Innovators Quest

Manufacturers need to fill 3.8M jobs by 2033, with half at risk of remaining unfilled due to a skills and applicant gap. To address this, manufacturers must support early career awareness and exploration for students as early as elementary school.

Today’s 4th graders will graduate high school in 2033 and could be your future workforce.

To help, the Manufacturing Institute has developed The Quest for the Crystal of Innovation (Innovators Quest), a gamified experience for grades 4-9. This turnkey solution allows manufacturers to engage students in a fun, challenging and age-appropriate way, either in classrooms or at community events like summer camps, expos, and MFG Day.

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The Innovators Quest helps students discover their strengths while encountering tasks that incorporate core manufacturing skills. The activities promote teamwork, communication, and problem-solving while introducing students to key concepts like additive manufacturing, aerospace engineering, electromechanical components, robotics, and quality control.

Learn More About the Innovators Quest

Key Considerations

Designed for use by manufacturers with students in grades 4-9 in their local communities
Developed as a turnkey tool for manufacturing employees to use as a hands-on activity with local students
Intended as a fun introduction to manufacturing concepts, skills and careers
Manufacturers should facilitate the experience and serve as the connector between Innovators Quest and real-world manufacturing
Great as a community engagement tool for partner organizations in supporting local manufacturers
Not intended as a tool for schools to use without in-person manufacturer support

Sponsorship Information

Your organization’s sponsorship supports the MI’s work toward inspiring the next generation of manufacturers and the Innovators Quest initiative.

Innovators Quest kits can be sponsored by manufacturers for individual company use or by community hub organizations (i.e. Chambers, Industry Sector Partners, Workforce Boards, Economic Development Centers, Educational Service Centers, etc.) to be deployed locally in partnership with multiple community manufacturers.

All sponsors will have access to combined virtual training sessions and materials.

Types of Sponsorships

Standard Sponsorship: Includes delivery of 1 Innovators Quest Standard Kit that engages up to 750 students at $15,000 per kit
Premium Sponsorship: Includes delivery of 1 Innovators Quest Premium Kit that engages up to 750 students with branded reward package at $19,750 per kit

Sponsorships can be combined to receive a combination of standard and premium kits.

All sponsors supporting 3-4 kits will also have access to one (1) virtual training session tailored specifically to the sponsor’s selected participants.

All sponsors supporting 5 or more kits will have access to one in-person training session tailored specifically to the sponsor’s selected participants.

If you would like to support 10 or more kits, please reach out to Jen White, Director of Student Engagement, at [email protected].

Order Now

Interested in bringing Innovators Quest to your community? Click the link below to secure a kit from the first round of orders.

Secure a Kit

FAQs

Events

Learn more about the Innovators Quest and ways to get involved by watching the overview session below.

Overview Session Slides

Consultations Available

Have questions about how you can leverage Innovators Quest for your own community? Speak with Jen White, Director of Student Engagement, to learn more today.

Schedule a Consultation