OMAHA, Nebraska (January 5, 2025)—UNeMed will again sponsor a “Back-o-the-Napkin” contest, calling for inventive UNMC and UNO faculty, staff and students to submit ideas for new inventions and better ways.
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 campus, including the McGoogan Library and the Innovation Design Unit. A digital version can also be downloaded here. Submit completed entries to UNeMed at unemed@unmc.edu or via campus mail (6099).
Any of UNeMed’s Innovation Ambassadors will also have access to the entry forms and can provide assistance and guidance.
Previous winners include:
- Wearable Pinch Ligation Device—Quan Ly, MD, & Meghana Kashyap, MD, UNMC College of Medicine, Department of Surgery
- Single Laser Measurement Device for Jump Testing—Michael Rosenthal, DSc, Elizabeth Wellsandt, DPT, PhD, and Michael Wellsandt, DPT, UNMC, College of Allied Health
- Beam Helmet—Elizabeth Beam, PhD, assistant professor, UNMC College of Nursing
- Light Pipe Retinal Viewer—Pukraj Rishi, UNMC College of Medicine, Ophthalmology
- Energy-harvesting Exoskeleton—Sara Myers, UNO Biomechanics
- Retrograde cerebral protection (RCP) central catheter—Aleem Siddique, MBBS, FACS, FACC, UNMC, College of Medicine, Department of Surgery
Funding and additional support for the contest is provided by the Great Plains IDeA-CTR.
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. The fine print (“Important Legal Stuff”) on the form reads:
ALL POTENTIAL INVENTORS AFFILIATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA DURING THE CONCEPTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THIS INVENTION MUST SIGN BELOW. BY SIGNING THIS NEW INVENTION NOTIFICATION FORM YOU HEREBY ASSIGN YOUR RIGHTS IN THIS INVENTION TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.
To the best of my knowledge all statements and information provided in this New Invention Notification (NIN) form are true and complete. I understand and agree that all rights, obligations, and financial interests pertaining to or derived from the invention are as determined under the University of Nebraska Board of Regents Bylaws and Policies, including, but not limited to Bylaw 3.10, Policy 4.4.1, Policy 4.4.2, and all applicable campus policies. I also understand and acknowledge that the University has the right to change the Policy from time to time, including the percentage of net royalties paid to me. Further, I acknowledge that the percentage of net royalties paid to inventors is derived only from consideration in the form of money or equity received under a license, option, or material transfer agreement for licensed rights. Per Policy 3.2.8, any conflict of interest will be handled according to specific campus policies which may require disclosure of a personal interest in the form of potential revenue through commercialization of an invention described in a publication or presentation. I agree to assist the University of Nebraska and UNeMed in the evaluation, possible protection and commercialization of the invention as described in this NIN.
UNeMed, in its sole right and discretion, may change or alter any terms and conditions of this contest at any time, without notice, to the contest entrants.
