RTX support fuels expansion of Invention Convention Florida at University of South Florida through Invention Convention Worldwide

TAMPA, Fla. (Oct. 16, 2026) — Invention Convention Florida at the University of South Florida (ICF@USF) has received a transformational award from Invention Convention Worldwide, a program of The Henry Ford, and made possible through support from RTX, one of the world’s largest aerospace and defense companies. The award will expand invention education opportunities for K-12 students and educators throughout Florida.

“This investment represents exactly what is possible when education, industry and the innovation community come together around a shared commitment to young people,” said USF President Moez Limayem. “At the University of South Florida, we believe innovation is not simply something we celebrate; it is something we cultivate. By giving young people across Florida opportunities to see themselves as inventors and problem-solvers, we are helping develop the talent and ideas that will shape our future.”

ICF@USF is Florida’s official state affiliate of Invention Convention Worldwide. Led by the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame, ICF@USF helps K-12 students across Florida explore invention and innovation, develop forward-thinking solutions to real-world challenges, and advance their ideas through a pathway that connects classroom and community invention experiences to state competitions and ultimately the RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, held annually at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.

“The Henry Ford is committed to supporting our state program affiliates like the University of South Florida with capacity-building services to help them expand Invention Convention Worldwide among more educators and students,” said Carolyn Ward, Senior Director of Learning Engagement, Outreach and Impact at Henry Ford. “Working together with our partners, we can inspire and impact more students across the country to develop their problem-identification, problem-solving, and creativity skills that will directly benefit the workforce of tomorrow.”

Through this award, ICF@USF will expand access to high-quality invention education experiences for students and educators across Florida, strengthening pathways that help young people move through the complete invention process, identifying real-world problems, researching existing solutions, developing and testing prototypes, understanding intellectual property and entrepreneurship, and ultimately communicating their ideas.

“We recognize that the innovators who will tackle tomorrow’s greatest challenges are sitting in classrooms today,” said Kristy Becerra, senior director of Corporate Social Responsibility at RTX. “Invention Convention empowers students to turn curiosity into action and build creativity and critical-thinking skills they’ll use throughout their lives. By supporting Invention Convention Worldwide, we help broaden these opportunities for young people in Florida.”

RTX’s support of ICF@USF is part of the company’s broader commitment to Invention Convention Worldwide and to inspire the next generation of inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs. In addition to its national support of the RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, RTX’s investment extends to state-level programs that strengthen invention education and help cultivate the next generation of STEM and innovation talent.

Since ICF@USF became Florida’s official Invention Convention Worldwide affiliate in 2023, it has built a growing statewide pathway connecting K-12 students with invention education and competitive opportunities. In 2026, more than 200 young inventors came to USF to present original inventions and solutions at ICF@USF, with 73 student winners, representing 59 projects, advancing to the RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals. Florida's delegation was among the largest represented at the national competition, underscoring the program's rapid statewide growth and impact.

“This investment is transformational for invention education in Florida,” said Jamie Spurrier, Executive Program Officer of the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame at USF Research. “We are creating a statewide ecosystem that reaches into classrooms and communities, equips educators with resources, connects students with inventors and industry, and positions Florida as the largest ICW affiliate, with over 120,000 students participating in innovation education in the state, underscoring the program's rapid statewide growth and impact. This support allows us to accelerate that vision and reach young innovators throughout Florida.”

For questions or to schedule an interview, please contact corporatepr@rtx.com.

Media Contact

Lauren M. Parker, M.A.
Strategic Communication & Engagement
USF Research - Florida Inventors Hall of Fame
Mcpherson1@usf.edu

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About the University of South Florida

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and USF Health. In 2026, U.S. News & World Report recognized USF as a top 50 public university for the eighth consecutive year. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in the highest tier, placing it as one of the top 16 medical schools in the nation. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $750 million in research funding in 2025 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of nearly $10 billion for the state of Florida. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

About Invention Convention Florida at USF 

Invention Convention Florida at USF is the official Florida State Affiliate of Invention Convention Worldwide, a program of The Henry Ford, and is part of a national network dedicated to fostering invention education and empowering the next generation of innovators. ICF@USF is also a key outreach program of the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame, headquartered at USF Research. For more information about Invention Convention Florida @ USF, visit https://floridainvents.org/ or follow the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame on social media. 

About RTX 

With more than 180,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. With industry-leading capabilities, we advance aviation, engineer integrated defense systems for operational success, and develop next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2025 sales of more than $88 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.