ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 shortlist revealed as 140+ global entries highlight EdTech impact
More than 140 submissions across global EdTech, AI, and workforce learning highlight the scale, innovation, and real-world impact shaping the future of education.
The ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 shortlist has officially been announced, following a strong global response and more than 140 submissions across this year’s categories.
Entries came from across the UK, USA, Canada, and wider international markets, reflecting the growing role of technology in education, skills development, and workforce transformation. Submissions spanned artificial intelligence, digital learning platforms, student engagement tools, and solutions supporting career readiness and lifelong learning.
This year’s shortlist highlights organisations delivering measurable impact in real-world environments. From AI-driven personalization and assessment tools to platforms supporting workforce capability and industry collaboration, the range of entries demonstrates how EdTech continues to move beyond concept into implementation.
Judges reviewed submissions based on innovation, adoption, and evidence of impact, with a focus on how solutions are being used in practice across schools, higher education, and professional learning environments.
Over the coming days, ETIH will publish a series of category-focused articles, taking a closer look at each shortlisted organisation and the work that led to their selection.
Winners of the ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 will be announced on Monday, 11 May 2026.
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
Learnetic (EdTool)
Explore Learning (Compass)
Google Research (AI Quests, with Stanford Accelerator for Learning)
Code Along (Black Girls Code)
SMART Technologies (Lumio)
Medly AI
Venture Valley
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
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)
Learnetic (EdTool)
Google Research (AI Quests, with Stanford Accelerator for Learning)
Find Your Grind
Efekta Education (Addi AI Platform)
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
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
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)
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
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
Learnetic (EdTool)
Lexillion (StudyMatix)
EdenFiftyOne (EFO AI)
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
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)
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)
Learnetic (EdTool)
Reflective Intelligence (The Examina)
EdenFiftyOne (EFO AI)
Efekta Education (Addi AI Teaching Assistant)
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)
Learnetic (EdTool)
SMART Technologies (Lumio)
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
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)
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
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
Best Global Impact
This award recognizes a platform, product, or project that is transforming education in underserved or global communities.
Judges are looking for initiatives that drive meaningful access, equity, and measurable learning improvements on a global scale.
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)
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)
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
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
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
