Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams™ are comprised of high school students, educators, and mentors that receive up to $7,500 each to invent technological solutions to real-world problems of their own choosing. STEM educators from the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, and territories of the U.S. may apply.
Competition Process
All teams are expected to submit an invention idea project proposal. Once the first set of finalists are announced, they will then submit their final applications. All teams are expected to present and showcase a working prototype of their invention at EurekaFest in June of their grant year. All teams are expected to hold a mid-grant technical review to demonstrate their progress and gather important feedback from beneficiaries and community stakeholders. All teams are expected to comply with the administrative guidelines outlined by the Lemelson-MIT Program, which include financial reporting, adhering to program deadlines, and external communications. All teams are expected to present and showcase a working prototype of their invention at EurekaFest in June of their grant year. All teams are expected to hold a mid-grant technical review to demonstrate their progress and gather important feedback from beneficiaries and community stakeholders. All teams are expected to comply with the administrative guidelines outlined by the Lemelson-MIT Program, which include financial reporting, adhering to program deadlines, and external communications.Judging Criteria
Initial applications are evaluated relative to the capacity of the educator(s) and school to support the project. The initial application for the 2024-2025 school year is April 23, 2024. The application is at https://lemelson.mit.edu/2024-inventeams/ready-start-inventeam. Up to 15 educators are selected as finalists from the initial applications and receive Excite Awards. These finalists are then eligible to submit the final application on September 3, 2024. The final selection is based on the inventiveness and feasibility of the proposed technical solution to a real-world problem. MIT professors and staff, inventors, researchers, entrepreneurs, and high school educators assess the applications. Diversity is considered among school types, community demographics, and project themes. InvenTeams are announced in October 2024.Participate
Website: http://lemelson.mit.edu/inventeams
Managing Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology's School of Engineering
Eligibility:
Who may apply: Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics educators at high schools and non-profit educational organizations. An educator and/or a school who has received an InvenTeam grant must wait three grant cycles before applying again. The educator also recruits students, monitors funds, and supports students throughout the process. The educator is advised to work with students in the spirit of self-directed learning. Consider the Educator as a coach on a sports team or director of a musical ensemble. InvenTeam size: Optimal size, 10-15 high school youth
Who may apply: Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics educators at high schools and non-profit educational organizations. An educator and/or a school who has received an InvenTeam grant must wait three grant cycles before applying again. The educator also recruits students, monitors funds, and supports students throughout the process. The educator is advised to work with students in the spirit of self-directed learning. Consider the Educator as a coach on a sports team or director of a musical ensemble. InvenTeam size: Optimal size, 10-15 high school youth
Registration Dates
February 10, 2024
11:01pm PST
Registration Opens
April 23, 2024
11:59pm PDT