Innovation at FIRST®
From engineering and coding to design-thinking and community outreach, solving challenges with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is behind everything we do in the FIRST® community. FIRST programs provide the essential hands-on education, experiences, and inspiration young people need to be driven and build a better world.
Beyond game-play and team challenges, students are expanding their curiosity and confidence to create a better future for themselves and their communities through observing opportunities to real-world problem-solve for improvements, innovation, and inclusion.
To help all FIRST students take their innovations further, we’ve compiled a list of tips and resources for the innovation process and intellectual property.
From improvements to the water cycle and making space duration more accessible to innovative solutions in waste management and parent-to-school communications, FIRST students have brought their inventions to market, received patents, and incorporated as businesses. Check out recent FIRST team and alumni innovation stories and updates:
- Team Phenomena and 'Pheno-Advance' on CBS This Morning
- Team Zebracorns and 'InSoul' on Cheddar News
- Team NXTreme and the app 'PickUp Patrol'
Learn more about this season's Innovation Project and the 2022 FIRST LEGO League Global Innovation Award presented by Qualcomm.
As part of the CARGO CONNECTSM season, FIRST LEGO League Challenge teams participating in the Innovation Project will identify a problem related to improving the transportation journey of products, research the problem, and design a new piece of technology or improve an existing one.
Students will collaborate on their ideas and must consider efficient design for their user, possible barriers to implementation, document the evaluation of their invention, and validate their design with professionals working in STEM.
Participating teams can learn about the nomination process, the Global Innovation Award rubric, and Global Innovation Award guidelines here.
For questions about the FIRST LEGO League Innovation Project, email FIRST LEGO League.
On June 21-23, 2022, the FIRST community will celebrate the next generation of innovators who will change the future during the FIRST LEGO League Global Innovation Award presented by Qualcomm at Union Station in St. Louis, MO, USA. The award is open to participating FIRST LEGO League teams in more than 110 countries.
Twenty finalist teams will advance to showcase their research and inventions, and present to industry leaders during the FIRST LEGO League Global Innovation Award event. Teams will participate in remote workshops designed to develop knowledge and skill sets, have individualized mentorship, and more. Awards will be announced live on FIRSTtv in front of a global audience of peers, sponsors, and industry leaders where the top selected teams will receive exclusive prizing from sponsors.
Participation in 2022 FIRST LEGO League Global Innovation Award provides students with the unique skills and expertise to become tomorrow’s leaders and address the challenges that face our world ahead.
Learn more about this season's innovative solutions, how to join the celebration by voting and watching the award ceremony broadcast.
2021 Awards Show Broadcast | Past Winners & Innovation Ambassadors