Collegiate Inventors Competition

The Collegiate Inventors Competition, a program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, is a national competition that recognizes and rewards innovations, discoveries and research by college and university students and their faculty advisers. The competition encourages students who actively pursue invention in any field. The program was introduced in 1990.

WHAT TYPES OF INVENTIONS ARE SUBMITTED?

The Collegiate Inventors Competition receives inventions of all types from all fields. Science, engineering, mathematics and technology are frequently represented, but creative invention can emerge from any course of study.

Each invention must be the original idea and work product of the student/adviser team and must not have been (1) patented or disclosed by another party/inventor, or (2) issued a patent for the invention more than one year before the date of your submission to the competition.

The invention, a reduced-to-practice idea or working model/prototype, must be the work of a student or team of students, either as a class project or an independent project. Additionally, the invention must be capable of being reproduced.

WHERE AND WHEN DOES THE FINAL ROUND JUDGING TAKE PLACE?

The final round of judging and the awards will be held at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, on October 15-16.

Awards

IS THIS A GRANT OR SCHOLARSHIP TO HELP ME PAY FOR COLLEGE?

No. The Collegiate Inventors Competition is not a traditional scholarship program and does not provide direct tuition assistance. The competition recognizes innovations, discoveries and research by college and university students by awarding unrestricted cash prizes.

WHAT ARE THE AWARDS?

Finalists of the Collegiate Inventors Competition will compete for first and second place in their Undergraduate or Graduate category. Finalists will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C.

Winners will be awarded cash prizes and a patent acceleration certificate.