The inaugural ETIH Innovation Awards celebrate global excellence in education technology, recognising Winners, Highly Commended entries, and Finalists across AI in education, digital learning, higher education innovation, workforce skills, inclusion, and global impact.

The ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 winners have been revealed, following a strong first year for the programme and more than 140 entries from companies, institutions, and organizations across the UK, the Americas, and wider international markets.

The awards celebrate excellence in global education technology, with a focus on practical innovation, measurable impact, and real-world adoption across all stages of education and workforce development. This year’s winners and Highly Commended entries reflect the breadth of work taking place across the sector, from AI-powered tutoring and digital learning platforms to inclusion tools, career readiness solutions, higher education systems, and large-scale global learning projects.

Entries were reviewed by an independent judging panel with expertise across education, technology, AI, school leadership, workforce development, and digital transformation. Judges assessed submissions based on innovation, evidence of impact, adoption, scalability, and the extent to which each solution is helping to address real challenges in teaching, learning, skills development, and institutional change.

Judging panel

The ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 were reviewed by an independent judging panel with expertise across education, technology, AI, school leadership, workforce development, and digital transformation.

Al Kingsley MBE, Group CEO at NetSupport and Chair of a Multi-Academy Trust, brings over 30 years of experience across EdTech, school governance, and SEND, with a focus on implementation and impact.

Catherine Buckler, Digital Innovation Lead and Head of Geography at Sydenham High School, combines classroom practice with AI research and whole-school digital strategy, with a focus on evidence-informed technology adoption in schools.

Emma Cate Thompson, Director of Content at Paxton Media and Co-founder and Editor of ETIH, combines classroom leadership experience with ongoing analysis of EdTech, AI, and workforce skills.

Jack Dowling, Independent Consultant and Operating Partner at Hullabaloo Consulting, specializes in strategy, operations, and AI-led transformation, with a focus on implementation, scalability, and measurable outcomes.

Kate Owbridge, Educational Consultant and former Executive Headteacher, brings extensive experience in school leadership, inspection, and evidence-led school improvement.

Neil Almond, Senior Lead for Teacher Development at STEP Ahead Teaching School Hub, focuses on curriculum design and integrating AI into classroom practice.

Richard Govada Joshua, Project Manager at TEKsystems, focuses on AI adoption, workforce development, and building practical skills across enterprise environments.

Saira Khan, Head of Innovation and Partnerships at first direct, part of HSBC, specializes in workforce capability, digital transformation, and AI-driven skills development.

Scott Thompson, Executive Director at Paxton Media and Co-founder of ETIH, brings extensive experience in technology journalism and digital transformation.

Tina Austin, AI ethics consultant and educator, focuses on responsible AI adoption, AI literacy, and faculty development across global education systems.

Best Digital Learning Platform for Schools

This award recognizes a platform that delivers outstanding digital learning experiences in school settings across a range of subjects.

We’re looking for intuitive platforms that offer strong content delivery, learner engagement, and effective data use. Judges will want to see a measurable impact on learning outcomes and user experience.

Finalists

Learning by Questions (LbQ)
Efekta
EdTool (Learnetic)
Explore Learning (Compass)
Google Research (AI Quests, with Stanford Accelerator for Learning)
Code Along (Black Girls Code)
SMART Technologies (Lumio)
Medly AI
Venture Valley

Winner

Learning by Questions (LbQ)

Highly Commended

Code Along (Black Girls Code)

Best Digital Learning Platform for Higher Education

This award recognizes a platform that delivers outstanding digital learning experiences in higher education.

We’re looking for platforms that support teaching, learning, and administration at scale, with clear evidence of improved student outcomes and user experience.

Finalists

Blackboard
Learning with Experts
London School of Innovation
Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU Tech Policy Hackathon 2025)
Medly AI

Winner

Blackboard

Highly Commended

London School of Innovation

Best Global K–12 Learning Solution

This award will go to the platform or product making the most significant contribution to primary and secondary education on a global scale.

Judges are looking for solutions that align with K–12 curriculum standards, improve student outcomes, and demonstrate strong school adoption and user feedback.

Finalists

CheckIT LMS (Cleo AI Mentor)
EdTool (Learnetic)
Google Research (AI Quests, with Stanford Accelerator for Learning)
Find Your Grind
Efekta Education (Addi AI Platform)

Winner

Google Research (AI Quests, with Stanford Accelerator for Learning)

Highly Commended

CheckIT LMS (Cleo AI Mentor)

Best Solution for UK Institutions

This award recognizes a product or platform specifically designed to support UK based education whether through teaching resources, assessment tools, or student engagement strategies.

Judges will be looking for alignment with UK education goals, measurable improvement in outcomes, and adoption in UK schools or trusts.

