Step Up to Entrepreneurship!
Ohio STEP is a STEM innovation and entrepreneurship program of the Ohio Academy of Science. This program is designed to promote critical thinking and the development of an entrepreneurial mindset through experiential and project-based learning. Authentic experiential research projects prepare students to meet the demands of a rapidly changing labor market where technology and innovation create new challenges, as well as new and rewarding opportunities.
The Ohio STEP is an iterative process that involves both an understanding of STEM research and how it can be applied to develop a solution (product or service) along with an entrepreneurial evaluation of the business model to analyze the likelihood of entrepreneurial success.
Our Mission: To impact and influence the economic, educational, and entrepreneurial future of the State of Ohio by providing opportunities for our youth to integrate an understanding of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) topics with the development of an entrepreneurial mindset to become the future innovators of our state.
2025 State Competition Information:
ABOUT OHIO STEP
This is students’ opportunity to learn about and participate in the PROCESSES of innovation and entrepreneurship! These processes include thinking creatively and critically about how to better peoples’ lives by:
- identifying a problem or need in society,
- generating a well thought out solution, and
- conducting STEM and market research to assess the likelihood of your idea’s feasibility and viability.
By harnessing our imagination and thinking creatively, we can envision how emerging technologies can be leveraged to identify needs in society and drive meaningful change. It is through the mindset of innovation and entrepreneurial thinking that new ideas can emerge, leading to the development of groundbreaking solutions that improve people’s lives.
SIGN-UP FOR OHIO STEP
Ohio STEP is open to Middle School students in grades 6-8 and High School students in grades 9-12. Students may participate as independent students, as part of a school affiliated classroom or club, or a community club. They can develop projects individually or in teams of up to three (3) members.
Submitting a Ohio STEP Project
Below are instructions on how to submit a 2025 Ohio STEP project on ProjectBoard.
To begin a project or to prepare to submit a project for Ohio STEP – students must create or re-activate last years account in ProjectBoard by January 31, 2025. If participating through a classroom educator/facilitator, that person will connect the student with their ProjectBoard class.
If the student is independent (not connected to a classroom educator or afterschool facilitator), please contact the Ohio Academy of Science to get connected with a class facilitator at: info@ohiosci.org
Project submission for competition opens Monday, December 9, 2024
Project submission closes at 5:00 PM on Tuesday, February 25, 2025
The 2025 Ohio STEP competition fee is $30.00 per student.
Ohio STEP competition results will be announced on March 25, 2025
The on-line Ohio STEP award ceremony will be on April 8, 2025
2025 Office Hours
The Ohio Academy of Science will be holding open office hours throughout January and February. These hours are for teachers, students, and parents to drop in for assistance with submitting a project to a 2025 event. Please use the links below to join a meeting if you need assistance.
