After an incredible weekend at InventOR Bootcamp 2026, 20 finalist teams from colleges and universities across Oregon are officially moving on to the next stage of the competition. Representing 20 different institutions from across the state, these student innovators are tackling real-world problems through engineering, healthcare, sustainability, consumer products, accessibility, and entrepreneurship. Over the next 10 weeks, each team will receive $2,000 in grant funding to continue...

Each year, the Invent Oregon Finals bring together the brightest student innovators from across the state — and 2025 was truly one for the history books. Hosted this summer at Portland State University , the 2025 InventOR Finals showcased Oregon’s next generation of changemakers: 20+ finalist teams , over 200 attendees , and a community of entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors all gathered to celebrate bold ideas that make a difference. From sustainable materials and medical breakthroughs...

Plastic waste is one of the world’s biggest environmental challenges — but Chloe Hsy and Luka Mosidze from Reed College are thinking smaller to solve it. Much smaller. Their project, MicroCycle , uses specially cultivated plastic-eating bacteria to break down unrecyclable plastics and transform them into valuable industrial chemicals. It’s a bold idea that blends biology, chemistry, and environmental science into a sustainable circular-economy model. The Reed team’s innovation not only...