IP Literacy Project addresses critical gap in innovation pipeline: preparing the next generation to create, protect, and own their ideas

LOS ANGELES (February 10, 2026) — As U.S. leadership in global innovation lags, California is testing a first-in-the-nation solution, starting in middle school. Michelson Intellectual Property Institute (Michelson IP) has launched a pilot program to bring intellectual property (IP) education into K–12 classrooms at six California schools, reflecting growing recognition that early IP literacy can play a critical role in strengthening the nation’s innovation pipeline.

The IP Literacy Project (IPLP) embeds foundational IP education in invention-focused curricula, ensuring that students not only learn how to create new ideas but also how to protect and own them. The pilot aims to reshape how young people understand creativity and ownership, expanding who sees themselves as capable of inventing and participating in the innovation economy, while strengthening long-term national competitiveness.

“Innovation is essential to the economic future of the U.S. and its status as a global leader in fostering transformative ideas and industries. Yet, we are increasingly witnessing that leadership falter as the country’s innovation pipeline suffers challenges on several fronts,” said Chinwe Ohanele Agwu, Esq., Senior Program Manager at Michelson IP. “The absence of early IP education is a key factor in this slip. The IP Literacy Project seeks to demonstrate a scalable model for investing in our youngest innovators as a vital part of the solution.”

California is uniquely positioned to lead this effort. Intellectual property plays a central role in the state’s economic strength and global innovation leadership, yet IP education has historically been treated as a niche legal specialty rather than a core skill. As a result, many students remain unprepared to fully participate in an idea-driven economy.

The pilot will be implemented across the following middle schools, representing diverse regions and student communities:

• Lawrence E. Jones  Middle School, Cotati/Rohnert Park Unified School District, Rohnert Park, CA
• Primary Years Academy, Stockton Unified School District, Stockton, CA 
• Ceiba College Preparatory Academy, Watsonville Charter School, Watsonville, CA
• Bradley School, Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Watsonville, CA 
• Hull Middle School, Torrance Unified School District, Torrance, CA 
• Jefferson Middle School, Torrance Unified School District, Torrance, CA 

With this pilot, California is laying the groundwork for a replicable national model that can be adopted across states and school systems. 

Early investments in the project, including seed funding from Michelson IP and the California Invention Convention, make this pilot possible and aim to catalyze broader public and philanthropic support to scale IP education and empower a new generation of inventors to restore the nation’s long-term competitiveness in innovation on the global stage.

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About Michelson IP

The Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property, an initiative of the Michelson 20MM Foundation, provides access to empowering IP education for budding inventors and entrepreneurs. Michelson 20MM was founded thanks to the generous support of renowned spinal surgeon Dr. Gary K. Michelson and Alya Michelson. To learn more, visit 20mm.org.