The Lemelson-MIT Program recognizes outstanding inventors, encourages sustainable new solutions to real-world problems, and enables and inspires young people to pursue creative lives and careers through invention. Two major endeavors aim to fulfill this mission: the Lemelson-MIT Awards and InvenTeam initiative.

The Lemelson-MIT Awards recognize the profound impact that inventors can have on economic and social well-being; they include the $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize, $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Award for Sustainability, and $30,000 Lemelson-MIT Student Prize.

Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams are teams of high school students, teachers, and mentors that receive grants up to $10,000 each to invent technological solutions to real-world problems. The InvenTeam initiative aims to excite high school students about invention through science, technology, engineering, and math; empower students to problem solve; and encourage an inventive culture in schools and communities.