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The Conrad Challenge is one of the world’s most highly regarded global STEM innovation and entrepreneurship competitions, held annually from August through April.
The Conrad Foundation was founded in 1999 by former educator Nancy Conrad to honor the extraordinary life of her late husband, Charles “Pete” Conrad.
Pete Conrad was a trailblazing NASA astronaut who was the third human to walk on the Moon. He flew four missions for the Gemini, Skylab, and Apollo programs and spent more than 1,200 hours in space.
His entrepreneurial spirit took flight after his years as a space explorer – he founded four companies devoted to the commercialization of space travel before his passing in 1999. The Conrad Challenge reflects Conrad’s remarkable legacy, adventurous spirit and belief in human ingenuity.
The Challenge is not just a competition, but a launchpad for the next generation of entrepreneurs, inventors and problem-solvers. It is hosted annually from August to April, challenging students to create and build innovative solutions and apply their scientific, social and economic knowledge to solve real-world problems.
The 2026-2027 competition year will mark the Challenge’s 20th anniversary of operation.
The Conrad Challenge celebrates the life of Charles “Pete” Conrad, an extraordinary trailblazer, pilot and NASA astronaut.
The Conrad Challenge invites high school students ages 13-18 to present their STEM inventions to a panel of expert judges, after months of rigorous planning and strategizing their innovation and business model.
Since its inception, the Conrad Challenge has engaged over 1,000 schools from all 50 U.S. states and 72 countries, reinforcing the commitment to diversity and global representation. The 2023-2024 competition saw record-breaking participation with over 3,400 students involved.
