Glasgow school project aims to inspire new generation of tech entrepreneurs

Pupils from schools across Glasgow have taken part in a new programme aimed at inspiring a new generation of technological entrepreneurs.

The events, described as “hackathons’, are giving hundreds of young students across the city the opportunity to design new product and prototype ideas for major brands.

Students sketch out their product ideas and build prototypes using cutting-edge 3D printers and AI tools before pitching their final product to a Dragons’ Den-style room of judges and peers.

Govan High, St Mungo’s Academy, Kelvinside Academy, and St Thomas Aquinas Secondary are just some of the schools involved.

Teacher Jade Cochran said: “This experience was incredibly important for our young people as it gave them the opportunity to step outside of the traditional classroom and apply their skills in a real-world, creative environment.

“For many of our students, it helped build confidence, encouraged teamwork, and allowed them to see their own potential in a different light.”

Ava Macari, who is a pupil at Smithycroft High School, said: “I enjoyed working in groups and teams, and I liked how everyone had the chance to contribute. It was great to create, design, and present our products.”

Glasgow-based product design agency Filament, in partnership with the product design engineering department at Glasgow School of Art and STAC, Scotland’s smart and deep tech accelerator, are delivering the project with support from 3D software company Autodesk.

It is hoped the programme will be rolled out nationally.

Gregor Aikman, co-founder of Filament, said: “The hackathons are a great way to give young people a glimpse into the world of work, being an entrepreneur, and getting a feel for product design.”