Finalists

Computeam (Compass)
IXL
EdenFiftyOne (EFO AI)
Chalkie.ai
Medly AI

Winner

EdenFiftyOne (EFO AI)

Highly Commended

Computeam (Compass)

Best Lifelong or Flexible Learning Solution

This award goes to platforms supporting continuous learning beyond formal education, whether through microlearning, mobile-first design, or self-paced learning.

Judges are looking for flexibility, accessibility, and evidence of meaningful learning for adult or non-traditional learners.

Finalists

Kaohsiung City Government (Generative AI for Smart Cities)
Kaohsiung City Government (Harbor Line Digital Learning Experience)
Learning with Experts
Attensi

Winner

Learning with Experts

Highly Commended

Attensi

Best Career and Skills Development Platform

This award recognizes tools that help students or adult learners build job-ready skills, earn credentials, or explore career pathways.

Judges will be looking for alignment with workforce needs, user adoption, and real-world outcomes in employability or progression.

Finalists

Raiffeisen Bank International (Innovation School)
Find Your Grind
SkillsVR
Attensi (Dawn Foods)

Winner

SkillsVR

Highly Commended

Find Your Grind

Best AI powered EdTech solution (USA and Canada)

This award recognizes outstanding use of artificial intelligence in an education context across the USA and Canada.

We’re looking for platforms that use AI to drive personalization, automate key tasks, enhance decision-making, or create new forms of educational value. Judges will expect evidence of impact, innovation, and responsible deployment.

Finalists

Melospeech (CMSP:B-5)
Explorance (MLY)
First Student (HALO)
TalkingPoints (Message Mentor)
Metafoodx
CheckIT LMS (Cleo AI Mentor)
2U (Xpert Learning Assistant)
DreamCollege.ai
Syllabyte AI
BoodleBox

Winner

TalkingPoints (Message Mentor)

Highly Commended

BoodleBox

Best AI powered EdTech solution (RoW)

This award recognizes outstanding use of artificial intelligence in an education context across the rest of the world.

Judges are looking for innovation, measurable impact, and responsible deployment of AI in learning environments.

Finalists

EdTool (Learnetic)
Lexillion (StudyMatix)
EdenFiftyOne (EFO AI)
N Solution

Winner

EdTool (Learnetic)

Best AI Tutor or Personalized Learning Agent

This award celebrates AI-driven tools offering one-to-one learning support, tutoring, or adaptive learning paths.

Judges want to see how the tool adjusts to individual learners, what outcomes it achieves, and how it scales across different learning environments.

Finalists

Medly AI
Thea Study
Syntea (IU Group)
KAITLab
CheckIT LMS (Cleo AI Mentor)
TutorVolt
Argonaut AI (Eden AI)
VIMI
EdenFiftyOne

Winner

Medly AI

Highly Commended

Syntea (IU Group)

Best Student Engagement and Assessment Tool

This award honors a platform that successfully boosts student participation while providing actionable assessment and feedback.

Judges will be looking for evidence of increased engagement, intelligent use of feedback data, and how the tool supports better learning outcomes.

Finalists

Explorance (BlueX)
EdenFiftyOne (EFO AI)
Synap
Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU Tech Policy Hackathon 2025)

Winner

Synap

Highly Commended

Explorance (BlueX)

Best Teacher Empowerment Tool

This award goes to a tool or platform that helps educators do their jobs more effectively, whether through professional development, time-saving automation, or resource support.

Judges will be looking for measurable improvements in teacher productivity, confidence, or well-being.

Finalists

Learning by Questions (LbQ)
CheckIT LMS (Cleo AI Mentor)
EdTool (Learnetic)
Reflective Intelligence (The Examina)
EdenFiftyOne (EFO AI)
Efekta Education (Addi AI Teaching Assistant)
Chalkie.ai

Winner

Reflective Intelligence (The Examina)

Highly Commended

Chalkie.ai

Best Special Needs and Inclusion Solution

This award will go to a platform, product, or program that supports students with special educational needs and/or promotes inclusive learning across diverse student populations.

Judges are looking for accessible, inclusive design and clear evidence of positive outcomes for learners, including those facing additional barriers to education. This may include solutions designed specifically for SEND, as well as those embedding inclusion into mainstream learning experiences.

Finalists

UNOWA (MIKKO)
First Student (First Alt)
EdenFiftyOne (EFO AI)
CheckIT LMS (Cleo AI Mentor)
EdTool (Learnetic)
SMART Technologies (Lumio)

Winner

UNOWA (MIKKO)

Highly Commended

First Student (First Alt)

Best STEM Learning Solution

This award honors the best technology supporting learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Judges will be looking for solutions that promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity through engaging content or innovative delivery.

