15 Invention Competitions for Middle School Students
Middle school gives you some breathing room before academics get heavier, and that makes it a good time to actually try things out. Building something, taking something apart, or joining a competition can show you how good you really are at inventing. If that interests you, an invention competition is worth considering.
Unlike a regular program, internship, or camp, these competitions don't just hand you information. They ask you to solve a real problem and build something that actually works and that builds skills the world today values a lot more than grades alone.
Why should I participate in an invention competition in middle school?
An invention competition puts what you've learned so far to a real test. You find out fast whether you actually understand how something works, or if you were just good at answering questions about it on a worksheet. That difference shows up the moment your first prototype doesn't do what you expected, and you have to figure out why on your own.
It also gets you ready for high school, where academics pick up significantly, and eventually for college, which expects even more of these same skills. Learning to research a problem, build something, and improve it through trial and error is exactly the kind of work you'll be asked to do later, just with higher stakes attached. Starting now means you're not learning that lesson for the first time when it actually counts.
To help you get started, we've compiled a list of 15 invention competitions for middle school students!
15 Invention Competitions for Middle School Students
Location: Students can register in the district where they reside or attend school
Cost: Free
Dates: Judging in November; winners announced in December
Application Deadline: October 26
Eligibility: Middle school students who are U.S. residents; teams of up to 4, with at least half the team eligible in the district of submission
The Congressional App Challenge is an invention-style coding competition for middle school students interested in computer science and app development. You are asked to design and build an original app using programming tools such as Python, JavaScript, C++, or block-based coding platforms. The project is open-ended, so you choose the problem you want to solve and develop an app based on your own interests and technical abilities.
Your submission is evaluated based on factors such as functionality, design, creativity, and how well the app addresses its intended purpose. The competition emphasizes building a working digital product as an original creation, similar to a technology-based invention. Winning entries are recognized publicly, with selected apps showcased on official government platforms and at an event in Washington, D.C.
Location: Finals held in Washington, D.C.
Cost: None
Application Deadline: June 10
Dates: Finals: October 23 – 28
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8 nominated through a Society-affiliated science or engineering fair
The Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge is a national-level invention and research competition for middle school students in the United States. To participate, you first compete in an affiliated science and engineering fair, and students who place in the top 10% can apply to the next stage of the challenge. From this group, about 300 students are selected, and then 30 finalists are chosen to advance to the final round. In this competition, you develop a STEM-based invention or research project that addresses a scientific or engineering question. Projects are evaluated based on their design, research process, and how well you apply scientific methods to your chosen problem. Finalists present their work during a national event held in Washington, D.C., which also includes team-based activities and site visits. Past projects have included topics such as evaluating the reliability of large language models for stress detection and improving microalgal biomass production for biofuel research.
Location: Virtual (Finals at 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, MN)
Cost: Free; Grand Prize Winner $25,000; Title of “America’s Top Young Scientist: Top 10 Finalists $1,000
Application Deadline: April 30
Dates: January 7 – October
Eligibility: Students in grades 5–8
The 3M Young Scientist Challenge is an invention-focused science competition for middle school students. You enter by submitting a short video that presents an idea for solving an everyday problem using science or engineering. Past submissions have included concepts related to robotics, home improvement, safety, and other practical applications. Your entry is evaluated based on creativity, scientific understanding, clarity of communication, and the strength of your proposed solution. If you are selected among the top 10, you move on to a development phase where you refine your idea and build a working prototype during the summer. In this stage, you are paired with a mentor from 3M who provides guidance as you develop your project. Final presentations take place in the fall at the 3M Innovation Center in Minnesota, where you present your prototype and explain your process to judges.
Location: Virtual (National Event held in-person)
Cost: No cost
Application Deadline: Late February / Early March
Dates: October – June (National Event in June)
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–9
The eCYBERMISSION competition is a free, virtual STEM invention contest for students in grades 6–9. You work in a small team to identify a community-related problem and either investigate it using scientific methods or develop an engineering-based solution. Each project is developed with support from an adult Team Advisor who helps guide your planning and execution. Your submission is evaluated by a panel of judges with STEM backgrounds, including educators, professionals, and students, who review your problem, approach, and solution. Selected teams advance through additional stages where you present your work in short oral presentations and respond to questions from judges. As you progress, you may present to reviewers with backgrounds in science and engineering, including professionals affiliated with U.S. Army research organizations. The competition concludes with a national-level event where teams present their projects, participate in STEM activities, and receive awards based on their performance.
