The SPARK Challenge is a year-long innovation journey where multidisciplinary teams from the University of Moratuwa come together to collaborate, experiment, and build bold products and solutions.
Challenge
The SPARK Challenge rewards student teams who dare to think differently, developing bold, innovative, sustainable, and socially conscious ideas with the potential to create real, transformative impact across society, industry, and the environment.
By embedding Raspberry Pi at the heart of the programme, SPARK nurtures originality and innovation, creating a dynamic space for play, teamwork, and hands-on experimentation where ideas can be tested, refined, and brought to life.
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Main Features
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A series of Design Led Innovation workshops, delivered in person or remotely, will support students throughout their SPARK Challenge journey.
Lectures on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) will be provided to all teams, reinforcing a core principle of the programme.
Mentors with industrial and commercial experience will be assigned to teams to strengthen their project proposals.
External industry specialists, commercial experts, and investors will evaluate the teams' proposals in a "Shark Tank/Dragons' Den" style environment.
The most innovative and progressive solutions will be recognised and celebrated at the culmination of the SPARK Challenge programme.
2026
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2026
The SPARK Challenge is a year-long innovation journey where multidisciplinary teams from the University of Moratuwa come together to collaborate, experiment, and build bold products and solutions.
A series of Design Led Innovation workshops, delivered in person or remotely, will support students throughout their SPARK Challenge journey.
Lectures on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) will be provided to all teams, reinforcing a core principle of the programme.
Mentors with industrial and commercial experience will be assigned to teams to strengthen their project proposals.
External industry specialists, commercial experts, and investors will evaluate the teams' proposals in a "Shark Tank/Dragons' Den" style environment.
The most innovative and progressive solutions will be recognised and celebrated at the culmination of the SPARK Challenge programme.
The Vision Behind Spark Challenge 2026/27
“There's no planet B.”
Spark Challenge 2026/27 is officially underway, now in its sixth year and open to every faculty at the University of Moratuwa for the first time. Teams of four to five students, engineering paired with business, build sustainable solutions guided by workshops, SDG sessions and industry mentors.
Across sectors from power and agriculture to education, transport and conservation, teams work with industry to build solutions with real commercial potential. The strongest advance through pitch rounds, from ten teams to five finalists, for a Rs 1M prize pool. Yet the ambition is bigger: giving students a story worth telling.
Open to every facultyReal industry partnersRs 1M prize pool
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Opening Spark Challenge 2026/27: Mr. Migara Amithodhana - CEO of Magicbits
Programme Celebrations
Celebration 25/26
This year's SPARK Challenge marked a milestone, with the programme successfully reaching every corner of the Engineering faculty at the University of Moratuwa. Students across departments embraced the initiative with remarkable enthusiasm, and significant effort went into helping them understand the vision, expectations, and the possibility by the delivery of Design Led Innovation workshops. Participation in the workshops was outstanding, and the overall quality of submissions rose noticeably compared to previous years. What truly set this round apart was the emergence of fully multidisciplinary finalist teams, each bringing fresh perspectives, deep curiosity, and inspiring commitment. Their solutions were not only engaging but showed genuine potential to become transformative responses to the global challenges humanity faces. This cohort has demonstrated that when creativity, collaboration, and determination come together, extraordinary things can happen.
Winner
Team LegionX
Their innovation, LEAF POST - Smart Aeroponic System, absolutely dominated the grand stage. By combining vertical farming with smart IoT tech and a dedicated mobile app, they've made effortless home agriculture a reality for everyone. They didn't just build a product; they engineered the future of urban food sustainability.
Team members
Suvindu Ranchigoda•
Dineru Gimsara Rathnayaka•
Gethmin Ranasinghe•
Anuhas Ranasinghe•
Thisath Kandambi
Runners Up
Team Bioplastic Revolution
Their Seaweed-Based Biodegradable Bioplastic completely wowed the judges and proved that sustainability and high-tech innovation go hand-in-hand. By transforming locally sourced seaweed into eco-friendly packaging, they aren't just tackling plastic pollution head-on; they're empowering coastal communities and pioneering a circular economy in Sri Lanka.
Team members
Benuri Edirisinghe•
Ridmini Hasari•
Sahas Eashan•
Nilasi Balasuriya
Team Verve
Their Smart Fertilizer Generator absolutely electrified the competition. By using a Gliding Arc Plasma Reactor to turn atmospheric nitrogen and recycled eggshells into sustainable calcium nitrate fertilizer, they proved that next-gen tech can revolutionize Sri Lankan agriculture while protecting the planet.
Team members
Senura Dilshan•
Pramod Aroshana•
Sheneth Chalinda•
Bihan Pushpakumara•
Nayana Sathsara
Notable Mentions
Team Nexora
Their Integrated Smart Monitoring Unit for Adult Dengue Patient Care truly stole the spotlight. By combining Raspberry Pi and IoT tech to automate vital tracking, they've built a lifesaver for crowded hospital wards and hard-working healthcare heroes in Sri Lanka.
Team members
A.H.T.M. Weerakoon•
H.D.J.D. Samaranayaka•
W A P W Wijesinghe•
D W K G Bulagala•
W.M. Hasindu Wanigasundara
Team ProtoForge
From a brilliant concept to a powerhouse IoT solution, their OBD-2 Vehicle Fleet Efficiency Tracker proved that local innovation can drive massive impact for Sri Lankan SMEs. They stepped up to the grand stage, went head-to-head with the brightest minds, and brought home a massive win!
Team members
Maneth Perera•
Harin Udugama•
Nimesh Kulatunge•
Gimhan Adikaram•
Yohan Bandara
Support
Socials
YouTube
The Spark Challenge YouTube channel serves as a repository for all significant recording of events undertaken by Spark Branch of the Electronics club.
Visit SPARK
Spark at UoM Facebook Page informs all followers about the latest news and events done by the Spark branch of the Electronic club.
Visit SPARK
The Spark Challenge Instagram page shares highlights, updates, and behind-the-scenes moments from Spark Branch activities.
Visit SPARK