Invent Your World Challenge for Young People

"Through the Invent Your World Challenge, Ashoka GenV and the Lemelson Foundation will help fifty young inventors use their creations to address a local or global challenge and create positive change.

Young people are invited to submit their ideas for a new technology or the adaptation of an existing technology that will help make life easier, the planet greener, or the world better. Youth whose ideas are selected for support will receive an action plan so that they can apply for funding. They will then submit their action plans and present their projects to a panel of mentors to receive feedback and advice. Once their idea is approved, they will receive a grant.

The challenge is open to all individuals between the ages of 12 and 20 in North America and Europe, and 12 and 24 everywhere else...

A panel of distinguished judges will choose five of the best invention ventures to participate in a global roundtable on climate change at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Judges will also award one team a $20,000 scholarship for college.

The last day to submit a project idea is March 15, 2009."