Tech invention contest encourages innovation
It is time to get your creative juices flowing because Technology Titans Innovation Challenge has arrived at USU, inviting all students to submit invention ideas in the first round by Feb. 17, 2007.
“This is an opportunity to understand the process of developing an idea,” said Co-Director Katie Trieu.
Students from all over Utah can enter this competition for the chance to compete for cash, recognition and the possibility of preparing their invention to go even further in the marketability process.
Co-Director Jess Walker said Utah’s economy is frequently driven forward by technology and innovative processes and so it is appropriate that students have the opportunity to learn what it takes.
The first round involves a two-page summary of an invention idea a student has and must include a description of the product, the origin of the idea, an explanation of why the product is innovative, the value of the product in the world and the plan for development of the product.
“This competition encourages all those students with great ideas to finally put them on paper,” Trieu said.
Students are welcome to submit an entry by themselves or as a group and can come from any major or study.
Co-Director Brad Stoker said many scientific or engineering majors may be more inclined to participate, but if an art major figured out how to make the acoustic quality of a concert hall better, they want to hear about it.
“The idea is to foster an environment where we push society to a more advanced and sophisticated level,” Trieu said.
Judges for the competition will come from innovative industries in Utah, people who work in the financial realm of the process and even lawyers who are familiar with concepts of intellectual property.
This competition is in its first year and will hopefully work as a precursor in providing the necessary skill set to lead students to participation in the Utah Entrepreneurial Challenge, Walker said.
In addition to the actual competition, the directors are looking for an on-campus representative at USU to help get the word out to students. For anyone interested or for additional information about the competition, go to www.techtitans.org.
“Utah has a lot of very smart, innovative students and Technology Titans provides an outlet for those ideas,” Trieu said.
lyndim@cc.usu.edu