2. Entering our fourth year of the competition Stems from the Project

3. 477 submissions: up 75% from 2012 23 countries: up 76% from 2012 2013 Senior Solutions season

4. The award ceremony will take place on June 3rd at the United States Patent & Trademark Office in Alexandria, VA

5. No. Teams only have to be registered for the current FLL season. Does a team have to win an award to participate? No. But we STRONGLY encourage filing a provisional patent application prior to submitting to the competition. Does a team have to have a patent? Starting November 19, a team can upload their idea on the website. This is NOT viewed by the public. How and when does a team submit their idea? Competition begins Friday, January 17, 2014 at 12 noon ET. Competition ends on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at 12 noon ET. All submissions can be viewed by the public. When does competition start/end?

6. What are the prizes? 1 winner will receive $20,000 to further develop the team’s invention or to use toward costs associated with FIRST programs. 2 finalists will receive $5,000 to further develop the teams’ invention or to use toward costs associated with FIRST programs.

7. What are the prizes? Top 10 teams will received free submission into Edison Nation’s online platform, where it will undergo a submission review process. More prizes to come!

9. Experts from our Sponsors’ organizations and industry leaders judge the submissions based on the following criteria: Solution clearly results from the current FLL Challenge Feasibility Originality/ Creativity Efficiency: Simplicity/ cost- effectiveness Public benefit Commercial viability

10. Why? Automated voting that occurred did not align with the ethos of FIRST: Gracious Professionalism. Global Innovation Award isn’t a popularity contest: it’s a celebration of innovation and ideas. In order to engage our community and social networks, we have something much better in mind….details to come!

11. Click “Patent Resources” on Global Innovation website Info from USPTO Info from WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) Step by Step pdf of how to apply for a patent.

12. Don’t wait until the last minute to upload your submission! Protect your idea! Always be Gracious Professionals!