2024 Contest Now Accepting Entries!

Submit your best new product ideas for a chance at $25,000, other great prizes, and global recognition. If you already are registered, log in to access the entry form. Otherwise, click here to get started.

Help build a better tomorrow

Since Tech Briefs magazine launched the Create the Future Design contest in 2002 to recognize and reward engineering innovation, over 15,000 design ideas have been submitted by engineers, students, and entrepreneurs in more than 100 countries. Join the innovators who dared to dream big by entering your ideas today.

Read About Past Winners’ Success Stories

Special Report spotlights the eight top entries in 2023 as well as past winners whose ideas are now in the market, making a difference in the world.

Click here to read more

A ‘Create the Future’ Winner Featured on ‘Here’s an Idea’

Spinal cord injury affects 17,000 Americans and 700,000 people worldwide each year. A research team at NeuroPair, Inc. won the Grand Prize in the 2023 Create the Future Design Contest for a revolutionary approach to spinal cord repair. In this Here’s an Idea podcast episode, Dr. Johannes Dapprich, NeuroPair’s CEO and founder, discusses their groundbreaking approach that addresses a critical need in the medical field, offering a fast and minimally invasive solution to a long-standing problem.

Listen now

Thank you from our Sponsors

“At COMSOL, we are very excited to recognize innovators and their important work this year. We are grateful for the opportunity to support the Create the Future Design Contest, which is an excellent platform for designers to showcase their ideas and products in front of a worldwide audience. Best of luck to all participants!”

— Bernt Nilsson, Senior Vice President of Marketing, COMSOL, Inc.

“From our beginnings, Mouser has supported engineers, innovators and students. We are proud of our longstanding support for the Create the Future Design Contest and the many innovations it has inspired.”

— Kevin Hess, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Mouser Electronics

Follow Create the Future

maxon

maxon develops and builds high precision electric drive systems that are among the best in the world – combining brushed and brushless DC motors, gearheads, sensors, spindle drives, and control electronics into complete mechatronic drive systems. For over 60 years, businesses from a wide range of industries including medical technology, robotics, industrial automation, mobility, and aerospace place their trust in reliable drive systems by maxon. Our drives are perfectly suited for wherever extreme precision and the highest quality standards are needed and where compromises cannot be tolerated – on Earth and on Mars.

maxon's engineers have been true partners in the quest to create the right solution for each customer. Prototypes, custom systems, or large series: Whatever your requirements may be, we are here to assist. Servicing the global design engineer and buying community with our extensive product range and expertise. We offer a global sales network, nine manufacturing sites, and more than 3500 employees worldwide.

For more information, visit www.maxongroup.us.

Resources

  • Formulae Handbook for Design Engineers

    A comprehensive collection with illustrations and descriptions. Includes formulas, terminology and explanations of the calculations that are relevant for drive systems. A flow chart for selecting the right drive for each purpose. Download a free copy – a must have book for every design engineer!

    Learn More

  • Online Shop: Choose from more than 5000 products

    Configure and combine your drive system easily online: motor, gearhead, sensor to meet your individual requirements. Product specifications and CAD files can be downloaded immediately after completing the configuration. Our X program products are available for quick delivery.

    Learn More

  • Customized Motors and Gearboxes

    Parvalux, a maxon company, offers thousands of AC, PMDC and BLDC motor options. We can customize or design from scratch, geared motor solutions, ensuring you gain a competitive advantage. Our drives are found in hundreds of applications, including healthcare, leisure, mobility, transport and a diverse range of industrial applications.

    Download our eCatalog