Collegiate Inventors Competition

Instructions and required content for the advisor or professional reference letter for the Collegiate Inventors Competition.

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DeadlineNot listed

Award amountPatent acceleration; Cash prizes (amount unspecified); Unrestricted cash prizes for winners; $2,000 or more (triggers 1099-MISC issuance)

Last checkedJun 24, 2026

Application

Apply to the Collegiate Inventors Competition®

Official application page for the Collegiate Inventors Competition, detailing eligibility criteria, required application materials, and contact information for prospective student inventors.

Official source Source page

Award amount

Cash prizes (amount unspecified)

Eligibility

Part-time or full-time students enrolled in a U.S. college or university; Must have been enrolled at least part-time between June 2025 and June 2026; Non-U.S. citizens are eligible if enrolled in a U.S. college or university and able to provide a signed W-9; Teams must consist of members who all meet the enrollment requirements

Requirements

Invention must not have been patented or disclosed by another party; Invention must not have been patented by the applicant more than one year prior to submission

Application materials

Student information; Essay including a brief description or abstract of the invention; Letter of recommendation from a faculty adviser or professional reference; Literature/patent search and summary; Supporting or supplemental materials (charts, graphs, videos, articles, samples, etc.)

How to apply

Complete the online application via the official website

Documents

W-9 form (for payout eligibility); 1099-MISC form (for awards of $2,000 or more)

Contact

collegiate@invent.org; 800-968-4332, option 5

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