P&G Fluidics Hackathon
Join us to reinvent the way we clean for a more sustainable future. During this five week hackathon, you will apply your creativity to real-world sustainability challenges and pitch your prototype to a leading global consumer goods manufacturer.
Introducing the P&G Fluidics Hackathon
Re-inventing everyday cleaning methods and products to meet the world’s sustainability challenges.
Tackling global sustainability challenges means rethinking the way we do things today. Delivered in partnership with P&G and Imperial’s Department of Chemistry, this fluidics hackathon invites participants to develop new solutions for household cleaning – achieving reliable performance whilst using fewer resources.
The Challenge
The consumer goods cleaning sector is facing four major sustainability challenges to help the UK achieve net zero:
Using less water
Helping clothes last longer
Reducing energy use
Switching to more sustainable formulations
The goal of this hackathon is to develop experimental prototypes that enable new cleaning methods and formulations for precision sustainable cleaning. Participants are invited to design macro-and microfluidic devices that boost efficiency while reducing water use, energy (temperature) levels and chemical concentrations.
Judging Criteria
Entries will be judged against 3 main criteria: Water usage, Energy usage and Manufacturability.
Conditions of Entry
- You can apply as an individual or in a team. Team entries with fewer than 5 members may have additional team members assigned to them
- All members of your team must be students or staff of Imperial College London (external applications will not be accepted)
- Successful applicants are expected to use Hackspace workshop time for the fabrication and testing of their unique devices. Planning and design work should be carried out outside workshop hours
Learning Outcomes
This programme provides practical prototyping experience. It’s an opportunity to build and test your ideas with hands-on access to advanced facilities, supported by expert technical guidance.
Develop an idea from first concept to a prototype
Learn new hardware skills and approaches to create physical prototypes
Design prototyping experiments to help validate, refine or discredit an idea quickly
Understand what the next steps are in your development journey
Gain Valuable Hands-on Skills
- Develop your real-world problem-solving abilities: work on a pressing industry challenge and explore new sustainability solutions through innovative thinking
- Gain industry exposure: showcase your prototype to a leading FMCG company and demonstrate your creativity and communication skills
- Demonstrate teamwork: develop your ideas in partnership with team members from across Imperial and grow your network
- Access Hackspace’s comprehensive facilities: use the Electronics & Digital Manufacturing Workshop, Biochemistry Lab and Mechanical Workshop. (Please note: workshop access can be booked during normal Hackspace opening times, subject to capacity.)
The Prizes
Final designs will be presented at the end-of-programme event and judged on their efficacy, with a judging panel picking the winner and runner-up. Those chosen will receive:
Winning Team
- Cash prize of £1,000 to share out between team members
Runner-up Team
- Cash prize of £250 distributed between team members
How to Apply
- Please complete the Application Form (link below) using your Imperial login
- Application deadline: 9am, Friday 10 October 2025
- Successful teams will be informed by Monday 13 October 2025
Key Dates
P&G Fluidics Hackathon is a five week programme commencing on Wednesday 15 October 2025. The end-of-programme presentation takes place on Wednesday 19 November 2025.
Friday 10 October
Deadline for all applications is 9am on Friday 10 October 2025.
Monday 13 October
Successful applicants will be notified on or by this date.
Wednesday 15 October
Programme start date. Induction session with both P&G and Imperial.
Wednesday 5 November
Mid programme meet-up. Prototype surgery and pizza!
Project Background
The P&G Fluidics Hackathon is powered by the ANTENNA Prosperity Partnership: a collaboration between academia and industry. Jointly funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Procter & Gamble, Imperial and Durham University, this partnership is committed to reimagining everyday consumer cleaning tasks through a deep understanding of the science and engineering behind them.
By developing new analytical tools, predictive models and experimental methods, ANTENNA is helping to transform how we approach cleaning – overcoming today’s challenges to create tomorrow’s sustainable solutions.