Creating a podcast, designing a room, programming a robot, solving a business case, developing an AI-based solution, or experimenting with biotechnology are just a few of the options available.
These programs are designed to help high school students explore different career fields before choosing a college major.
Real-world challenges that combine creativity, analysis, teamwork, and problem-solving.
In addition, they offer the opportunity to compete for scholarships to study fields related to business, architecture, design, communication, technology, biotechnology, and other areas.
The call for applications is open to high school students and, in some cases, also to students enrolled in technical high school programs at the University of Labor of Uruguay (UTU).
Business Challenge
Business Challenge invites participants to take on the role of those who must analyze a business problem, make decisions, and present a solution.
The competition offers an 80% scholarship and is open to students in their second or third year of upper secondary school, regardless of their field of study, at public or private institutions in Uruguay, or the equivalent in the UTU’s technical high school program.
Deadline: July 29, 2026.
Design Your Room
It invites you to imagine, plan, and present a room design, combining creativity and functionality with principles of architecture and interior design.
For its 22nd edition, it is offering a full scholarship to study architecture or interior design.
Second- and third-year high school students from any academic track at public or private institutions in Uruguay, or their equivalent in the UTU’s technical high school program, are eligible to participate.
Deadline: July 30, 2026.
HackaCOM
HackaCOM proposes creating a podcast or video podcast as part of a hackathon experience that brings together digital communication, audiovisual production, and creativity.
This program offers a scholarship covering 80% of tuition costs and is open to students in their third year of high school, regardless of their field of study, at public or private institutions in Uruguay, or the equivalent at UTU.
Deadline: July 29, 2026.
I LIVED DESIGN
Viví Diseño is calling for submissions of original design projects aimed at addressing a challenge proposed by the School of Design.
The competition, which awards one 80% scholarship and one 50% scholarship, is open to students who will be in their third year of high school or technical high school in 2026 at educational institutions in Uruguay.
Participants may enter individually or in teams of up to two members. Participants may also optionally be accompanied by a faculty advisor from their educational institution.
Deadline: September 11, 2026.
HackORT: Program Your Robot
HackORT invites you to program a virtual robot to tackle challenges in logic, programming, and robotics.
The competition offers an 80% scholarship and is open to students who will be in their second or third year of high school in 2026, working in pairs.
Participants will also have the option of being accompanied by a high school teacher.
Deadline: September 18, 2026.
Artificial Intelligence in Action
Artificial Intelligence in Action invites you to create practical solutions using artificial intelligence, technology, and programming.
Artificial intelligence refers to systems capable of performing tasks that require data analysis, pattern recognition, or the generation of responses based on available information.
The competition offers an 80% scholarship and is open to students who will be in their second or third year of high school in 2026, organized into teams of two. They may also opt to be mentored by a teacher.
Deadline: September 18, 2026.
Innovate in Biotechnology
"Innovate in Biotechnology" proposes developing a project that uses biotechnology to address current challenges in areas such as health, the environment, and food.
Biotechnology applies knowledge from biology and other scientific disciplines to develop solutions, processes, or products derived from living organisms or their components.
The competition offers an 80% scholarship and is open to students who will be in their second or third year of the EMS program in 2026, with the exception of the Creative Arts, General, and Social Sciences and Humanities tracks—specifically UCA Law and Political Science. Students in equivalent EMS programs from previous curricula are also eligible.
Deadline: September 18, 2026.
EXCELLENT Bioinformatics
EXCELente Bioinformatics proposes analyzing coding sequences to identify which one shows the greatest functional similarity to a protein from Escherichia coli whose function is known.
Bioinformatics combines biology, computer science, and data analysis to study biological information, such as genetic sequences or proteins.
The competition offers an 80% scholarship and is open to students who will be in their second or third year of high school in 2026, working in teams of two. They may also opt to be mentored by a teacher.
Deadline: September 19, 2026.
Spaghetti Challenge
The Spaghetti Challenge challenges participants to build an innovative and sturdy structure using only spaghetti and glue.
Now in its eighth year, the competition offers an 80% scholarship and is open to students who will be in their second or third year of high school in 2026 at public or private institutions in Uruguay, or the equivalent in the UTU’s technical high school program.
Deadline: October 29, 2026.
ORT Experience
These challenges provide an opportunity to explore the university through hands-on experiences related to various fields of study.
Through these competitions, they will be able to explore their interests, learn about the dynamics of university life, and put into practice skills such as creativity, analysis, communication, design, programming, and problem-solving.
They offer an opportunity to compete for college scholarships and take the first step toward a career at ORT.