InventorSpot

This section is intended to update inventors on all the invention contests, invention events, invention trade shows and whatever else that's going on of interest to inventors.

Please make sure to look at our daily blog postings on Contests and Events to get the latest new as this inventor calendar only gets updated periodically.

If you find out about a contest, convention, or any other interesting inventor event, please contact us and let us know. Thanks!!!

WARNING: This page gets seriously outdated from time to time, so please make sure to refer to our forums for the most current information.

You can find the forum discussion for inventor events at http://inventorspot.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=2

January 2008

January 12, 2008

The Casting Calls for Season 3 of Everyday Edisons for the Southeast
Atlanta – Saturday, January 12, 2008

Details are at the EverydayEdisons website and at InventorSpot.com's forum discussions about the auditions.

January 15-16, 2008

Marketplace/Northern Plains Inventors Congress Invention Contest
Location: Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND
For more information, check the Northern Plains Inventors website

Deadline: January 15, 2008

Cisco I-Prize Contest
Register on the Cisco I-Prize Website. Post your idea and comment on other ideas posted by fellow entrepreneurs. Use the Human Network to refine your concept and form an idea team of all-stars that can take your idea to the next level.

Cisco will select up to 100 semifinalist teams that will work with Cisco experts using state-of-the-art collaboration tools to build a business plan and presentation. Next, up to 10 finalist teams will present to a judging panel for the ultimate prize: the opportunity to start a new business unit with access to the resources that Cisco has to offer.

The winning team may have the opportunity to be hired by Cisco to found a new business unit and share a $250,000 signing bonus. Cisco may invest approximately $10 million over three years to staff, develop, and go to market with a new business based on your idea.

More invention contest info can be found here .

Deadline: 2008-01-15

RE:STORE Green Design Competition 2008
The Re:Store competition calls for design entries for mixed-use urban environments with healthy, symbiotic relationships between people, environment, and businesses: local economies, people-friendly spaces, sustainable buildings, and more. Entries will be judged on Innovation and Originality, Sustainability and Reality of Intent, Affordability and Constructability etc. The jury will award three cash prizes, and 7 honorable mentions. The prize for each of the three finalists is $2,000.

More invention contest info can be found here .

Deadline: 2008-01-21

2008 Ontario Engineering Competition
The 2008 Ontario Engineering Competition is the largest provincial level engineering competition with over 240 competitors. Competition takes place between February 8-10th 2008.
More invention contest info can be found here .

Deadline: 2008-01-22


Mobile Rules 2008
The 2nd Annual Mobile Rules Competition aims to promote excellence in both applications developed for mobile and for businesses launching or promoting services in the mobile arena. The competition is divided into two 'tracks'. The first is for qualified developers working on mobile applications for Nokia platforms in four categories: 'multiplayer and connected games', 'multimedia', 'enterprise' and 'infotainment'. The second is aimed at entrepreneurs, small businesses, start-ups and academic institutions and is for business plans in the mobile space. Prizes are a combination of cash, development assistance and free products.

More invention contest info can be found here .

Deadline: 2008-01-25

The BFIIN Awards
The British Intellectual Property (IP) industry's most prestigious award dedicated to female innovators and inventors, the BFIIN Awards is accepting applications. The award recognizes any valuable idea in any of the following sectors - Health & Beauty, Information Technology, Electronics or Communication, Textile & Fashion, Arts & Crafts, Mother & Child Items, Science / Technology / Design / Engineering, Automobile, Environmental, Education or any product or process.

More invention contest info can be found here .

Deadline: 2008-01-31

The Big Idea Competition
Big Idea Competition is a competition where any current student from any university, anywhere in the world who can present their Business Idea. The contest runs in three stages the first being the initial submission of 100 words followed by a 1,500 word Executive Summary of their business idea together with a one minute video clip if short listed. ‘Big Idea’ must fall into at least one of the following categories: Technology, Environmental, Social Enterprise Award, General Business.

