About this Event
The BEST AI Conference 2026, to be held at UWE Bristol on 26–27 June 2026, invites submissions to the Student Bazaar, a special interactive session on the second day of the conference dedicated to student-led ideas, prototypes, applications, and early-stage solutions related to AI implementation and AI-enabled transformation across business, education, and society.
The overall aim of the conference is to explore how organisations and communities can move beyond the hype of AI and address the real challenges of implementation. Across the conference, academics, SME executives, policymakers, and PhD students, will come together to share practical lessons, emerging ideas, and new collaborations. The Student Bazaar will contribute to this aim by creating a space where students can present promising AI concepts, prototypes, experiments, and implementation ideas to a diverse and influential audience.
We are particularly interested in student work that does not simply present AI as a technical novelty, but demonstrates how AI can be applied meaningfully, responsibly, and creatively to solve real problems, improve workflows, support decision-making, create new services, or address wider societal needs.
Submissions are welcome from undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students from UWE Bristol and other universities, from disciplines including but not limited to business, management, digital transformation, computer science, data science, engineering, education, design, social sciences, and related fields.
What kind of submissions are we looking for?
We welcome proposals that present:
- AI-enabled products, services, apps, or platforms
- prototypes, mock-ups, proof-of-concepts, or early-stage tools
- business, educational, or social innovation concepts involving AI
- AI agents, workflow automations, or decision-support solutions
- student consultancy or applied project work related to AI implementation
- responsible AI ideas addressing governance, ethics, transparency, inclusion, or sustainability
Submissions may be at an early stage, but they should show clear thought, practical relevance, and a convincing explanation of the problem being addressed and the value being created.
Submission format
Students are invited to submit a proposal of up to 2,000 words in English. The proposal should clearly explain the concept and should follow the structure below:
- Introduction
Briefly explain the problem, opportunity, or challenge being addressed. - The proposed solution
Describe the idea, product, service, platform, prototype, or AI-enabled concept. - How it works
Explain how the solution functions in practice. Where possible, include screenshots, mock-ups, workflow diagrams, system logic, or other visual material. - Use context and relevance
Explain who the intended users are and why this solution matters in the context of business, education, public services, or society more broadly. - Innovation and value
Explain what is original, useful, or distinctive about the proposal. This may include technical innovation, business value, social impact, educational relevance, or implementation potential. - Feasibility and implementation considerations
Outline the practical requirements, resources, partnerships, or steps needed to move the idea forward. - Risks, limitations, and responsible AI considerations
Identify any key challenges, risks, or concerns such as privacy, security, bias, governance, trust, or adoption barriers. - References
Include any references used in developing the proposal.
Evaluation criteria
Submissions will be evaluated by the Student Bazaar chairs and reviewers using criteria such as:
- originality and innovativeness of the concept
- practical relevance and value creation
- clarity of the problem–solution logic
- feasibility and implementation potential
- quality of responsible AI thinking
- strength of communication and overall coherence of the proposal
Accepted submissions
Authors of accepted submissions will be invited to present their work during the Student Bazaar session on Day 2 of the conference. The Student Bazaar is designed as an engaging and interactive showcase rather than a traditional paper presentation session.
Each accepted team or individual will be asked to:
- give a 10-minute presentation
- allow 5 minutes for questions and discussion
- include a live or visual demonstration of the concept where possible
- prepare a poster or visual display that can support discussion during the session and help communicate the idea to a wider audience
Presentations should be accessible to a mixed audience of academics, students, business leaders, and policymakers. We therefore encourage presenters to combine strong visuals with a clear explanation of the practical problem, the AI-enabled solution, and its potential impact.
Why participate?
The Student Bazaar offers students an opportunity to:
- present their work to a high-profile interdisciplinary audience
- receive feedback from academics, SME executives, and policymakers
- showcase their ideas to potential collaborators and future employers
- strengthen their professional profile in the area of AI and digital transformation
- contribute to an important conversation about responsible and practical AI deployment
Important dates
- Submission deadline: 1 June 2026
- Notification of acceptance: 5 June 2026
- Final version / presentation materials due: 19 June 2026
- Student Bazaar at the BEST AI Conference: 27 June 2026
Submission process
Please submit your proposal in PDF or Word format to: [email protected]
For questions about the Student Bazaar, please contact: [email protected]
We warmly encourage submissions from students who are experimenting with bold ideas and practical solutions in AI. Whether your concept is technical, managerial, educational, entrepreneurial, or socially oriented, the Student Bazaar is a space to test ideas, share innovation, and contribute to the future of AI in business, education, and society.
Also part of the BEST AI Conference series
Main event: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/best-ai-conference-2026-ai-deployment-from-theory-to-practice-tickets-1986588481626?aff=oddtdtcreator
Doctoral colloquium: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/best-ai-conference-2026-doctoral-colloquium-tickets-1986596988069?aff=oddtdtcreator
Student Bazaar: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/best-ai-conference-2026-student-bazaar-tickets-1986598040216?aff=oddtdtcreator
Business and Policymakers: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/best-ai-conference-2026-business-and-policy-forum-tickets-1986597654061?aff=oddtdtcreator
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
University Of The West Of England - Frenchay, Coldharbour Lane, Stoke Gifford, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
