Press Release

The Henry Ford’s Invention Convention U.S. Nationals Participants Tackle Global Problems Through Online Competition

5th annual competition presented by Raytheon Technologies

(Dearborn, Mich. – May 27, 2020) ─ These past months, America’s ingenuity, resourcefulness and inventiveness have been on display as many have rallied to invent new ways to fight the novel coronavirus. Innovation doesn’t stop during a pandemic, which is why The Henry Ford made the decision to move this year’s Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, presented by Raytheon Technologies, to an online competition. This year, the competition is anticipating 500 participants showcasing their inventions that solve problems facing our world. An online awards ceremony will be hosted by The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation correspondent, Alie Ward, on the Invention Convention Worldwide and The Henry Ford’s social channels on July 2^nd, 2020.

“The skills students develop through Invention Convention are more critical now than ever before,” said Patricia Mooradian, president and CEO, The Henry Ford. “The world needs more problem-solvers and as we’ve already seen through many of their submissions, our students are ready to rise to the challenge. We look forward to celebrating all of their hard work and providing them with the much-needed exposure and mentorship to take their ideas to the next level.”

“Ingenuity and agility are being demonstrated by students around the world. Seeing this year’s convention ― and its participants ― shift their inventive spirit as needed to host a virtual experience is heartening,” said Randy Bumps, executive director, Corporate Social Responsibility, Raytheon Technologies. “We hope that our support of programs like Invention Convention will continue to encourage student problem-solving, next-generation innovations and a passion for lifelong learning.”

Invention Convention Worldwide is a global K-12 invention education curricular program mapped to national and state educational standards that teaches students problem-identification, problem-solving, entrepreneurship and creativity skills and builds confidence in invention, innovation and entrepreneurship for life. More than 120,000 K-12 inventors from across the United States competed at local affiliate events to showcase their inventions at the Invention Convention 2020 U.S. Nationals.

To participate, students are required to submit a video presentation of their invention, a prototype, an inventor’s logbook showing the journey of their invention process and a poster board highlighting key points of the invention process.

Prizes and opportunities this year include pro-bono patent awards from law firms including Wilmerhale, Cooley and Cantor Colburn, professional prototyping assistance from design firms like IDEAZ, and invention experiences with partners like Koch Industries, where students can visit with marketers, product designers, and engineers to help advance their inventions to the next stage. An online awards ceremony will be hosted on the Invention Convention Worldwide and The Henry Ford’s social channels on July 2^nd, 2020.

The mission of Invention Convention Worldwide is to bring Invention Education to every student everywhere. Organizations interested in bringing the year-long program to their region can get more information at inventionconvention.org/contact.

About The Henry Ford:
About The Henry Ford Located in Dearborn, Michigan, The Henry Ford, a globally-recognized destination, fosters inspiration and learning from hands-on encounters with artifacts that represent the most comprehensive collection anywhere focusing on innovation, ingenuity and resourcefulness in America. Its unique venues include Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village, Ford Rouge Factory Tour, Benson Ford Research Center and Henry Ford Academy, a public charter high school. Together with its online presence at thehenryford.org, its national television series, The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation and Invention Convention Worldwide, the growing affiliation of organizations fostering innovation, invention and entrepreneurship in K-12 students, The Henry Ford inspires individuals to unlock their potential and help shape a better future.

About Raytheon Technologies
Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. With 195,000 employees and four industry-leading businesses ― Collins Aerospace Systems, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Raytheon Missiles & Defense ― the company delivers solutions that push the boundaries in avionics, cybersecurity, directed energy, electric propulsion, hypersonics, and quantum physics. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.

The Henry Ford Media Contact
Melissa Foster, Sr. Manager, Public Relations
melissaf@thehenryford.org, 313-982-6126