Statewide Design Challenge
Ignite innovation with the statewide design challenge
The Ohio STEM Learning Network’s annual design challenge invites students from across the state to tackle real-world problems through hands-on, creative problem-solving. By participating, students build essential skills like teamwork, resilience, and critical thinking—while bringing STEM learning to life in any classroom.
For many schools, joining the statewide design challenge is the perfect entry point to high-quality STEM education. It’s an opportunity to inspire students, connect learning to real issues, and foster a culture of innovation.
What to expect from the annual statewide challenge
- Open to all Ohio schools—everyone is welcome!
- Students work together to develop practical solutions to important local manufacturing challenges.
- Online resources and toolkits for teachers and students.
- Regional professional development opportunities to help educators lead with confidence.
- Certificates of participation for every student.
- Opportunity to compete at regional and state-level each spring.
- An in-person showcase event celebrating the state’s top 21 teams in March 2026.
#STEMmovesOhio Design Challenge
This year’s statewide design challenge partners with the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association with support from Drive Ohio.
The 2025-2026 challenge is:
How do we improve aspects of electric transportation to improve the movement of people and things?
Develop a plan, system or product that addresses the future of electric vehicles, drones, and advanced air transportation systems in the state of Ohio.
Potential focus areas for students include:
- Battery design and manufacturing
- Product development
- Supply chain and logistics
- Vehicle integration and manufacturing
- Service, maintenance, and customer experience
- Electric vehicle supply equipment/customer experience
- Government and societal concerns around electric vehicle use
Program details
Eligibility
- Any school in the state of Ohio is eligible to participate
- Student groups consist of two to four students (see note)
- Open to all grades, K-12Â
Note: Individual students are not eligible to participate. If a full class elementary class participates in the challenge as a group, please select two to four representatives of the class to present.
Schedule
- Official kickoff event: Find your regional eventÂ
- Registration for design challenge teams closes: Friday, Dec. 12, 2025
- Entries for virtual hub and state competitions due: Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026
- State showcase: Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Q&A Sessions
Registration required. Use links below.
- September 30, 2025 4:30-5:15 PM – Overview/Getting Started – Zoom Link
- October 27, 2025 4:30-5:15 PM – Competition Requirements – Zoom Link
- November 20, 2025 4:30-5:15 PM – General Questions/Submitting Stickers for Competition – Zoom Link
- December 15, 2025 4:30-5:15 PM – Submission Q&A – Zoom Link
- January 7, 2026 4:30-5:15 PM – Submission Help – Zoom Link
Supports for schools
- Professional development opportunities for teachers
- Online expert resources for teachers and students
- Regional kick-off events
- Guidebook for use by teachers and students
- Opportunities for students to interact with industry professionals
- Rubrics to evaluate student work
- Participation certificates for every student
- Regional and state-level awards in spring 2026
Regional kick off events for #STEMmovesOhio
Join the Ohio STEM Learning Network this fall as our regional hubs host kick-off
events for the statewide design challenge. These events are designed to inspire and
prepare educators to launch this year’s challenge with confidence and creativity.
Each interactive session will provide professional development opportunities,
resources, and networking with fellow educators and industry partners.
Find your regional event below:
- September 10, 2025 | 8:00 am – 11:30 am | Dayton Hub
The Dayton Regional STEM School, 1724 Woodman Dr., Kettering, OH | Details and registration - September 11, 2025 | 8:30 am – 12:00 pm | Akron Hub
Valley STEM+M2, 7300 N Palmyra Rd, Canfield, OH | Details and registration - September 12, 2025 | 8:00 am – 12:00 pm | Southwest Hub
1819 Innovation Lab, 2900 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH | Details and registration - September 16, 2025 | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm | Northeast Hub
MAGNET, 1800 East 63rd Street, Cleveland, OH | Details and registration - September 18, 2025 | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm | Central Ohio Hub
PAST Innovation Lab, 1003 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH | Details and registration - September 18, 2025 | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm | Southeast Hub
Broughton Complex, 2351 State Route 821, Building 23, Marietta, OH | Details and registration - September 25, 2025 | 8:30 am – 12:00 pm | Northwest Hub
BGSU Levis Commons, 1655 N. Wilkinson Way, Perrysburg, OH | Details and registration
State Showcase
The top 21 scoring teams from across the state will be invited to present their solutions at the OSLN Design Challenge State Showcase on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. The event is held at Battelle’s main headquarters in Columbus, Ohio each year.
