This year 2026 qualified high school applicants will be invited into this 1-year program to develop, fabricate, and file a provisional patent. 

Inventing as Part of a Real Research Experience

This internship is exceptional. Students who join this development team and complete the program will find their names on the provisional patent application that will be filed.

Obviously this experience goes beyond traditional coursework and into true invention and original research. This  project will involve designing new systems, developing novel software, or creating technology.
 

This opportunity gives students exposure to how real-world innovation works—the same process used by engineers, researchers, startups, and research labs.

Project Details:

Interested persons will be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)

This agreement is a simple one-way non-disclosure agreement (NDA) which will permit project details to be shared with parents and child. The purpose of the NDA is to protect student work, not restrict learning.
Step 1: Complete the NDA 
Download NDA Here

Step 2: Attach student resume with NDA and return both to education@pvnet.com with the subject "Invention 2026"

Step 3: Selected applicants will be invited to PVNet to receive detailed project information and participation requirements
 

What an NDA Does and Does Not Mean

An NDA means:

• Specific technical details of the invention are kept private

• Students can work openly within the program environment

• Families are informed and involved
   

An NDA does NOT mean:

• Students cannot talk about what they learned

• Students give up their educational achievements

• There is any obligation to file a patent

• There is any guarantee of a full patent or commercialization

Students are always free to discuss their skills, experience, and learning outcomes.
 

Some projects may be suitable for a provisional patent filing if families choose to pursue that path independently. PVNet does not promise full patents, but provides students with the technical depth and documentation discipline that real inventors use.
 

Educational Value for Students

Participation in invention-based internships helps students develop:

• Advanced problem-solving skills

• Systems thinking and design discipline

• Technical documentation experience

• Confidence working on open-ended challenges

• Strong material for college, scholarship, and internship applications
   

This project is long-term, spanning a full year, and, if necessary students may need to take supporting STEM courses at PVNet to build the skills needed to succeed in this project.