NSF and AACC announce 2026 Community College Innovation Challenge winners
The U.S. National Science Foundation, in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), announced the three winning teams of the 2026 Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC).
The annual competition seeks to strengthen entrepreneurial thinking among community college students by challenging them to develop STEM-based solutions to real-world problems. It also enables students to discover and demonstrate their capacity to use science, technology, engineering and mathematics to make a difference in the world and to translate that knowledge into action.
"Community colleges are the foundation of the nation's skilled technical workforce and play a vital role in addressing America's STEM education and workforce needs. They prepare learners from all backgrounds, regions and communities for careers in critical fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum science and advanced manufacturing," said James L. Moore III, NSF assistant director for STEM Education. "The NSF Directorate for STEM Education is proud to co-sponsor the Community College Innovation Challenge each year, providing students with an opportunity to showcase innovative solutions to pressing real-world challenges. I congratulate this year's winning teams for their hard work and innovative ideas."
The first, second and third-place winning teams and their innovations are listed below.
First Place: SUNY Broome Community College, NY
Project: Hands-On Quantum Education
Second Place: Springfield Technical Community College, MA
Project: HydroShield
Third Place: De Anza College, CA
Project: The Micro-Buoy
In addition, Passaic County Community College, New Jersey, took home the Innovation Growth Award, which recognizes a team for its exceptional growth, responsiveness to feedback and continuous improvement throughout the competition.
The 12 community colleges selected as finalists attended an Innovation Boot Camp where they learned from entrepreneurs and experts in business planning, stakeholder engagement, strategic communication and marketplace dynamics.
"This competition is a remarkable testament to the ingenuity and drive of our nation's community college students," said DeRionne Pollard, president and CEO of AACC. "We are honored to partner with NSF to support these talented student teams as they apply their innovative thinking and problem-solving skills to address real-world challenges. The projects presented reflect not only excellence in STEM but also a strong commitment to societal and economic progress. Congratulations to the winning teams and to all of this year's exceptional finalists."
Among the ideas the 12 finalist teams presented are innovative and transformative solutions for food insecurity, search and rescue, road safety and infrastructure, energy efficiency, safe drinking water, protection for senior citizens, accessible learning for the visually impaired, power grid security and expanding access to quantum technology — with many submissions incorporating emerging technologies including AI, machine learning and advanced manufacturing.