At the event:
- Students will present their solutions to scientists and engineers from Battelle, Ohio Manufacturing Association, Drive Ohio, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and a host of other experts.
- The statewide winners of the #STEMmovesOhio Design Challenge and sticker challenge will be announced.
- Students will have the opportunity to have lunch conversations with industry experts.
Guidebook for the design challenge
The #STEMmovesOhio guidebook is your all-in-one resource for a successful design challenge experience. Inside, you’ll find:
- Step-by-step instructions for bringing the design cycle to life in your classroom
- A calendar of important dates and submission deadlines, complete with helpful links
- Curated background information, videos, and resources for students from manufacturing and EV battery experts
- Grade-level rubrics to help you evaluate student solutions at every stage
- Tips on how students can showcase their design challenge work at Science Day and Invention Convention competitions
Once you register your school above, you’ll receive a direct link to download the guidebook. In addition, you will automatically be registered to receive the Drive Ohio Teacher Toolkit with valuable lessons and activities for use in your classroom.
Get ready to empower your students and make the most of this year’s challenge!
Engage students with experts
Through our partnership with the Ohio Manufacturing Association, there are two opportunities for teachers and students to engage with electric vehicle manufacturing industry experts.
- PowerUp Partners allows industry experts to meet with your class either in-person or virtually to answer questions and give feedback to students. Access to this program is based on regional availability of industry experts.
- Industry Insights allows students, via their school leads, to enter questions for experts into an online forum for experts to answer.
Information about how to engage with these programs can be found in our free guidebook.
Partners
About the Ohio Manufacturers' Association
The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association is Ohio’s largest statewide business association comprising solely manufacturers. Established in 1910, the OMA’s mission is to protect and grow Ohio manufacturing. It represents manufacturers of all sizes in every industry of the sector. Manufacturing is Ohio’s largest economic sector, employing approximately 700,000 Ohioans and contributing $110 billion annually to the state’s economy. Connecting students with the OMA helps spark an early interest in manufacturing careers, exposes them to real-world industry challenges, and fosters skills development that aligns with Ohio’s workforce needs. Engaging students through hands-on opportunities like the OSLN Statewide Design Challenge also builds awareness of the diverse, high-tech, and rewarding career pathways available in modern manufacturing.
About Drive Ohio
Ohio is home to dozens of public and private entities all involved in the design, development, testing, use, and regulation of automated, connected, electric, and advanced air mobility technologies. DriveOhio, the state’s center for smart mobility, connects all of these organizations to advance this technology across the state. An integral part of the Ohio Department of Transportation, DriveOhio fosters cooperation and collaboration, offers faster access to resources, and improves efficiency for people and organizations that are looking to be a part of this industry.
FlyOhio is an initiative of DriveOhio focused on advanced air mobility. FlyOhio works with public, private, and academic partners to develop, test, and deploy the technology needed for drones to safely fly long distances without fear of collision, ultimately bringing the use of unmanned aircraft for freight, package, and personal transportation closer to reality.
When you register for this year’s design challenge, you will automatically be registered to receive the Drive Ohio Educator Toolkit that is filled with hundreds of resources to support this year’s challenge.
Sticker Design Contest
Students are invited to create a sticker design based around the challenge.
The winning designs will be produced and distributed to all of the schools participating in this year’s design challenge.Â
Students do not need to participate in the statewide design challenge to enter a sticker design to the competition.Â
More information to come soon on the sticker challenge.