Prime Minister’s Awards For Scientific Ingenuity 2012

BACKGROUND

 “Knowledge is limited, imagination encircles the world. Imagination is more important than knowledge”
Albert Einstein

The Prime Minister’s Awards for Scientific Ingenuity (formerly the Prime Minister’s Awards for Innovation and Invention) is a biennial, competitive scheme that was introduced in 2000 to augment and highlight the intrinsic creativity of the people of Trinidad and Tobago, specifically in the realm of science and technology. It recognises and rewards persons from all walks of life who demonstrate outstanding accomplishments in this arena.

The Awards scheme is an important mechanism for spurring local innovation and invention across all sectors of the national community, which is imperative in light of Government’s push to develop a highly diversified, knowledge-based economy founded on the creative genius of our people. The human mind is the most valuable resource for resolving the complex development issues that now threaten continued growth and prosperity worldwide. Building creative and innovative capacity is the key to Trinidad and Tobago generating new and sustainable sources of wealth, reducing dependency on the oil and gas sector, and creating employment.

In 2012, awards will be offered on the basis of two competitions – the Scientific Creative Solutions Competition and the Scientific Innovation and Invention Competition. Over $1,250,000 in prize money is at stake - $1,000,000 for the Scientific Innovation and Invention Competition and $250,000 for the Scientific Creative Solutions Competition.

SCIENTIFIC CREATIVE SOLUTIONS COMPETITION 2012

The Creative Solutions Competition targets individuals who can conceptualise solutions to everyday problems in any domain, but who are unable to take their ideas to the prototype stage. Solutions must be well designed to meet the needs of end-users while keeping in harmony with the environment and the norms of society.

The challenge is two-fold:

1. Identify a problem

2. Create a worthwhile solution to solve the problem.

Potential entrants to Scientific Creative Solutions Competition 2012 should give consideration to the following significant indicators of a good creation process:

• The ability to exploit one’s creative potential;

• Identification of a problem or some aspect for improvement;

• Good understanding of the needs of the clientele (users);

• Understanding of the properties and characteristics of MATERIALS so that the most appropriate are employed and their potential exploited;

• An appreciation of financial requirements, and whether the benefits of the creative solution are sufficiently significant to warrant the proposed expenditure; and

• Environmental impact (determine whether the environmental costs are worth the benefits).

SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION AND INVENTION COMPETITION 2012

Potential entrants to Scientific Innovation & Invention Competition should give consideration to the following when conceptualising ideas and designing the prototype:

• What is the technical problem that your invention or innovation seeks to solve?

• What is the state of the art regarding solutions to the technical problem?

• Is your innovation/invention new? How is it differentiated from existing inventions or innovation that may be similar?

• What are the benefits of your innovation/invention to society, environment, etc?

• Does your innovation/invention possess the potential for further development?

• What do you propose to do with your invention/innovation?

Come, unleash your Creative Minds…

Explore…Innovate…Invent…Solve!!!

Please keep checking for additional information as it becomes available.

Updated: February 2012