Find a State Level Competition Near You

California Invention Conventions

Our state level Invention Conventions run under the auspices of the state California Invention Convention and are the capstone events of our program. We are celebrating our 10th year of inspiring confidence in applied STEM, creative problem-solving, and entrepreneurship in schools and after school programs across the state. Student inventors in Kindergarten through 12th Grade are asked to identify a problem in their own lives, or that of their families, or the community – and engage in the iterative process of creating an invention to solve that problem. Finalists from local and school conventions are selected to attend state level events. In order for more students to be able to participate, there are currently  two state level California Invention Conventions.  One is for students from Southern California  and the other is for students from Northern / Central California.

The basic requirements for student participation is the same for each convention. Read Requirements & Restrictions. Additionally, each convention may have specific requirements that are sent to the student upon acceptance as a participant.

Winners from each convention will earn prizes and have the opportunity to represent the state of California at the Nationals competition, held yearly by the Invention Convention Worldwide and the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in June. The state California Invention Convention determines the number of national invitees from each convention depending upon the allocation from the National Invention Convention.

Are you an Independent Inventor?  Learn more below

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Invention Convention Independent Inventor Program
Many of the young inventors who have participated in the California Invention Convention in the past have not been affiliated with one of our registered schools or after-school programs.  They are Independent Inventors – and several have been very successful both at our event, as well as at the National and Global Conventions.  So we welcome you!
You will follow all the same registration guidelines, as well as Requirements and Restrictions, Creating Invention Documentation and Creating Your Video - just like all other students with a few exceptions which are noted in the registration instructions. You need to register in the correct convention for your county. Scroll up to Filter by County.
Check out this video which will give you guidelines on the invention process expected by the Invention Convention. Supporting documentation is here.