Innovate

“Innovation is the specific instrument of entrepreneurship. The act that endows resources with a new capacity to create wealth.” – Peter Drucker

Competition at all ages breeds innovation. As such, two competitions will be key elements of the Center's programs: a junior innovation competition (see below) and a National Photovoltaic Innovation Award. The national award will be instrumental in encouraging and fostering ongoing innovation in the fields of renewable energy and photovoltaics. The competition will also feed the Center for Solar Energy’s Technology Innovation and Business Accelerator Program with a steady stream of worthy and potentially market-changing technologies.

Along with participation in the program, the National Photovoltaic Innovation Award finalists and winner will receive significant scholarships that will assist in transitioning their technologies from concepts to products.

Early stage technologies, either prototyped or near prototyped, will be eligible to compete for the prize. Technologies will be judged in the areas of innovation, cost effectiveness, market disruption probability and real world applications. Judges will include a distinguished team of faculty, business leaders and solar technology experts.

To bring their products from prototype to market through the incubation program , the award winners will receive high-level support from faculty advisors, business plan development assistance, demonstration sites and manufacturing capabilities.

Junior Innovation Competition
Educating and inspiring our youth, and spurring innovation through creativity is also of interest to The Center for Solar Energy. With that in mind, the Center will sponsor a junior innovation competition. Regional winners will receive a hands-on opportunity to work as an intern alongside program students on cutting edge technologies. This internship will encourage participants to take their interest in renewable technology to the next level, laying the groundwork for the country's next generation of solar scientists and engineers.