Finalists

Samsung Electronics UK (Solve for Tomorrow)
Google Research (AI Quests, with Stanford Accelerator for Learning)
Code Along (Black Girls Code)
UNOWA (ULabs)
Medly AI
SkillsVR

Winner

Samsung Electronics UK (Solve for Tomorrow) and Hark

Highly Commended

Medly AI

Best Use of EdTech in Higher Education

This award celebrates a university or higher education institution that has embedded edtech in a way that transforms the student or faculty experience.

Judges will be looking for innovative use of digital platforms, AI, or data-driven approaches that improve teaching, research, or administrative processes.

Finalists

AppsAnywhere (Purdue University College of Engineering)
Blackboard
Impact Consulting
Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU Tech Policy Hackathon 2025)

Winner

Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU Tech Policy Hackathon 2025)

Highly Commended

Impact Consulting

Higher Education Innovation Award

This award recognizes the most transformative use of education technology in colleges or universities.

Judges will be looking for tools or platforms that improve student experience, boost teaching or administrative processes, and demonstrate innovation within higher education settings.

Finalists

Adjunctions
Pathify (Campus Experience Platform)
DFR
Ellucian
Impact Consulting
London School of Innovation
Thesis Elements
SMART Technologies (SMART Board Mini)
BoodleBox

Winner
Ellucian

Highly Commended
BoodleBox

Best Workforce and Industry Collaboration Platform

This award celebrates education platforms that connect learners with employers, support workplace training, or embed industry-aligned content.

Judges are looking for clear evidence of partnerships, scalable delivery, and meaningful outcomes for both learners and employers.

Finalists

Learna (Diploma MSc)
SkillsVR
Attensi
Brarista

Winner

Learna (Diploma MSc)

Best Global Impact

This award recognizes a platform, product, or project delivering measurable impact on education across more than one country.

Judges are looking for initiatives that demonstrate clear improvements in learning outcomes, access, or education systems across multiple markets. Entries should evidence scale, adoption, and sustained impact beyond a single country.

Finalists

Learning with Experts
Synap
Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU Tech Policy Hackathon)
SkillsVR
Efekta
Samsung Electronics UK (Solve for Tomorrow)
Google Research (AI Quests, with Stanford Accelerator for Learning)
Pathify
Ellucian
OneSchool Global (Global Digital Learning Ecosystem)
Wimmer Solutions

Winner

Efekta

Highly Commended

OneSchool Global (Global Digital Learning Ecosystem)

EdTech Thought Leader of the Year

This category honors an individual shaping the future of education technology through influential writing, speaking, research, or advocacy.

Judges will be looking for examples of thought leadership that push the conversation forward and have real impact on policy, practice, or innovation.

Finalists

Myriam Da Silva (CheckIT Learning)
Elspeth Briscoe (Learning with Experts)
Tom Reynolds (EdenFiftyOne)
Matt Sauri (Wimmer Solutions)

Winner

Elspeth Briscoe, Founder, Learning with Experts

Highly Commended

Tom Reynolds, Founder and Director, EdenFiftyOne

EdTech Start-Up of the Year

This award will go to a high-potential EdTech start-up making waves in the education sector.

Judges will be looking for early traction, innovation, team vision, and evidence that the business is well positioned for long-term success.

Finalists

PhonoLogic
N Solution (N-Savoir+)
BoodleBox (BoodleBox Platform)
Find Your Grind
Medly AI
Sova
KAITLab
CheckIT LMS
TutorVolt
Aneemo

Winner

BoodleBox

Highly Commended

Medly AI

EdTech Company of the Year (UK)

This category celebrates a UK-based edtech company demonstrating strong performance, innovation, and sector impact.

Judges want to see how the company is supporting UK education and responding to the needs of the sector.

Finalists

Learning with Experts
Learning by Questions (LbQ)
EdenFiftyOne
Medly AI
Synap
Chalkie.ai

Winner

Synap

Highly Commended

Learning by Questions (LbQ)

EdTech Company of the Year (Global)

This award recognizes an education technology company that has made a significant global impact over the past 12 months.

Judges will be looking for evidence of innovation, international reach, strong adoption, and measurable outcomes at scale.

Finalists

Google Research (AI Quests, with Stanford Accelerator for Learning)
Efekta
2U (edX)
Find Your Grind
UNOWA
SMART Technologies
Ellucian
Pathify

Winner

Efekta

Highly Commended

Find Your Grind
2U (edX)

Editor’s Choice Award

This special category is selected by the EdTech Innovation Hub editorial team to recognize standout entries that demonstrate clear value, originality, or impact.

No application was required for this award. Recipients were selected from across the submitted entries.