iCAN is an international invention and innovation competition. Inventors from different countries present incredible ideas, share experiences, discuss creative collaboration, and get feedback about their projects from famous scientists and entrepreneurs.

The main goal of the competition is to create a useful platform, which will help young inventors get new experiences in academic, business, and commercial fields, and also contribute to the development of global exhibition culture!

The competition is held online due to the pandemic, so it is possible to join the event from anywhere.
Later, the organizers are planning to return to the offline format, so if you get to the final stage, you will have an opportunity to present your project in front of the jury in the Canadian urban center — Toronto.

If you study in grades 9-11, have an invention and want to present it to the world, apply now!

First, choose a supervisor who will help you turn the idea into reality. Also, choose a section to submit your future project to.

The competition covers 21 categories – you can definitely choose something!

• Fashion and accessories — for those who dream to create an app which will match clothes or a 3D printer to produce shoes.
• Agriculture and food industry — here, yeast for gluten-free bakery and enzymes for cheesemaking are invented.
• Automation and mechanics — for the creators of robots, which know sign language, or robotic arm made of stainless steel, which works with hazardous chemicals in factories.
• Construction and buildings — for those who want to create devices, ensuring the safety of industrial climbers or identifying unsafe spots on a construction site.
• Beauty sphere and cosmetics — here, inventors develop care products that are not tested on animals and examine the impact of acids on skin prone to acne.
• Jewelry and clothes – for the inventors who make earrings and rings of recycled plastic.
• Electricity and electronics — for those who want to create a LED lamp which adjusts to human circadian rhythms.
• Graphics and digital technologies — for the creators of new 3D-printers which print pictures in braille.
• Housing and kitchen tools — for the inventors of screwdrivers made of recycled lids or creators of backlit wooden tape rules.
• Industrial art and design — for those who can develop a program to create 3D prototypes of buildings based on photos.
• ІТ and data transfer technologies – here, the programs are created which protect our personal data while we use Wi-Fi at the cafes.
• Mechanisms and systems — for the creators of ergonomic kitchens with sensor shelves.
• Medicine and health care — for those who create applications analyzing sleep quality and diagnosing pigmentation on the skin.
• Eco-innovation — superfast windmills which can produce energy for schools all over Ukraine are invented here.
• Security and protection — for creators of locks which can be opened with fingerprints of the owner only.
• Science and engineering – for those planning to create a hybrid quadcopter which can stay in the air for several days.
• Stationery and office equipment — an armchair reminding you to straighten your back and do a warm-up can be created here.
• Sports and goods for rest — for the inventors of sneakers which will measure running speed or an application which will choose music for meditation.
• Telecommunication and multimedia — for those who create smart speakers with projectors showing your favorite TV-series anywhere.
• Weather conditions and climate protection — automatic watering which will protect forests can be created here.
• Other — for those whose ideas do not fit into any section but are still innovative and important.

First, you should take part in the stage III of the All-Ukrainian contest-presentation of scientific research projects among JAS students or in the exhibition-contest "The Future of Ukraine".

The next step is to fill in and send your application form, which contains two parts:
1. Information about the project and its author
2. Structured, clear, and full description of the project and its competitive benefits. It should contain:

• a. written description of the project (general description, key achievements and features, impact on society and nature, commercialization, and prospects of development);
• b. project visualization (photos, graphs, diagrams, and any other details presenting the project in the best way and showing its value).

When you get to the stage II of the competition, you will need to shoot a video, where you will tell about the idea and functionality of your invention in 5 minutes.

The jury are the advisors, consultants, IP experts, members of other invention exhibition juries, and representatives of innovative institutions from all over the world: iCAN International Delegation, International Federation of Inventors’ Associations (IFIA), World Invention Intellectual Property Associations (WIIPA), and Innovation Executive Committee.

The jury takes into consideration the following criteria:

• general social and economic value (25%);
• status and level of technology (20%);
• practical use (15%);
• influence and competitiveness (15%); and
• the potential for future development (25%).

You may win the following prizes:

• gold, silver, and bronze medals;
• special international awards, such as the Canadian Special Award and the International Special Award;
• the Best Invention Award;
• the Semi-Grand Prize; and
• the Grand Prize.

Of course!
In 2020, the Ukrainian team of 12 students presented Ukraine at the competition for the first time and won 30 prizes! Also, the JASU delegation drew attention and won the Best Delegation Award!
Anastasia Venchovska won the main prize of competition among young scientists: Best Young Invention Award, gold medal, and special prize given by the Toronto International Society of Innovation & Advanced Skills.
Igor Shybka and Khrystyna Ambrozyak won individual awards from the jury for their innovations.

In addition, two JAS projects by Ivan Zagorulko and Dmytro Steblyna were included in the top-10 Best Invention Designs.

• 6 students won gold medals: Igor Shybka, Dmytro Steblyna, Mykhailo Shtopko, Olexander Luchyn, and Yelyzaveta Lazarova.
• 5 students won silver medals: Maksym Lan, Oleg Belous, Alisa Sergeeva, and Ivan Zagorulko.
• 1 participant got a special prize from the Indonesian Invention and Innovation Promotion Association (INNOPA).
• 2 students received special prizes from the World Invention Intellectual Property Associations (WIIPA).
• 11 JAS students got special prizes from the Toronto International Society of Innovation & Advanced Skills.

The national coordinator of iCAN in Ukraine is Yevhen Kudriavets, Deputy Director for Strategic Projects Management and International Relations at the NC “JASU”.
If you still have questions, address the International Relations department:
[email protected]

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