About IDEA

The Institute for Technology Innovation (ITI) has created an exciting new
program in the form of a competition where undergraduate students who believe they have a marketable IDEA can compete.  Students developing a project with cutting edge technology and/or have a new design for a product or service are encouraged to compete. IDEA is an opportunity to present your team’s IDEA to esteemed judges and take your IDEA the next level. This competition is open to all applied sciences and engineering undergraduates, particularly those who are completing their senior design projects.  The Innovation, Design, Entrepreneurship, and Action (IDEA) competition works like this:

1.  Students self-evaluate their project in the technology and science arena
and decide whether it is feasible to commercialize.  Students in senior design classes are highly encouraged to think outside the box, brainstorm IDEAs, design a project making sure to “kick it up a notch” and participate.  However, all undergraduate students with an IDEA are welcome.

2.  If it is feasible, students develop a feasibility analysis report using guidelines
listed here. This report will be submitted to ITI for review to qualify the team’s participation.

3.  On 10.15.07, five finalists will present their project to a panel of
judges both from academia and industry.  Some of these judges had an IDEA once that they pursued and now they are successful entrepreneurs.
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4.  First place prize is $1,000 while second place prize $500.  These funds will be retained in an account that can be used to continue the prototype and/or commercialization process of their IDEA during the following Spring term. This reward is not given in cash or with the intent of it being used for personal use.

5.  The team’s faculty advisor will be awarded $500 to their discretionary research account to support any of their scholarly activities and as an incentive to continue providing support to the students of the winning team.