The Raspberries Awards celebrates creative excellence in digital projects built with Raspberry Pi, highlighting innovative hardware, software, and community impact. This annual recognition brings together makers, educators, and developers to showcase practical solutions and playful experiments that push the boundaries of what Raspberry Pi can achieve.
Entries span student prototypes, open source tools, and problem-solving projects that demonstrate measurable real-world value. The Raspberries Awards focuses on technical ingenuity, clarity of documentation, and the ability to inspire others to build upon shared work.
| Category | Description | Example Entry | Judging Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware Innovation | Unique physical interfaces and sensor integration | Environmental monitoring node with custom PCB | Originality, reliability, enclosure quality |
| Software Creativity | Novel uses of libraries, APIs, and user interfaces | Real-time data visualization dashboard | Elegance, performance, maintainability |
| Educational Impact | Projects that teach concepts clearly and safely | Classroom robotics kit with curriculum | Accessibility, documentation, learning outcomes |
| Community Contribution | Open source releases and community engagement | Repository with tutorials and issue responses | Activity level, responsiveness, adoption |
Project Submission Guidelines
To participate in the Raspberries Awards, submit a complete profile including a demo video, setup instructions, and measured results. Organizers provide templates for schematics, configuration files, and testing notes to ensure fairness and reproducibility.
Eligibility and Deadlines
Projects must be original, Raspberry Pi based, and fully functional at the time of submission. Key dates include early entry deadlines for feedback, a final submission cutoff, and an announcement window for winners across online channels.
Hardware Design and Integration
This category evaluates how thoughtfully hardware is assembled, powered, and integrated with software. Judges look for clean wiring, robust power management, and components that suit the intended environment.
Mechanical and Electrical Considerations
Entries should demonstrate safe handling of voltages, thermal management, and enclosures that protect moving parts. Documentation should include bill of materials, wiring diagrams, and annotated photographs for transparency.
Software Architecture and Documentation
Strong projects pair reliable code with clear documentation that explains design choices, configuration steps, and troubleshooting tips. Reproducible builds and version control links help judges and future users understand the evolution of the work.
Open Source Practices and Testing
Publishing scripts, unit tests, and setup instructions under permissive licenses encourages reuse. Automated test results, performance benchmarks, and known limitations provide a balanced view of project maturity.
Educational and Community Value
Projects that lower barriers for newcomers tend to stand out in the Raspberries Awards. Step by step guides, glossary terms, and beginner friendly projects make technical concepts approachable for a wider audience.
Workshops, Blogs, and Teaching Materials
Creators who share workshop plans, lesson slides, and classroom reflections demonstrate broader impact. Judges appreciate projects that can be adapted for remote learning, hackathons, or local meetups.
Future Editions and Collaboration Opportunities
The Raspberries Awards continues to evolve by inviting sponsors, mentors, and partners who can provide hardware, training, and real world challenges. Organizers encourage proposals for new categories that reflect emerging technologies and community priorities.
- Review category rules and deadlines on the official event site
- Prepare a concise demo video and clear documentation before submission
- Share open source components under permissive licenses to encourage reuse
- Engage with judges and mentors during office hours for feedback
- Highlight educational outcomes, real world impact, and accessibility features
- Plan for post event visibility by preparing media assets and user stories
FAQ
Reader questions
How are winners selected and announced?
Winners are selected by a panel of judges using weighted scores across categories, with the final results announced on the official event website and social channels.
Can educators nominate projects on behalf of students?
Yes, educators may submit collections of student projects under a single entry, clearly identifying individual contributions and learning objectives.
Is commercial hardware included in the competition?
Commercial products are eligible if they are Raspberry Pi based and provide full build instructions, schematics, and open source software components for review.],
What happens to projects after the awards event?
Featured projects are showcased in online galleries, case studies, and possible incubation programs, with author consent for sharing long term.