---
title: Define idea categories
description: Create idea categories that a user can select to associate with a submitted idea. You can also add custom idea categories.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/it-business-management/innovation-management/define-idea-categories.html
release: australia
product: Innovation Management
classification: innovation-management
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-03-12"
reading_time_minutes: 2
breadcrumb: [Idea Portal administration, Manage Idea Portal, Innovation Management, Project Portfolio Management, Strategic Portfolio Management]
---

# Define idea categories

Create idea categories that a user can select to associate with a submitted idea. You can also add custom idea categories.

## Before you begin

Role required: idea\_admin

## About this task

The default Idea Category \[im\_category\] table stores the user-defined idea categories.

Define new idea categories if you don't want to use an existing table or if you want to use custom idea categories. Create nested idea categories for defining a hierarchy of the idea categories.

You can use multiple idea categories with an Idea module, however, you can map only one category table with an Idea module.

## Procedure

1.  Navigate to **All** > **Ideas** > **Idea Category** > **New**.

2.  On the form, fill in the fields.

    For more information, see [Idea category form](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/innovation-management/idea-category-form.md).

3.  Select **Submit**.

    An idea category represents a theme for organizing idea submissions. All ideas submitted through the Idea Portal must be associated with at least one idea category. You can use values from an existing table or create idea categories for organizing your idea. Users select one or more idea categories, configured by an admin, to associate with their idea when they submit it. For more information, see [Create an Idea module](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/innovation-management/create-idea-module.md), and [Idea category configuration](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/innovation-management/category-configuration-existing-table.md).


## What to do next

Map idea categories with your idea module. For more information see, [Configure idea categories](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/innovation-management/category-configuration-existing-table.md).

**Parent Topic:**[Idea Portal administration](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/innovation-management/idea-portal-administration.md)

**Previous topic:**[Create an Idea module](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/innovation-management/create-idea-module.md)

**Next topic:**[Adding Idea Portal to Employee Center](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/innovation-management/add-idea-portal-to-employee-center.md)