Why Enter the 2019 Collegiate Inventors Competition?

The Collegiate Inventors Competition® (CIC) gives students the opportunity to bring national attention to their work, gain valuable feedback from National Inventors Hall of Fame® (NIHF) Inductees and compete for cash and prizes.

Since 1990, CIC has awarded more than $1 million in prizes to the country’s most innovative students.

By participating in this immersive two-day experience, students take their invention to the next level through mentorship, national marketing exposure and networking.

“One of the best things about the Collegiate Inventors Competition is the group of peers that you are surrounded with. These are some of the most entrepreneurial, innovative and forward-thinking people you will ever meet,” said Sarthak Srinivas, a 2017 Finalist.

Throughout the competition, students grow their network and build new relationships with fellow inventors and entrepreneurs.

The top two teams in the Undergraduate and Graduate categories, as well as the People’s Choice Award winner, will earn cash and prizes.

From the moment Finalists are selected, they receive significant exposure from NIHF and event partners’ social media posts, blog articles and news stories

Last year, the hashtag #CIC2018 achieved 21,000 impressions on social media. Combined with 67 news articles written about the Finalist teams, that’s a lot of exposure!  

In addition to all the networking and marketing, students also get unique insight on their inventions from real-world inventors — NIHF Inductees!

“The fact that you get to interact with National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees means that you get feedback from the people who have done this before. That sort of mentorship is what helps you,” said Srinivas.

So why enter CIC? If all the networking, marketing and mentorship wasn’t enough for you, the winners will walk away with cash and prizes valued at more than $50,000!

This year’s competition will take place October 29 and 30 at the United States Patent and Trademark Office headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.

Enter the Collegiate Inventors Competition 

For an opportunity to be part of our 2019 Finalist group, students should submit their applications by June 7 at invent.org/collegiate-inventors/apply.