Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I have to participate in the Ideation competition in order to participate in the Application competition?
A: No, you can participate in either one or both competitions.

Q: Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to participate in either competition?
A: No, all enrolled U.S. college or university students who were lawfully admitted into the United States are eligible. This includes undergraduate and graduate students; university or community college.

Q: Can I team with others on a submission?
A: Yes, you can work on a submission as a team. Team members can be within the same or at different schools. However, all members of the team must be eligible for the challenge.

Q: Can I use my current work (e.g. projects, capstones, theses, etc.) to enter this competition?
A: Absolutely. You can submit existing or new work for one or both competitions as long as it isn’t a commercial product at the time of submission.

Q: Who are the judges?
A: The judging panel will be made up of representatives from government, non-profit, and for-profit entities who work in the manufacturing industry.

Q: How strict is the deadline?
A: Very strict. Late submissions will not be eligible.

Q: Is there a limit to the number of ideas or applications I submit?
A: No, you can enter as many times as you like.

Q: What resources can help me get started?
• For an overview of how data is used in the manufacturing industry and more information about the MTConnect standard, visit http://www.MTConnect.org/resources
• To learn about the challenges and opportunities in the U.S. manufacturing industry, visit the National Network of Manufacturing Innovation at http://manufacturing.gov
• To learn about the challenges and opportunities in digital manufacturing, visit the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute at http://dmdii.uilabs.org
• Partnering with a manufacturer can give you good perspective on their needs and give you inspiration for developing ideas and applications. To find your nearest manufacturer, visit http://www.NTMA.org/members/chapters