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From Zero to Invention

Q: Do I need an idea to join?

No. That’s the point. The program teaches you how to find one.

Q: Do I need a technical background?

No. The program is designed for beginners of any background.

Q: Can my school or organization host it?

Yes. It can be delivered through schools, universities, municipalities, community organizations and innovation hubs. Contact us through Partner with FICI.

Our core educational program, for people who are curious about innovation or entrepreneurship but don’t have an idea, an invention or a startup yet. You’ll learn to see everyday problems differently, generate original ideas and develop them into structured invention concepts.

1No idea yet2Idea creation3InventionHow the pathway works

Who it’s for

Anyone interested in innovation who doesn’t know what to invent yet. No idea, experience or technical background is needed. The program is especially designed to reach people who haven’t traditionally had access to innovation programs: youth, students, persons with disabilities, newcomers, Indigenous communities and other underserved groups.

What you’ll learn

How to identify real-world problems
How to generate practical, original ideas
How to develop an invention concept
The basics of prototyping
Awareness of intellectual property
Presentation and pitching skills
The basic path from invention to commercialization

How it works

LearnWork through the program with a group, in person or online, through a school, university, community organization or FICI directly.
CreateDevelop your own invention concept from a real problem you’ve identified.
PresentShare your concept and get feedback. Participants who complete the program receive a certificate.
Go furtherPromising ideas can be connected to incubators, accelerators, universities, investors, industry partners and international invention programs, including the National Inventors’ Team of Canada.

From a course to the world stage

In 2017, a 15-year-old high-school student in Toronto took FICI’s creativity course, the program now called From Zero to Invention. His result: an autonomous drone that washes the windows of high-rise buildings. He went on to secure international patent protection, join the National Inventors’ Team of Canada and present his invention at an international competition in Silicon Valley.

Also within this program

IP workshops

Free intellectual-property workshops for students and entrepreneurs, run with the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC).

Upcoming events

No upcoming events for this program right now.

New dates are added regularly.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need an idea to join?

Do I need a technical background?

Can my school or organization host it?

Is there a cost?

Nothing opens on its own.

Ready to take the next step?

Tell us where you are, and we’ll help you find the right next step.

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