{"id":4428,"date":"2025-07-23T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entrepreneurship.asu.edu\/blog\/?p=4428"},"modified":"2025-07-17T18:27:19","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T18:27:19","slug":"new-edson-ei-youth-initiative-drives-innovation-at-invention-convention-u-s-nationals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entrepreneurship.asu.edu\/blog\/2025\/07\/23\/new-edson-ei-youth-initiative-drives-innovation-at-invention-convention-u-s-nationals\/","title":{"rendered":"New Edson E+I Youth Initiative Drives Innovation at Invention Convention U.S. Nationals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Arizona youth inventors at RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The future of innovation was on full display this year as Arizona launched its first-ever Invention Convention State Finals at ASU\u2019s SkySong Innovation Center and then soared to national recognition at the RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, hosted at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Programs like Invention Convention Worldwide empower young minds with the tools to identify real-world problems and develop inventive solutions, all while building confidence and entrepreneurial thinking that lasts a lifetime. Through hands-on, interdisciplinary learning, students aren’t just imagining the future. They\u2019re actively shaping it. That\u2019s why we\u2019re so proud to share that students from our program were selected to present their innovations at the National Invention Convention, an incredible milestone and a testament to what\u2019s possible when we invest in invention education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Statewide Milestone<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On April 12, 2025, student inventors from five Arizona counties\u2014Maricopa, Yuma, Mohave, Cochise and Pima\u2014gathered to showcase their original solutions to real-world problems. Hosted by the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute at ASU, the event was more than a competition\u2014it was a celebration of creativity, courage, and community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This inaugural event was the result of a statewide initiative launched earlier in the school year, when The Henry Ford<\/a> invited ASU\u2019s Edson E+I Youth Entrepreneurship team to serve as Arizona\u2019s official affiliate. Through this partnership, invention education expanded across the state, with more than 3,000 students accessing the no-cost curriculum available on inHub<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blending STEM and entrepreneurship, students followed a full innovation cycle\u2014from problem identification to customer discovery, prototype development, marketing and pitch delivery. Their inventions reflected deep curiosity and compassion, including a kelp-based plastic replacer, a solar-powered watering system, a stroke-rehabilitation exoskeleton and a baby goat stand for young farmers. Arizona\u2019s young innovators rose to the challenge with heart and ingenuity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Arizona youth inventor Gwen at RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Arizona Goes National<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From our inaugural state finals, 17 Arizona students qualified to advance to the RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, held at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan. Of those, 14 made the journey, joining 490 young inventors from across the country\u2014a shining representation of the over 200,000 students nationwide who participate in Invention Convention each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And in our very first year on the national stage, Arizona made history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gwen L., a 5th grader from Carden of Tucson, brought home two national awards:<\/p>\n\n\n\n