Deadline: 2008-01-31

Marksman Design Award
The new Marksman Design Award challenges students around the world to 'design the perfect pen'. It is open to individual students following higher vocational and academic industrial or architectural (product) design courses. The winner of the Marksman Design Award will receive a prize of US$ 10,000. The second prize is US$ 2,500 and the third prize is US$ 1,000.

More invention contest info can be found here .

Deadline: 2008-01-31

2008 PISCES Lunar Outpost Student Design Competition
The Pacific International Space Center for Explorations Systems (PISCES) announces its second annual Student Design Competition and invites team from universities to participate. A total of up to six awards will be offered this year. Each award will consist of travel funds to bring two students and a faculty advisor to the PISCES annual conference to be held on the Big Island of Hawaii, 10-11 November 2008. Any U. S. university may field one or more teams that are interested in the topics of lunar surface facilities, technology development such as ISRU, surface operations, and commercial activities, can participate.

More invention contest info can be found here .

February 2008

Deadline: 2008-02-01

International Innovation and Research Awards 2007/2008

The aim of the competition is to encourage the sharing of innovative ideas and practices which can provide real benefits to members and other practitioners operating within the Construction industry. Members are invited to submit entries that must be any construction related area and which clearly demonstrates the benefits of innovative practice. Awards include: Innovation Premier Award, Innovation Runner-up Award, Pera Prize.

Deadline: 2008-02-01

The Presidential Forum on Renewable Energy contest
The contest will engage college students in the issues of renewable energy, sustainability, and conservation. The contest is open to students who are between the ages of 18 and 24; enrolled, full-time or part-time, in an undergraduate college program; and a citizen of the United States of America. All submissions should be 4 – 6 pages and may not exceed 2,500 words. An educational prize of $10,000 will be paid to each of the three students who submit a winning essay.

Deadline: 2008-02-01

Popular Science Invention awards
Popular Science Magazine is inviting proposals for submissions for the next world changing invention from independent inventors or small teams. Inventions created wholly out of universities or other R&D labs will not be considered. Ten inventions will be awarded prizes in a variety of categories, plus there will be a Student Award Category this year. Inventions must be physical objects and it must be a working prototype or something else that demonstrates that the invention actually works.

Deadline: 2008-02-01

Social Innovation Competition
The Social Innovation Competition should exist primarily to address a significant social problem and it will take place in three elimination rounds: The Executive Summary round: It is a simple explanation of your innovative idea for a new social venture. The Social Venture Plan: A select group of entrants will be invited to complete a social venture plan for the semi-final round of the competition. Final Presentation: Three teams will be invited to the University of Texas at Austin to give presentations of their final plans in front of a panel of expert judges. Cash prize of $50,000 will be awarded at the event.

Deadline: 2008-02-01

ID Student Design Competition
Entries are accepted for I.D. magazine’s 2008 Student Design Review that is open to any student enrolled in a collegiate-level design program (undergraduate or graduate), anywhere in the world. Categories include: Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Interactive Design, Miscellaneous. Best works from design schools around the world in industrial, graphic, interactive and “miscellaneous” design are invited. One best of show winner will get US $1,000 in cash.

February 2, 2008

THE LATEST INVENTIONS UNDER THE MOON
Location: Ft Lauderdale, Florida
Venue: Main Broward County Library
100 S. Andrews Ave.
Ft Lauderdale, FL 33313
For more information or to be an exhibitor call:
Joanna Zaremba: 954-486-2426
Joannapoland@comcast.net
http://www.inventorssociety.net/

Deadline: 2008-02-03

2008 National Idea-to-Product® (I2P™) Competition
The 2008 Idea-to-Product® Competition for Social Entrepreneurship is hosted by Georgia Institute of Technology, April 5, 2008. Local Competition for Purdue EPICS and C4E is to be held March 1, 2008 and criteria for participation include: Partnership with Local, National or International non-profit organization. Send in the application describing the technology and its status, Identify opportunities for entrepreneurship along with other details such as initial market, intellectual property embodied etc.


