UNeMed's "Back-o-the-Napkin" Contest Returns

UNeMed, the technology transfer and commercialization office for the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), will again sponsor a "Back-o-the-Napkin Contest," calling for any inventive UNO or UNMC faculty, staff, or student to submit their ideas for new inventions and better ideas.

Criteria and judging

Eligible entries will be limited to medical devices and innovations related to artificial intelligence programs or systems, software tools and applications, and research tools.

The deadline for entries is March 6, 2026.

All eligible entries will be judged by UNeMed's internal Science and Technology Advisory Committee (STAC). Submissions will be evaluated for their novelty, market potential and possible intellectual property protection. Top entries with the most viable path to a business or product will be awarded additional development and financial support, which may include prototyping, feasibility testing, other developmental guidance and support as deemed most appropriate by STAC.

Designed to resemble actual napkins, entry forms ask that inventors draw and describe their ideas. Physical forms can be found at various locations around the UNMC campus, including the McGoogan Library and the Innovation Design Unit.

Any of UNeMed's Innovation Ambassadors will also have access to the entry forms and can provide assistance and guidance.

Submit completed entries to UNeMed at unemed@unmc.edu or via campus mail (6099).

In addition to a detailed description and as many details about the invention as possible, the form also requires the inventors provide contact information, and requires all inventors sign and date the form.

Previous winners

Sara Myers, Ph.D., UNO associate vice chancellor for research and creative activity, is a previous winner of the contest for her entry on an energy-harvesting exoskeleton.

Other past winners include:

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