2022 Innovation Summit
That’s a wrap!
the 2021-2022 season was a FANTASTIC year for the Conrad Challenge as we celebrated the top 10 finalist teams in each challenge category with our return to an in-person Innovation Summit, as well as the new Virtual Finals Showcase! We were blown away to see these teams in action presenting their innovations, building a community with like-minded students and networking with industry experts from around the world.
Teams were scored and provided on-the-spot feedback from the judging panel. The winning teams received scholarships, patent assistance and other services to fine-tune their innovations, create companies and license their IP to top-tier corporations. Through these unique events, students gained direct exposure to industry experts, corporations, investors and universities.
Thank you to all of our Finalist teams, coaches, judges, sponsors, partners, guests and everyone in between! This year’s Innovation Summit was incredible, and it’s all because of YOU!
If you missed us this year, sign up to receive updates for the 2022-2023 Conrad Challenge.
MEET THE CONRAD FINALISTS
Every year, we are blown away by our student teams… and this year was no exception! The Innovation Summit featured 24 student teams from around the world who competed to be named Pete Conrad Scholars, the Conrad Challenge’s top honor.
2022 Innovation Summit Pete Conrad Scholars and Power Pitch Winners Are…
drum roll please… The Conrad Challenge is proud to introduce the student teams who were recognized at the innovation summit.
AEROSPACE & AVIATION
PETE CONRAD SCHOLAR:
AstraCell from Georgia, USA
AstraCell is an innovative alternate fuel cell technology that alleviates traditional fuels’ safety and durability concerns while optimizing cost and efficiency. Additionally, AstraCell benefits the environment by using a new biological component system. It is a profitable yet environmentally beneficial solution.
POWER PITCH:
Atmos FROM North Carolina, USA
In tribute to NASA's Columbia mission, Fibron is a well-functioning decelerator that enables landing of spacecraft at higher altitudes with a heavier payload and greater precision to ensure no amount of heat or pressure can tear apart plans for manned missions on Mars.
CYBER-TECHNOLOGY & SECURITY
PETE CONRAD SCHOLAR & POWER PITCH:
GANGES FROM OHIO, USA
Using a Convolutional Neural Network approach, Ganges is a cohesive device designed to rapidly and accurately analyze microscopic images of water to detect microbial contamination that may cause water-borne diseases.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
PETE CONRAD SCHOLARS:
Adorbsy from Vietnam
Adorbsy is a menstruation product that is environmentally friendly made out of dragon fruit peel. This product is biodegradable and produced domestically but also to help resolve the problem of food waste.
POWER PITCH:
Greenswing FROM California, USA
GreenSwing, a low-cost, easy-to-use device, harvests renewable energy from the kinetic energy of a door swing to electrify homes in an environmentally friendly way. With multiple units attached to doors in a home, this product can function as a personal energy system to power almost any household appliance.
POWER PITCH:
PyroTamer FROM California, USA & South Korea
PyroTamer is a mobile app that helps firefighters optimize access to critical equipment and focus on stopping wildfires as quickly as possible. This application will have the ability to plot resource locations and filter them based on what the firefighters need.
HEALTH & NUTRITION
PETE CONRAD SCHOLAR:
OXYPLY FROM South Korea
OXYPLY strives to be a cost-efficient medical oxygen regulator substitute to conventional regulators, tailored to the needs of infants in developing countries. They serve two functions: regulating the oxygen flow rate and regulating the oxygen concentration.
POWER PITCH:
Zeno from California, USA
Zeno is a mobile app that efficiently approaches Parkinson’s diagnosis and conducts an initial detection from the comfort of users’ homes using vocal biomarkers that appear in the early stages of the disease.
FSFW: RE-PURPOSED FARMLANDS & ALTERNATIVE USES OF TOBACCO (AND ITS BY-PRODUCTS)
PETE CONRAD SCHOLAR:
TobacCine from Georgia, USA
TobacCine successfully manufactures vaccines by using plants as bioreactors, which is faster, cheaper, and less complicated than the current method of using chicken eggs to grow vaccines. TobacCine utilizes modern technology and RNA interference to prevent the tobacco plant from developing crown gall disease.
POWER PITCH:
Creative Composites from California, USA
Tobosite is an innovative and high-performing bio-composite material made from tobacco plants and pineapple leaf fibers, utilizing the natural properties of both biomaterials for industrial applications. The product is naturally durable, contains radiation shielding, processes efficiently, high supply and is cost-effective.