Location: Virtual (National Winners attend Awards Week in Washington, D.C.)
Cost: No cost
Application Deadline: February 3
Dates: Submissions due February 3; Regional winners announced March; Awards Week in June
Eligibility: Open to K-12 students
The ExploraVision competition, organized by Toshiba and the National Science Teaching Association, is an invention-style STEM contest for middle school students. You work in teams of 2–4 students with a teacher or coach and choose a real-world problem to explore through research and idea development. The goal is to design a future technology that could exist at least 10 years ahead, based on scientific understanding and reasonable predictions.
You submit a project that includes a title, abstract, detailed description, bibliography, and sample web pages explaining your concept. If your team is selected as one of the regional winners, you further develop your idea by building a website and creating a prototype that represents your proposed technology. The competition focuses on combining research, creativity, and technical thinking to develop a forward-looking invention concept. Teams that advance to the national level present their projects to a panel of judges that includes representatives from Toshiba, NSTA, and other professionals.
Location: The Final will be organized in Washington, D.C.
Cost: $25 registration fee
Application Deadline: Typically in October
Dates: Competition typically held in January or February
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
Future City is a STEM-based invention and design competition for middle school students where you create a model of a city designed for the future. You work in teams of at least three students with support from an educator and a volunteer mentor to develop your idea. The project is built around the engineering design process, where you identify challenges, research solutions, and design systems that address real-world urban issues. You work in teams of three students with support from an educator and a volunteer mentor to develop your idea. Your team develops a city concept that includes written descriptions, research-based solutions, and a physical or digital model that explains how the city functions. You focus on how your design addresses needs such as infrastructure, energy use, transportation, and public health. Past projects have included concepts like floating cities and other designs focused on sustainability and livability.
Location: At the team’s school; National Finals at Great Meadow in The Plains, VA
Cost: $175 per team
Application Deadline: December 6
Dates: National Finals: April 6
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12
The American Rocketry Challenge is a model rocket invention and engineering competition for middle school students in the United States. You work in teams of 3–10 students to design, build, and test rockets based on yearly challenge requirements. The goal is to create a rocket that meets specific flight conditions, such as reaching a target altitude, staying airborne for a set amount of time, and returning a payload safely to the launch area. You test different designs, collect flight data, and adjust your rocket based on performance results. The process involves applying basic engineering principles to improve stability, accuracy, and overall flight behavior. If your team qualifies as a finalist, you are invited to participate in a national fly-off event where rockets are tested under the competition’s final conditions.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $100 entry fee
Application Deadline: October 20
Dates: September 25 – October 20
Eligibility: Middle school students
The Future Problem Solving World Solutions Challenge Competition is a short-term invention and problem-solving program for middle school students. You work in teams of 2–4 to research a real-world issue and develop a structured solution using a six-step creative problem-solving process. The focus is on identifying challenges, analyzing possible approaches, and outlining a practical action plan. You submit a written plan along with one supporting item that helps explain your solution, such as a short video, podcast, or visual materials like diagrams or graphics. Past topics have included issues such as rising sea levels and other global environmental challenges. The program serves as an introductory version of the broader Future Problem Solving Global Issues program.
Location: Virtual; final round at Space Center Houston, Houston, TX
Cost: $499 per attendee for the Innovation Summit
Application Deadline: October 30 (phase 1) | January 8 (phase 2) | April 25 (phase 3)
Dates: Runs from October to May
Eligibility: Students aged 13–18
The Conrad Challenge is an invention and innovation competition where you develop a solution to a real-world problem. You work in a team to identify an issue, research it, and create a structured idea for a product, service, or system that addresses it. The process is divided into stages. In the Activation Phase, you form your team, choose a focus area, and begin researching and developing your initial concept. In the Innovation Phase, you refine your idea by building out the details, supporting it with research, and preparing your submission. If your team is selected as a finalist, you present your invention and pitch your solution to a panel of judges at a final expo event. The competition concludes with presentations and an awards ceremony.