Deadline: 2008-02-07

Energy Idea contest
The contest sponsored by Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) is focused on energy applications. Applications ideas that would qualify for the Energy Idea to Product® (I2P®) competition include: New types of fuels, Nuclear energy, Fuel processing or production improvements, Materials innovations, Sensors for monitoring systems etc. The grand prize is $25,000.

Deadline: 2008-02-11

Invention Convention 2008 contest
Invention Convention 2008 (IC 2008) is a New York statewide invention education program for public and private school students. Regional competitions are held in the Capital District, Binghamton, Buffalo and Rochester. The Capital District Regional Invention Convention is open to students in grades K-8. 100 students will be invited to make models of their invention. Twenty-five inventions will be selected as finalists from each of the four regions in New York State.

For more information, check out http://www.crd.ge.com

Deadline: 2008-02-15

Make Your Difference Contest
The aim of Make Your Difference contest is to inspire as many young people as possible to impact their world. The contest planned in 25 major centers across Canada for the 2007/2008 debut year. Get Your Idea Noticed to create a new possibility that no one has before.


Deadline: 2008-02-15

2008 Excellence in Design Award
The annual Excellence in Design awards competition is conducted by appliance DESIGN Magazine. The competition honors the best and most innovative product designs in the global appliance industry. Products released in the 2007 calendar year are eligible, and should fall into one of the following categories: Business Machines, commercial/Vending Appliances, Electronics, Major Appliances/HVAC, Medical/Test & Measurement Equipment, Outdoor/Leisure Appliances, Small Appliances, Lighting. Winners will be profiled in the June 2008 issue of appliance DESIGN and will be featured on the web site.

February 16, 2008

The Casting Calls for Season 3 of Everyday Edisons for the West Coast
San Francisco – Saturday, February 16, 2008

Details are at the EverydayEdisons website and at InventorSpot.com's forum discussions about the auditions.

Deadline: 2008-02-17
CTT Innovation contest
Competitive Technologies, Inc. will present the CTT Innovation Conference (CTTIC), on April 12, 2008. Pioneering university students are encouraged to enter technological innovations. Top finalists will receive cash prizes, which include CTT's $25,000 da Vinci prize. Entry in the Eureka Round of the competition is completed online before November 18, 2007 by describing potential invention ideas. Each invention submitted will be provided with assessment and valuation to assist the students in developing their ideas and completing the entry requirements of the Conquest Round.

Deadline: 2008-02-18
1st Annual Massachusetts Game Contest
The contest is open to students studying game design at Massachusetts-area universities. Students are challenged build a playable video game featuring the 38 Studios mascot. Top prize is $3,000, 2nd prize is $2,000 and 3rd prize is $1,000 to each team member on the winning team.



February 22, 2008 through February 24, 2008

Working Inventor Weekend
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Venue: Platinum Hotel and Spa

For more information:
Read more here or
http://www.theworkinginventorweekend.com/

Deadline: 2008-02-26
New Enterprise Competition

The 2008 New Enterprise Competition is designed to inspire and generate new high-growth businesses and to stimulate entrepreneurial talent. Outline your business idea on the official form and send in the entry. This year in addition to the main prize of £35,000, additional prizes for a) the best social enterprise b) the best medical or healthcare venture and c) the best chemistry based idea will be awarded.

Deadline: 2008-02-27
Invent Iowa

Iowa students in grades 9 through 12 are eligible to participate in Invent Iowa. Students with particularly meritorious inventions will be selected for participation in the Invent Iowa State Invention Convention to be held Saturday, April 5, 2008and will be notified of their selection no later than March 12, 2008.

Deadline: 2008-02-28
Space Experiment Contest

The British National Space Centre and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) are offering UK schools the chance to fly an experiment on one of the small satellites built by SSTL. Any UK students between 14 and 18 can propose an experimental package. The winning experiment can weigh up to 1 kg, and will have a development budget of up to £100k. Entries will be short listed in March and six finalists will be invited to submit more detailed proposals.

