Intellectual property (IP) creates industry, drives the global economy, and advances humanity. Despite this critical role, IP is largely absent from education worldwide. The Extracurricular Intellectual Property Innovation Center (EiPiC™) program was created to tackle this gap in IP and entrepreneurship training for K-16 students. Today, IP education is typically limited to, at most, one semester in law school, leaving K-12 students and potential young innovators without the knowledge to protect ideas or bring them to life. EiPiCTM gives students early access to the tools, strategies, and confidence they need to turn creativity into real-world impact.
At its core, EiPiCTM demystifies intellectual property and ignites the entrepreneurial spirit. Through EiPiCTM STUDIOS, students explore the importance of patents, trademarks, and copyrights while participating in interactive exercises, including mock IP filing strategy, and negotiation simulations. These experiences are anchored in real-world scenarios and guided by close-knit collaborations with leading scientists, entrepreneurs, and IP attorneys who show students what it truly takes to bring their ideas from concept to market.
The EiPiCTM initiative reflects COSI’s mission to democratize access to learning experiences. Many of history’s greatest breakthroughs were conceived by the young mind (Einstein, Currie, Gates, Zuckerberg etc). EiPiCTM provides youth with the opportunity to develop those same transformative skills and opens the door to explore, innovate, and turn ideas into reality, ensuring that creativity flourishes regardless of resources. Ultimately, EiPiCTM works to empower students with the mindset and skills necessary to thrive as leaders in a rapidly evolving and ever-changing global economy.
EiPiCTM transforms how students learn about innovation while bringing intellectual property and entrepreneurship to life through an immersive and experiential approach. Rather than relying on traditional lectures, COSI designed a dynamic curriculum that centers students in the innovation process. Participants dive into interactive modules where they unpack patent applications, craft brand protection, and participate in simulated business negotiations. These activities mirror the actual journey from idea to commercialization and create a powerful bridge between theory and practice.
To bring the program to life, COSI works with a diverse network of experts, including scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, (critically, all who have IP experience – i.e. patents or trademarks), alongside IP attorneys, to ensure content accuracy and industry relevance. EiPiC sessions are interactive STUDIOS, guiding students through innovation principles, IP fundamentals, patent litigation, and the “bench-to-business” pipeline. This format works to build technical understanding while simultaneously cultivating entrepreneurial confidence by connecting students with mentors and real-world role models.
The program’s scalability has been proven through successful activations, both domestically across the United States and internationally. Following its debut in the U.S., EiPiCTM expanded to countries such as Egypt, India, and, most recently, Italy in partnership with the U.S. Embassy. Each launch was tailored to local educational needs and cultural contexts, reinforcing the global importance of intellectual property education.
EiPiCTM’s rollout was ambitious in both scope and vision, and like any meaningful innovation, it came with its challenges. One of the most significant hurdles was the widespread lack of awareness around intellectual property at the K-12 level in and of itself. For many educators, students, and even parents, IP felt abstract or out of reach – something reserved for professional settings. To overcome this, COSI prioritized real-world storytelling, showcasing relatable examples of young innovators and bringing in dynamic IP experts who made the subject matter accessible, relevant, and inspiring.
To further bridge this gap, COSI and Dr. Bertley also leveraged the Dr. B in 3 video series, which includes an episode dedicated to IP that applies Dr. Bertley’s well-known science communication accessibility framework. This approach breaks down complex concepts into engaging, digestible insights that resonate with diverse audiences.
Expanding EiPiCTM internationally introduced another layer of complexity, which included language barriers and cultural differences. Rather than take a one-size-fits-all approach, COSI collaborated closely with local educators, translators, and community leaders to tailor content to each region’s educational landscape. As it launched country by country, COSI ensured the core goals of the program remained intact while thoughtfully adapting delivery to resonate with students' lived experiences.
What makes EiPiCTM truly stand out is its holistic hands-on model that ventures far beyond theoretical instruction. It gives students the knowledge of intellectual property, but also (and arguably more importantly) the tools, mentorship, and confidence to act on their ideas. The initiative pushes an educational empowerment motive by equipping students with real-world skills and pathways to innovation. EiPiCTM cultivates ownership and positions young learners to navigate and lead in a world driven by innovation and constant transformation.
Since its launch, EiPiCTM has delivered profound and measurable impacts, empowering students across the country and around the globe with knowledge and confidence that extend far beyond the classroom. Implemented in the U.S., India and Egypt, more than 90% of participants reported a deeper understanding of intellectual property, a stronger interest in entrepreneurship, and a clear sense of how to protect and develop their innovations. These results highlight EiPiCTM’s ability to close critical educational gaps and equip students with future-ready skills on a global scale.
The program’s recent launch in Italy further underscores its total adaptability and relevance. Activations in Palermo and Pistoia, Italy immersed students in hands-on activities that explored more advanced concepts, and early feedback on the program reflected strong engagement, a growing excitement for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), and entrepreneurial opportunities.
EiPiCTM’s success lies in transforming complex and specialized concepts into interactive and empowering experiences for young learners. By introducing intellectual property and innovation education at a pivotal stage in students’ academic journeys, EiPiCTM goes beyond traditional teaching to unlock their full potential. It enables the youth to protect their ideas, envision entrepreneurial futures, and actively shape the innovation economy. This program moves past simply closing a knowledge gap and builds a global pipeline of creators and change-makers, advancing COSI’s mission to make science and technology education equitable, inspiring, and increasingly transformative.
