Aerospace Exploration

Why should we explore space? Students’ answers range from “the need to save humanity from extinction” to “because it’s there.” Whatever the reasons, we need new technologies to continue reaching for the stars. Here’s your chance to develop products that can help propel the aerospace industry forward in the exploration and knowledge of space.

The Aerospace Exploration category encompasses any products with reasonable commercial opportunity in the aerospace industry – vehicles, spacesuits, planetary exploration, satellites, space medicine, Earth observation and more. Think biomedical … missions to the moon and Mars … other aerospace innovations. The industry is ripe for new ideas.

Clean Energy

Cars fueled by ethanol made from corn. Electric power produced from woody biomass. Wind and solar energy being used as key alternatives to our reliance on carbon-emitting fossil fuels. These are just a few ways clean energy technologies are making a difference on Earth. 

From small, individual-use products to large-scale systems, new innovations are needed to move our planet to a sustainable future. Are you up for the challenge?

The Clean Energy category includes products or ideas that address energy efficiency; energy storage; solar, geothermal and wind energy; biomass fuels; as well as any other renewable energy solutions.

Health and Nutrition

Fact: Malnutrition affects 1 in 3 people around the world, especially children and those in poverty-stricken regions, yet 1 in every 3 U.S. children ages 2-19 years is overweight or obese. Obesity can lead to Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, various forms of cancer and increase the risk of premature death.

Clearly, there is a global health and nutrition crisis at hand. Here’s your chance to change that.

The Health and Nutrition category challenges teams to create solutions that address growing more nutritious food with less water and land, creating better eating habits amongst youth and encouraging healthy lifestyles through products and innovations.

How could you move the needle? A new inexpensive nutrition-packed food product? A healthy lifestyle video game? A new health care device or exercise equipment? The sky is the limit when it comes to nutrition and health innovations.