CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. has kicked off a national search for new product ideas that would improve the health and well-being of its customers.

Dubbed the Innovation Challenge, the initiative marks the company’s first-ever product idea search and is being conducted in partnership with Edison Nation Medical, a Charlotte, N.C.-based firm specializing in medical and health care innovation and invention.

Through the effort, announced Thursday, Edison Nation Medical will design, develop and patent the selected health and wellness products, which will be sold exclusively at Rite Aid drug stores and at RiteAid.com.

The Innovation Challenge is open to all consumers and runs until March 31. There’s a $25 entry fee for each idea submitted. Rite Aid said that if a product idea is chosen, the creator will receive a $2,500 advance plus ongoing royalties from product sales and be named as the inventor on any patent issued. There is no limit to the number of ideas that may be selected.

"Rite Aid is excited to hold its first-ever Innovation Challenge because we believe that our customers, who inspire us every day, are the best partners to help us develop unique products to meet their individual wellness needs and likely those of many of our other customers," David Abelman, senior vice president of brand development and innovation at Rite Aid, said in a statement. "In addition to reinforcing Rite Aid’s commitment to innovation, this customer-centric challenge gives consumers the opportunity to become product inventors and assist Rite Aid in bringing new, meaningful products to our customers."

Rite Aid said it would potentially develop product ideas that pass Edison Nation Medical’s eight-stage evaluation process and align with the drug chain’s goal of offering new products and services that enhance its customers’ health and wellness.

"Edison Nation Medical is thrilled to be working with Rite Aid, one of the nation’s leading drug store chains, a company that clearly sees the value in fostering innovation and outside-the-box thinking," stated Robert Grajewski, president of Edison Nation Medical. "This challenge provides them with a unique opportunity to do even more to improve the health of the customers and communities they serve, and we look forward to working to helping them do so."