Open: NCIIA 14th Annual Conference

Effecting an undergraduate student culture that encourages entrepreneurship and inventorship is a worthy goal, with metrics of success ranging from the gratification of self employment to the economic impact of small business creation. We have started an undergraduate competition called The InVenture Prize to provide incentives, resources, and structure for student innovation in a fun, high-profile event. In our first year, over 200 undergraduates (1.5% of population) expressed intent to compete in the competition. At the climax (March 2009), eight finalists faced a judge panel on stage before an audience of 200. The event was recognized by a front-page article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, by the state legislature (Representative Bob Smith), and by Georgia Tech interim president Gary Shuster in his opening remarks at the competition. The winners received $15,000, patent applications ($40,000 value), and additional commercialization assistance. Next year's competition will be even larger and more successful.