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FAQs
1. What is InnovationQuest? InnovationQuest is an international engineering design competition for students in grades 8-12. It challenges participants to solve real-world problems through creativity, STEM skills, and the engineering design process.​
2. Who can participate? - Any student currently enrolled in entering grades 8-12 worldwide can participate. Eligible participants include graduating class of 2026-2031. - Teams can have up to 3 members or individuals can compete solo.
3. Is there a registration fee? No. Registration is completely free! We want to make this competition accessible to everyone around the world.
4. Do I have to be in a specific country to join? No! InnovationQuest is open to students worldwide with no citizenship or location restrictions.
5. Can homeschool students or students from different schools form a team? Yes! Students from different schools or educational settings can team up, as long as all members meet the eligibility criteria.
6. If my teammate listed me in their team, do I still need to register? Yes! Even if your teammate listed you, you must register individually so we can verify your information and communicate with you directly.
7. What is the maximum team size? Teams can have a maximum of 3 members, or you can compete individually.
8. Are there any restrictions on tools or software? No, but all designs must follow the engineering design process and meet challenge requirements. AI-generated content is not allowed.
9. How do we submit our project?​ Both the documentation portfolio and poster must be submitted through the official submission portal as separate PDF files:​ - Documentation Portfolio: Single multi-page PDF - Poster: One-page PDF (Read more about submission under the "Competition" tab.)
10. When is the submission deadline? All competition projects must be submitted by August 1st, 2026 (11:59 PM ET). Late submissions will not be accepted.
11. What are the prizes? - 1st Place: $1,000 cash + $500 scholarship + Gold Medal + 1st Place Certificate - 2nd Place: $500 cash + $250 scholarship + Silver Medal + 2nd Place Certificate - 3rd Place: $250 cash + $100 scholarship + Bronze Medal + 3rd Place Certificate
12. Do we need a working prototype? No, a physical prototype is not required. However, you should include detailed engineering drawings and clearly explain your design.
13. Can I submit an idea I’ve used in another competition? No. All work must be original and created specifically for InnovationQuest.
14. Do all of my teammates have to submit our project? No. Please select only ONE team member to submit your final project!
15. How can we help out the InnovationQuest community? - Share InnovationQuest with students, teachers, and STEM clubs. - Post about it on social media, and encourage others to join. - Support the competition by contributing funds! Your support helps us keep the event free and accessible to students worldwide. (Information about donations can be found on the home page.)
16. Who can I contact if I have questions? You can reach us at innovationquest.official@gmail.com, and our team will be happy to assist you.