL THE WAY

How do I win?

Register

Register your details

Extended Deadline:
26
January
2026

Online tests

Deadline:
26
January
2026

Submit by

26

January

2026

Your details must be submitted, and all online tests completed by 9am on Monday 26th January 2026

If you are successful in getting through to the next stage, you will hear from us by 18th February 2026.

Assessment

If you are successful in moving to the next stage, you will be invited to a virtual first-stage interview with a member of the Skyscanner Early Careers Team. Applicants may then be invited to an in-person discovery day at one of Skyscanner's Scottish offices.

Grand final

The final shortlist of ten students will be invited to the awards ceremony on 24th April 2026, where the award winners will be announced.

ApplyReview application