Connecticut Invention Convention

The Connecticut Invention Convention (CIC) is an award winning, internationally recognized, 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational program designed to develop and enhance critical thinking skills in children in grades K-12 through invention, innovation and entrepreneurship, while encouraging their interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

The CIC is the nation’s oldest continuously operating children’s invention education program. Since the 1983-1984 school year, an estimated 300,000 Connecticut students have experienced local CIC invention programs. Annually, more than 17,000 students in grades K-12, from over 275 Connecticut schools, take part in the CIC learning curriculum.

Local teachers provide hands-on instruction using CIC's STEM-based and standards-linked curriculum. Integrated with local, state and national initiatives, CIC enables students to research, analyze and effectively focus on and solve a real-life problems creating a self-sustained excitement for inquiry and learning. The CIC provides K-12 students with unique means to discover and experience new skill sets and learning techniques, and creatively apply these in their real-life settings, while nurturing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) earlier in their academic career.