topic Research

Invent a Chip: The search for young inventors

The competition wants to get pupils in general and vocational schools excited about the technologies of the future. Targeted support and funding turns students interested in technology into role models who bring their excitement and involvement into their own classrooms and social circles.

For the INVENT a CHIP competition, participants from grades 9 to 13 (or 8 to 12) will have to correctly answer 20 questions on micro and nano-electronics, and on an additional current topic - in 2011, this was electric mobility. In the second phase, pupils can then submit an idea for an innovative chip with a new application. The twelve best teams or individual participants will be invited to a three-day workshop at Leibniz University Hannover. Here they will start the practical phase of chip design with the support of experts. Finally, the best designs will be presented to representatives from politics, enterprises and industry.

There are many great prizes to be won. The schools with the best response rate to the questionnaires will, for example, receive money for a school party or technical equipment for workrooms. The three best ideas for chips will be selected from the practical phase participants, and an additional BMBF prize will be awarded. In addition to cash prizes, the winners of the chip development contest will experience an exciting programme at the conference as well as a practical placement at Bosch lasting several days. They will also be nominated for the selection process of the German National Academic Foundation.

This competition, which has been held annually since 2002, is held by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) together with the Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (VDE).