New ETIH Awards category celebrates innovation in campus retail technology

The Campus Retail Innovation category recognizes technology transforming on-campus retail experiences for students and staff in an increasingly digital world.

The EdTech Innovation Hub (ETIH) Awards 2026 have introduced a new category, Campus Retail Innovation, to spotlight technology driving the future of on-campus retail environments.

The award recognizes deployments that enhance convenience, accessibility, and engagement in university and college retail spaces, from checkout-free stores and contactless payments to autonomous delivery systems. As online shopping continues to grow, the category highlights how physical campus retail can evolve to meet the expectations of digitally native students and staff.

Entries are now open for the 2026 awards, which celebrate excellence in global education technology across K–12, higher education, and workforce development. The awards honor the companies, platforms, and individuals redefining how technology supports learning, teaching, and operations across education.

Bridging EdTech and Retail Tech

The new category acknowledges how education and retail innovation increasingly intersect, with campuses now acting as microcosms of digital society, where commerce, technology, and community meet.

Emma Thompson, Co-Founder and Director of Content at EdTech Innovation Hub, says the addition of Campus Retail Innovation reflects the evolving landscape of technology within education: “The modern campus is a connected ecosystem, where technology influences every part of student life, from how learners access resources to how they shop and interact. This category celebrates the creativity and technical ingenuity transforming on-campus retail experiences while reflecting the broader digital evolution happening across education.”

Scott Thompson, Co-Founder of ETIH, Editor of Retail Technology Innovation Hub (RTIH), and Managing Director of Paxton Media, said the new category underlines the strong crossover between the education and retail sectors: There’s a fascinating intersection emerging between EdTech and Retail Tech, where the same digital transformation principles, frictionless experiences, automation, and personalization, are being applied to learning environments and campus life. This award recognizes that overlap and celebrates how retail innovation can enhance the overall student experience.”

The Campus Retail Innovation Award joins more than 20 other categories across this year’s ETIH Awards, which include Best AI-Powered EdTech Solution, Best Career and Skills Development Platform, and Global Impact Award.

Entries cost £80 for a single category or £150 for multiple submissions. The deadline for entries is Friday, 27 March 2026, with the shortlist announced on Tuesday, 2 April 2026 and winners revealed on Monday, 27 April 2026.