Deadline: 2008-02-29
TR35: Call for Nominations

Technology Review honors 35 young innovators whose inventions and research are most interesting in the field of medicine, computing, communications, electronics, nanotechnology, computer hardware, energy, transportation, Internet etc. Send in the nomination for outstanding innovators under the age of 35.

Deadline: 2008-02-29

Manufacturing Excellence Awards

The Manufacturing Excellence Awards scheme has been rewarding excellence and identifying best practice in manufacturing for 25 years. There are 11 award categories such as PricewaterhouseCoopers Award for Customer Focus, Autodesk Award for Product Innovation, The InnovationXchange (IXC UK) Award for Process Innovation etc. All short-listed companies will be eligible for the Overall Winner and / or Best SME.

Deadline: 2008-02-29
The Zinc Challenge

The Zinc Challenge invites entrants enrolled at a college or university in the 2007-2008 academic year created only for engineering and design students. In the design portion, students will be challenged to design and develop any type of water-dispensing mechanism other than a water faucet for a sink. The product may be used inside, for watering plants, cleaning windows or floors, fire protection etc. Three winners will be selected, and each participant or group will receive a grant for use at the college or university at which they are currently enrolled.

Deadline: 2008-02-29
Simplehuman Student Design Contest

Students at all NASAD-accredited schools are invited to design a new and innovative design, technology, or concept for making household chores easier and more intuitive. The design improvement can be applied to any basic household task, whether it’s organizing clutter or washing the dishes. First Prize - $5,000 scholarship; second Prize - $500 simplehuman gift certificate; third Prize - $250 simplehuman gift certificate.

March 2008

Deadline: 2008-03-03
2008 R&D 100 AWARDS

Entries are invited for the prestigious R&D 100 Awards that has been helping companies provide the important initial push a new product needs to compete successfully in the marketplace. The winning of an R&D 100 Award provides a mark of excellence known to industry, government, and academia as proof that the product is one of the most innovative ideas of the year. Any new technical product that was first available for purchase or licensing between Jan. 1, 2007, and Dec. 31, 2007, may be entered along with an $250 entry fee. All winners will be notified of the judges' decision by June 30, 2008.

Info on the 2007 R&D winners is here .

March 15, 2008

The Casting Calls for Season 3 of Everyday Edisons for theSouthwest
Dallas – Saturday, March 15, 2008.

Details are at the EverydayEdisons website and at InventorSpot.com's forum discussions about the auditions.

Deadline: 2008-03-15
Spark Awards Design Competition

Spark Design Awards 2008 is a competition created to promote great design and designers. This event is for designers, art directors, architects, design firms, manufacturers, institutions, ad agencies, students and novices. Categories include: Architecture & Interiors, Digital, Graphic, Product, Furniture and Outdoor, Mobility, Advertising, Green, Medical.

Deadline: 2008-03-26
World’s First International Digital Car Design Competition

Senior auto design directors from major automotive manufacturers will judge the largest all-digital car design contest in the world. This contest is unique, as all designs will be created as virtual computer models. There are two contest categories the professional designer and student designer with top prizes that include cash and a software license worth approximately $7000, $2000 in cash and 12 months individual membership of Car Design News.

Deadline: 2008-03-28
CoCreate's Global Design Competition

CoCreate's 2008 Design competition focuses on excellence in product design. Enter an image of your product design and receive global recognition for excellence. Categories include: High-Tech Electronics/ Machinery, Medical Products, Household Devices, Consumer Products, Industrial Products, Transportation, Conceptual Designs, Agricultural Equipment etc. Winners will be selected through online voting.

Deadline: 2008-03-31
Going Green Challenge

The BKFK “Going Green Challenge” invites entries from children between the ages of 5 and 19 to enter new, original idea for the creation of an invention/idea/ product/design or process, which can be successfully implemented and /or brought to market. The challenge category must specifically be ‘Environment’. You could win $10,000 and a day with an expert from ’‘The 11th Hour”, courtesy of The Weather Channel for Kids®.

