Entrepreneurial Event Offers Information and Opportunities For Inventors Nationwide. NPIC's New Invention Contest To Award $5,000 In Prize Money. www.ndinventors.com

(Bismarck, North Dakota) - It's an event that brings together creative, entrepreneurial minds and ideas with top invention industry service providers and advisors. The goal: to help get more and more new inventions from mind to market. The 2005 Northern Plains Inventors Congress (NPIC) will be held at the Bismarck Civic Center in the Linden/Spruce Complex (Bismarck, North Dakota) on January 12, 2005, from 1:00 p.m. to 7 p.m.. As in years past, the NPIC is followed by the popular Marketplace for Entrepreneurs on January 13th - www.marketplaceofideas.com - a business alliance-building convention organized by U.S. Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota. Inventors, entrepreneurs, businesses and service providers from all over North America attend this annual event, and this year's NPIC is open to Canadian inventors as well. Last year's two-day event was attended by more than 7,000 inventors, business executives and interested consumers.

This year's keynote speaker will be Andy Gibbs, founder and Chief Executive Officer of PatentCafe® - www.PatentCafe.com - Gibbs is a two-term member of USPTO Public Patent Advisory Committee, an inventor of several patented products, as well as an author and speaker. Additional national speakers will present valuable seminars of interest to inventors, entrepreneurs and professionals.

New to this year's NPIC is an invention contest for those displaying new ideas. Five cash prizes ranging from $2,500 to $500 will be awarded to the most innovative inventions at this year's show. Booth space at the Marketplace For Entrepreneurs is free for inventors who attend the 2005 NPIC.

For a schedule of events, booth applications and invention contest entry forms go to: www.ndinventors.com or call (701) 281-8822.