The 2026 TBAT Innovation Challenge

A national innovation programme - and why we’re proud to be part of it again.

The TBAT Innovation Challenge by Dains is back for 2026 - and OPD is once again proud to be involved as the Design Award Sponsor and contributor to this standout programme for early-stage UK innovators.

We’ve supported the Innovation Challenge since its inception. It’s more than a competition - it’s a nine-month journey of learning, collaboration and growth for ambitious product-focused businesses. For OPD, being part of that journey is a natural fit: it aligns with our belief that the best products come from better thinking, earlier on - and that founders deserve access to real-world expertise as they build.

OPD’s Role in IC26

As a returning sponsor, we’re involved across the programme in several ways:

• Sponsoring and judging the Design Award, which includes a tailored £5,000 consultancy package
• Presenting at two workshops, sharing insight from our New Product Science™ process
• Judging across the full Challenge awards, including the £50,000 grand prize
• Engaging with founders throughout the programme, from early workshops to the Finalist Showcase

Our goal is to bring strategic clarity and product rigour to the process - and to help teams make smarter, sharper decisions through design.

The Prize Package (and the OPD Design Award)

This year’s Innovation Challenge offers a prize fund worth over £155,000, including:

• £50,000 Grand Prize
• Two £5,000 Runner-Up Awards
• £1,000 Rising Star Award
• £95,000+ in tailored business support for the top three

OPD sponsors and selects the Design Award winner - a prize that recognises standout design thinking and execution. The winner receives a £5,000 consultancy package, which can be used however best supports their product’s next steps - from design validation and testing to prototyping, concept development or strategy.

Last year’s winners, Boost Innovations, used their prize for specialist testing - and we’re proud to have played a part in their growth. Read their story

Workshops: Where OPD Shares Insight

As part of the Innovation Challenge’s free public workshop series, OPD will present in:

• Workshop 1 – From Idea to Initiation | 18 March 2026
  Andy Last, Principal Design Engineer at OPD, will share how to shape ideas, assess feasibility, and stress-test assumptions early.
• Workshop 3 – Investment, Traction & The Team | 20 May 2026
  Simon Collings, Head of Medical at OPD, will explore what it takes to move from idea to product - and from prototype to traction.

These workshops are free to attend and open to all UK SMEs. We encourage early-stage founders, product managers and technical leads to join. View the full programme

Why OPD Supports the Challenge

As a design consultancy focused on delivering better products through better thinking, OPD works with teams from concept to market - helping them avoid wasted time and make decisions with confidence.

The Innovation Challenge aligns perfectly with that mission. It’s a programme that lifts the lid on what real support can look like - and opens doors for founders who might not otherwise access these networks.

We're proud to share our expertise, amplify innovation that deserves to be seen, and champion the role of design in building smarter solutions.

Want to know more?

You can attend the workshops, apply to the competition - or just reach out if you're working on something and want to talk. We’re always happy to connect with fellow innovators.

• Explore IC26: tbat.co.uk/the-innovation-challenge
• Register for workshops: tbat.co.uk/register
• Read our announcement blog: OPD’s IC26 Sponsorship