A team of UCL students showcased innovation and ambition at the “Universities for SDG13” semi-finals, earning a spot in the final. The SDSN and Siemens Energy-led contest challenges students to tackle climate action and the global energy transition.
Between June 17 and 24, 2025, a dynamic team of UCL students demonstrated outstanding innovation and ambition during the semi-final pitch week of the fourth ‘Universities for Goal 13’ competition, successfully securing their place in the final round. The competition, led by (SDSN Global and Siemens Energy, mobilises university students to propose practical, multidisciplinary, and collaborative solutions to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal SDG13 on climate action and the global energy transition.
A total of 15 projects were submitted from across the globe, out of which eight were selected to advance to the final round. Over 50 students participated, presenting their final pitches to a panel of energy and sustainability experts from SDSN and Siemens Energy. Evaluation criteria included novelty, feasibility, scalability, alignment with the SDGs, and the quality of both the solution and the presentation.
The UCL team – Chiara Gericke (UCL Behavioural Science), Ana Vadeanu (UCL Food Systems Research), and Martina Rotolo (UCL Urban Planning) – qualified for the next round with their project Repurposing micro-fulfilment hubs (MFHs). This project repurposes underused micro-fulfilment hubs into community food centres to enhance access to fresh produce in under-served neighbourhoods. It offers an alternative to traditional supply chains by linking local producers directly with consumers. The team will go to a global final in New York from 19-20 September, with a chance of winning $10,000 USD to further develop their solution.
Judges praised the UCL students for their compelling presentation, noting:
Their presentation was polished, confident, and easy to follow, with a strong team that clearly understood the topic and handled questions well. The SDGs impact table was a great addition and helped show the project’s relevance. The team has a strong foundation, and with a clearer focus on innovation and practicality, the project has real potential to make a meaningful impact.
Simon Knowles (UCL Grand Challenges), who manages the SDSN’s UK network, led by UCL, added:
“Congratulations to the UCL team. Their excellent proposal demonstrated how food systems contributed to the climate crisis and presented an innovative proposal of how this could be mitigated. I look forward to seeing how they can develop it further in advance of the global final.”
From now until early September, all eight selected teams will have the opportunity to further develop their proposals with continued guidance from their Siemens Energy mentors. The results will be publicly announced during a hybrid Award Ceremony in September.
Sustainable Development Solutions Network UK 