
Innovation Competition
- Are you an entrepreneurial undergraduate student with a great idea to impact society?
- Have you designed a new, innovative product as part of a class, research, or in your garage?
- Have you developed a physical prototype that you think is feasible to take to market?
Cornell Engineering is Entrepreneurs
The Cornell Engineering Innovation Award Competition is an exciting opportunity for entrepreneurial students from across the breadth of engineering majors. The Innovation Competition offers student teams that have been working on developing physical prototypes and more fully demonstrated innovations the chance to compete for prizes to support their next stages in the development of their “real world” ideation and concept demonstration experiences. This competition will enable students who win the awards to continue with their goal of bringing new products to market.
The Cornell Engineering Innovation Award Competition is a college-wide competition open to all engineering students. Students who have developed business concepts and prototypes in their own “garages” and outside the formal engineering curriculum are encouraged to apply.
The innovation teams may include a broad range of students from across the entire university (for example students with expertise in user interface design) and from all levels (undergraduate to Ph.D.). However, as an undergraduate focused competition, undergraduate students from the engineering college must constitute a majority of each participating team.
Application Information:
- Applications for the 2021 competition will open in February 2021
- Information Sessions will be held via Zoom (link tba)
- February 11 and 25 at 5:00 PM
- Applications due by 11:59 PM on March 18, 2021
- Pitches will be held April 8, 2021
Awards
Competition winners will win monetary awards and the chance to participate in future startup opportunities.
The 2020 competition will feature awards in the following categories:
Ronald ’57 and Frederick ’86 Fichtl Innovation Awards
Awards up to $5,000
Unrestricted competition for the most innovative and best developed innovation concept.
Yunni and Maxine Pao Social Innovation Awards
Awards up to $10,000
Multi-disciplinary social venture team meeting the following criteria:
– An innovative solution aimed at solving a pressing global challenge;
– A business plan demonstrating a clearly-defined social and/or environmental bottom line;
– The highest and most integrated potential financial and social returns; and
– Clear intent to seek further funding post-graduation, with the aim of bringing the innovation to market.
Ron G. Kermisch Innovation Awards
Awards up to $5,000
Special award for an entry that includes implementation of a complex innovation as a fully demonstrated physical prototype.
**An additional award up to $5,000 may be given for an innovation involving sustainable agriculture!**
Judging
The structure and judging of the competition will be managed by a committee of faculty and entrepreneurial leaders. This committee will determine the judging criteria (spanning business concepts to fully developed and demonstrated prototypes) and assemble the judging panel.
Past Winners:
2020
- Ronald ’57 and Frederick ’86 Fichtl Innovation Award: Buzr
- Yunni and Maxine Pao Social Innovation Award: THIS IS MY SPACESUIT and PastureX
- Ron G. Kermish Innovation Award: Qubit
- Engineering Innovation Awards: Dream Haüs and Universe
2019
- Ronald ’57 and Frederick ’86 Fichtl Innovation Award: Speak2Systems and Poloma Analytics
- Yunni and Maxine Pao Social Innovation Award: Response
- Ron G. Kermish Innovation Award: HoverBot
2018
- Ronald ’57 and Frederick ’86 Fichtl Innovation Award: Prometheus and Titan Analytics
- Yunni and Maxine Pao Social Innovation Award: SOS Aquaponics
- Ron G. Kermish Innovation Award: YNot Bikes
2017
- Ronald ’57 and Frederick ’86 Fichtl Innovation Award: Iko Systems and XBoard
- Yunni and Maxine Pao Social Innovation Award: C.U. Engineering World Health
- Ron G. Kermish Innovation Award: Brella