Lemelson-MIT Program
MIT School of Engineering / Lemelson-MIT Program, 101 Rogers Street, Suite 3C, Cambridge, MA 02142
About
The Lemelson-MIT Program offers the Partners in Invention Education (PiE) program for middle and high school levels, the InvenTeam high school grant, the Inventing Smart Solutions (ISS) curriculum, and the JV InvenTeams curriculum for middle school students and educators. It also offers ideas4ears invention competition for ages 6-12, Invention Convention, and Pathways to Invention and Innovation (P2I), which provides live, virtual programs for high school students worldwide.
Programs
- Partners in Invention Education (PiE) program — Supports implementing an invention education program at both the middle and high school levels.
- InvenTeam high school grant — Annual grant program that provides student teams with a $7,500 grant and year-long support from LMIT and other resources.
- Inventing Smart Solutions (ISS) curriculum — Curriculum piloted with students; the source says teams implemented an invention education program using this curriculum.
- JV InvenTeams curriculum — Available for middle school students and educators to develop skills in science, technology, engineering and math through hands-on invention-based design activities.
- ideas4ears invention competition — 6-12 · Young inventors ages 6-12 can enter.
- Invention Convention — Young inventors can get involved with an invention convention in their local area.
- Pathways to Invention and Innovation (P2I) — High school students · live, virtual programs · Customized, interactive offerings that connect high school students worldwide with leaders in a field to discover ways they are inventing and innovating.
At a glance
- Ages: 6–18 years old
About the provider
The program was founded in 1994. It works with K-12 educators, administrators, and colleges and universities around the country, and it collaborates with organizations and businesses to expand learning opportunities in engineering, science, computer science and computational thinking, making, inventing, entrepreneurship and the arts. Its mission is to recognize outstanding collegiate inventors and inspire young people to pursue creative lives and careers through invention, and it is devoted to bringing invention education opportunities to all students.
The program does not purchase patents or licenses, does not invest in inventions, and does not fund the development of inventions. It also says it cannot provide inventors with contacts such as MIT engineers or area mentors.
Last updated August 30, 2026.
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