Collegiate Inventors Competition
Scholarship Sponsored by National Inventors Hall of Fame
What is the Collegiate Inventors Competition?
Who: Undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled either part-time or full-time at a U.S. college or university. Non-U.S. citizens are eligible as long as they are enrolled in a U.S. college or university and can meet student eligibility status, and they are legally eligible to provide a completed and signed W-9 prior to payout.
What: A unique invention contest offering opportunities to advance your invention through national exposure, expert mentorship, networking and more.
Where: Finalists receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to attend our event at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.
When: Each year, applications must be submitted by June. Finalists are selected in August and the event takes place in October. Our next competition will be held Oct. 15-16, 2025.
Why: Through this a one-of-a-kind experience, you’ll connect with other collegiate inventors, meet National Inventors Hall of Fame® Inductees and patent examiners who will serve as Judges, and compete to win cash prizes* and patent acceleration!
Review our application process
To enter CIC, you’ll need to complete our online application. Here’s what you’ll be asked to provide:
- Your student information
- An essay including a brief description or abstract of your invention, like this example
- A letter of recommendation from a faculty adviser or professional reference. (This template can help.)
- A literature/patent search and summary
- Example 1
- Example 2
- Any relevant supporting or supplemental materials you wish to submit, such as charts, graphs, videos, articles, samples, etc.