Location: Virtual
Cost: None
Application Deadline: January 31 (Registration); June 1 (Project Submission)
Dates: February – June
Eligibility: Middle and high school students in teams of 2–8
In this competition, you are introduced to biomimicry, where you study how ideas from nature can inspire solutions to real-world problems. You do not need prior experience, since you are provided with learning resources and online training to understand the basic concepts. You develop a bio-inspired invention that addresses a social or environmental challenge linked to a chosen Sustainable Development Goal. The process involves researching the problem, exploring natural systems for inspiration, and designing a solution based on those ideas. Your work combines research, innovation, and structured design thinking. Submissions are reviewed by a panel that may include biomimicry practitioners, engineers, scientists, and educators, who evaluate how your idea applies biological inspiration to the chosen problem.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Not applicable. Awards of $155,000-plus in grants
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–12 attending school in specific counties in Kansas and Missouri in teams of maximum 25 students
This is a project-based STEM invention competition where you design an exhibit concept for Science City. You develop an idea that communicates a science or engineering concept through an interactive public display. Your submission includes a written explanation of your concept, along with a graphic component and a short video. The graphic portion is designed as an exhibit and billboard-style presentation that explains your idea visually. Throughout the process, you apply research and basic design thinking to explain how your exhibit would work and what it would show to visitors. The winning concept may be selected for development into a physical or installed exhibit at Science City.
Location: Virtual; International Conference at Indiana University Bloomington, IN
Cost: Varies by regional affiliate ($495–$775 for International Conference qualifiers)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: International Conference held in June
Application Deadline: Set by regional affiliates (typically autumn/early winter)
Eligibility: Students in grades 4–12 (Junior: 4–6, Middle: 7–9, Senior: 10–12)
In this invention-style competition, you work on solutions to global issues presented at different stages of the contest. You can participate individually or in a team, depending on your grade level. The competition moves through local and regional rounds, with advancement based on your performance at each stage. At each round, you are given a prompt based on a real-world or hypothetical global challenge. You have a set time to research the topic, analyze the problem, and develop a structured solution using a six-step problem-solving process. Your work focuses on breaking down the scenario, identifying key issues, and outlining a practical action plan. Regional winners may move on to an international level of the competition, where you repeat a similar process with new challenges.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Not applicable; 60 winning teams will receive $1500 in support to build their experiment
Application Deadline: October (Pre-registration opens summer/early fall)
Dates: Registrations formally open in September
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12
This NASA-supported competition is an invention-style engineering challenge where you design and build a scientific experiment for spaceflight conditions. You work in a team to develop an experiment that can be tested on a commercial suborbital flight. Selected teams receive funding to help build their experiment, along with technical guidance and an assigned flight opportunity through a NASA-sponsored program. During the preparation period, you focus on designing your experiment, building a working prototype, and ensuring it can operate under flight conditions. You also test and refine your setup before submission for flight readiness. The process is centered on applying basic engineering and scientific principles to create an experiment that can collect and analyze data in a suborbital environment.
Location: Science Buddies, Mill Valley, CA
Cost: Not applicable
Application Deadline: March 31
Dates: January – March (Submissions open Feb 22 – Mar 31)
Eligibility: K-12 students worldwide can participate
Science Buddies hosts an annual invention-style challenge where you complete a hands-on project based on a changing yearly theme. You design, build, and test a project or device that relates to the theme, applying basic science and engineering principles throughout the process. The focus is on developing a working idea and explaining how it functions through experimentation and iteration. You submit your project to a public online showcase where all entries are displayed. Projects are reviewed through a voting process, and participants can receive recognition based on community votes, including a People’s Choice award.
15. Genes in Space
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (25 team/school awards granted per cycle)
Application Deadline: April 10
Dates: Opens January 5; Finalists announced May; Grand Prize winner announced July
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–12
This invention competition focuses on combining biology, genetics, and space science. You choose a space biology topic, define a research question, and develop a hypothesis based on what you want to investigate. You then conduct background research and design an experiment that can be carried out using tools from the Genes in Space Toolkit used in space-related research. Your experiment must incorporate at least one of the available tools and be structured around a clear scientific question. The process involves planning how you would collect and analyze data in a space environment. Through this project, you apply basic concepts in genetics and space biology while developing an experimental design. You submit your proposed experiment as part of the competition for review.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1–1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.