Major sponsors: NASA Tech Briefs, Solidworks (CAT), COMSOL, HP, National Instruments.
The reason I'm listing those so prominently is that the contest rules include sharing your submission details (name, etc.) with the major sponsors "for purposes of marketing". Which in my book sucks, but isn't exactly
rare - so make your own decisions.
Six categories: Consumer Products; Machinery, Equipment and Component Technology; Medical Products; Safety and Security; Sustainable Technologies; Transportation.
Submit 500-word abstract and at least one illustration. Idea must be original and must not have won awards. (Just posting it is okay.)
Materials you submit belong to the contest company (and are posted for public view) but the idea is still yours - which also means you're on your own when it comes to commercializing it.
Apart from the grand prize, there are HP xw4600 ("or comparable" - that's about $700+ retail, not the world) workstations for winners in categories, and five $100 popular vote prizes.
Open to everybody, except where prohibited - which includes Brazil, China, Florida, the Netherlands, and New York.