The 2026 Spring Ideas Competition finalists use their ideas to solve the climate crisis, as well as issues related to technology and sustainability. All young people under the age of 20 will be able to vote for their favorite among the six Spring Ideas Competition finalists from 30 March to 13 April 2026.
Photo: Miikka Pirinen.
The Spring Idea Competition is a competition for young people aged 15–19. The competition is open to teams of 3–5 people with their own idea. The idea can be big or small and can solve a problem or seize an opportunity. You can participate as part of your studies or in your free time all over Finland. The prize for winning Spring is a summer job and an inspirational study visit abroad, during which you develop your idea into something concrete.
A record number of 244 teams participated in this year’s Spring with their ideas, of which the top six have now advanced to the finals.
Finalists’ ideas in a nutshell
The teams that made it to the finals want to make the world more hopeful by developing solutions to challenges related to climate, environment, technology, responsible business and learning:
Unprompted
An application developed by Aarush, Rudransh, Muhammad, Sneh and Leo from Helsinki helps students and professionals strengthen their intuition and critical-thinking skills instead of relying too heavily on artificial intelligence.
Keratosorb
An innovation by Iqra, Anna and Migle from Espoo transforms feather waste into a bio-based material that absorbs oil and cleans polluted water.
Debatify
An application developed by Prinit, Kaavya, Kiana, Joshua and Rudrakshi from Helsinki uses artificial intelligence to support the practice of oral debating and provides real-time feedback on communication skills and argumentation.
Aerobloom
A Helsinki–Espoo based team consisting of Bhuvan, Joa, Jose, Elmeri and Athreya developed an air-purification device that uses cyanobacteria to capture carbon dioxide, release oxygen and improve indoor air quality.
Shellicon
A solution created by Jenika, Danuja, Thiran and Vishmi from Joensuu offers an environmentally friendly smartphone case made from recycled eggshell powder.
Reroute
A service developed by the Helsinki-based team Juho, Tomi, Leo and Otso directs e-commerce return items straight to the next buyer without a global return chain, reducing emissions, costs and delivery times.
Photo: Miikka Pirinen
Voting is live from March 30 to April 13, 2026.
Young people choose the winners of Spring. The public vote for those under 20 is open from 30 March to 13 April 2026. The three teams with the most votes will win Spring.
The Spring final broadcast will present all six finalist ideas and teams. The approximately half-hour broadcast is suitable for classroom use and offers young people’s ideas as well as the opportunity to learn more about idea development.
The winners of Spring will be announced on 15 April 2026.
The three winning teams of the idea competition will receive a summer job and a study trip to London, during which they will make their own idea a reality.
The Spring idea competition is implemented by the Children and Youth Foundation. The idea competition is supported by Saastamoinen Foundation, UPM, the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, the Foundation for Private Entrepreneurs, the Brita Maria Renlund Memorial Foundation and VALO Hotel & Work.
