The ISU Innovation Prize is a competition held Friday and Saturday. The ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship and the Start Something Agriculture Program will host the event at the ISU Research Park Core Facility. 

This will be the seventh time the ISU Innovation Prize will be hosted, with this year’s theme being Innovation at Iowa State. There are three focus areas for competitors to solve, including AgTech, EdTech and Global Impact. 

During the event, competitors will form into small groups based on their skills and interests and pick one of the three areas of the competition to solve. 

According to the Pappajohn Center, “With little to lose, entrepreneurial small teams are able to brainstorm and consistently outperform large groups when it comes to innovation. Incentive prizes are perfectly designed to harness this energy!”

The AgTech question is the following: How do we increase the productivity of the global agricultural system with a less negative impact on land, energy, water, and Mother Earth?

The EdTech question is: How do we design and reinvent learning for a better experience (quality and value) in an age of accelerating technology?

Lastly, the global impact question is: How do we improve the quality of life and continue to help solve urgent issues all around the globe?

In addition to these pre-written questions, participants will also have several focus options to choose from as well.

A kick-off event is scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday, followed by a creative session, team formation, team kickoff and active work.

Saturday’s slate of activities will start at 9 a.m. with group instructions, followed by group work time, pitch refinement and final presentations. Final presentations are scheduled for 3 p.m., and awards will be given at 4 p.m.

Prizes for the weekend include $2,500 for the best AgTech, $2,500 for the best EdTech and $2,500 for the best Global Impact. To view the full schedule of activities or register for the ISU Innovation Prize, visit the Pappajohn Center’s website.