Currently, schools are not being charged for the Invention Convention Curriculum and materials. We do ask that teachers and program leaders attend our Professional Development which can by scheduled by contacting us. Students may be charged a nominal fee to attend a Regional California Invention Convention.
This is a fairly new initiative here in California. Starting with the 2016 school year, we began our Pilot Project – with over 12 schools participating in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz County, and over 400 students going through the program. We held our first state-wide Invention Convention in April 2017. The program in the schools has grown to over 33,000 students across the state. Starting in 2024, we moved to two Regional conventions - Northern / Central and Southern California - allowing more students to attend. Over 800 students attended the regional events in 2025. Check out what some of these inventors created in 2025.
The Connecticut Invention Convention has been doing this program for 40 plus years. In 2016, The STEMIE Coalition created a network of local state Invention Convention programs (including the California Invention Convention) and then 2018 partnered with The Henry Ford – who became the major sponsor and presenter of the US National Invention Convention. Under the guidance of the The Henry Ford, the coalition has grown to a set of Worldwide affiliates – representing four international countries, and 22 state and regional programs in the US. The purpose of the Global initiative is to elevate STEMIE education through competitions, events and a flexible, project-based curriculum aligned to education standards.
Yes you can! There are some criteria around inventions that every inventor must follow – but if those criteria are met, the more the merrier. Students must first attend the state Convention and then selected students are invited to the National Convention. Contact us so we can discuss it further.
The California Invention Convention is a registered 501(c)(3) with a tax-exempt EIN 84-3492216. We currently do not charge the schools for the curriculum. We rely strictly on sponsors and donations for which we are most grateful.
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