Press Release

Hundreds of Inventive Young Minds to Compete in Detroit - Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, presented by United Technologies Corp. at Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, May 30-31

(Dearborn, Mich.– May 20, 2019) – On May 30-31, more than 500 award-winning K-12 inventors from across the nation and around the world will gather at Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation to compete for top awards in youth invention at The Henry Ford’s Invention Convention U.S. Nationals presented by United Technologies Corp.

The event provides students in grades K-12 an interactive and interdisciplinary opportunity to use the invention process to create and pitch an original product at a national convention. More than 120,000 students from across 23 states and representing four countries, competed for a chance to participate in the national event this year.

“Invention Convention advances the vision of a world in which all learners have access to innovation, invention and entrepreneurial learning to gain the confidence and skills to control their own destiny,” said Patricia Mooradian, president & CEO, The Henry Ford. “By providing better access to everyone, regardless of backgrounds and barriers, and by leveraging the power of our collections, we can help change lives and shape a better future.”

Student inventions are designed to solve problems in their everyday lives to problems we see in the world around us. This year, projects have included an eco-friendlier straw, a better smoke detector, labels designed to help the blind and visually impaired people be more independent and a system that prevents a baby from climbing or falling out of their crib.

“The Invention Convention plays a critical role in inspiring and nurturing the next generation of scientists and engineers that will build the future,” said Paul Eremenko, UTC Chief Technology Officer. “I am thrilled to see the diversity of the students and ideas that are here.”

Students earn the opportunity to advance to the invitation-only event by winning regional and state invention competitions across the United States and around the globe. Invention Convention helps to instill problem-identification, problem-solving, entrepreneurship and creativity skills for life to inspire young people to become innovators, inventors and entrepreneurs over the course of their K-12 careers.