Deadline: 2008-03-31
Samsonite Baby Travel Design Competition 2008

Samsonite Baby Travel contest strives to be progressive and unique in catering to the lifestyle and needs of modern, active parents. Eligibility extends to all students, designers, engineers, inventors, design studios, companies and research laboratories from anywhere in the world. The design should represent real innovations that consider the mobility, ease of use and comfort of the end user. Categories may include: Transport, Sleeping, Safety, Feeding, Play Time, Bathing, and Changing etc. Prize include: €5000, €3000 and €1000 for the first three winners and five Judges Special Award of €500 will be awarded.

Deadline: 2008-03-31
Promosedia International Design Competition

Promosedia invites designers to submit indoor chair designs for its Promosedia Intl. Design Competition"Caiazza Memorial Challenge. Entries will be accepted from architects, designers and students under the age of 40. The design must consider ergonomics, function, materials and the requirements for mass production, as well as incorporate wood. First prize winner will be awarded 3,500 euros.

Deadline: 2008-03-31
21st annual Tech Challenge

Tech Challenge is the educational event of the year. This team event is open to all students in grades 5-12. This year's challenge is ‘Water Works’. Create a device, powered by the river, to deliver water to the village's water tank. The challenge season kicks off in February. Register your team by February 28, 2008 and pay only $40. Awards include Best Overall Solution and Most Spectacular Failure,Best Team Name, Teamwork Award, Judges Choice, Inspirational Awards.

Deadline: 2008-03-31
Sports Evolution Challenge

Sports Evolution Challenge is offered to residents of the 50 United States between the ages of 5 and 19. Send in your idea and invent a new sport or conceptualize an innovative piece of sports gear or equipment which can be successfully implemented and /or brought to market. You could win $10,000 and a chance to shadow an ESPN broadcaster for a game.

April 2008

Deadline: 2008-04-02
Dell's ReGeneration Design Competition
The Dell ReGeneration International Green Computing Technology Design Competition invited individuals to create a broad range of design concepts and innovations for technology products that demonstrate refreshed approaches and responsible solutions for green computing technologies. 5 top finalists will be awarded prizes of 10,000 USD each.

The Casting Calls for Season 3 of Everyday Edisons for theMidwest
Chicago – Saturday, April 19, 2008

Details are at the EverydayEdisons website and at InventorSpot.com's forum discussions about the auditions.

May 2008

May 3
The 25th anniversary Connecticut Invention Convention
http://www.ctinventionconvention.org/

May 6, 2008 through May 8, 2008
63rd National Hardware Show, Inventor's Spotlight, Las Vegas, 2008
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Venue: Las Vegas Convention Center

To register for a booth go to:
http://www.uiausa.org/uploads/inventor2008NationalHardwareShow.pdf

For more information about the show go to:
http://www.nationalhardwareshow.com

May 17, 2008
The Casting Calls for Season 3 of Everyday Edisons for the Northeast
Providence, RI – Saturday, May 17, 2008.

Details are at the EverydayEdisons website and at InventorSpot.com's forum discussions about the auditions.


May 31
Ingenuity Expo in Collaboration with MIT
http://www.ingenuityexpo.com/

June 2008

Deadline: 2008-05-02
Software Design Competition

The Software Design ivitational challenges students around the world to explore their own creativity by creating software design solutions that enable a sustainable environment. Once you win your regional semi-finals you will advance to the Microsoft Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals in Paris, to be held July 3-8, 2008. Using Microsoft tools and technology, competitors can unleash their ideas, their curiosities, and their talents towards creating usable software applications. Competitors are asked to demonstrate innovation on the .NET Framework and Windows platform. Prize Amounts includes $15000, $10000 and $5000 for the first three winners.

June 13-14, 2008
Invention & Idea Show will be held in Redwood Falls, Minn.
Info here .

June 11-14, 2008
INPEX Trade Show

Largest Invention Trade Show, in Pittsburgh, Pa.