Introduced in 2000 to highlight the intrinsic creativity of the people of Trinidad & Tobago, this Awards scheme acknowledges and rewards individuals who demonstrate innovative thinking, especially in the arena of Science & Technology. The Individual Category of the Awards Scheme has two components:

Innovators & Inventors Competition:

This aspect of the Awards scheme applies to individuals with inventions in product, process or methodology. This segment has undergone some restructuring, where qualifying entrants will be offered some financial aid, in the form of a grant, as an incentive. Disbursement of the funds is contingent on certain stipulated conditions being met.

Potential entrants to the Innovators & Inventors Competition should give consideration to the following pointers when conceptualising their ideas and designing their prototype:

• Does your design solve a problem?

• Can your idea be effectively implemented?

• Is your innovation/invention sustainable?

• Have you done research to ensure the novelty of your idea?

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

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

Design Challenge Competition:

This facet of the Awards caters for individuals who design solutions for identified problems, both current and those in the foreseeable future. These problems can be determined from critical/analytical appraisal of one’s environment. Solutions must be well designed to answer the needs of ‘users’ while harmonising with the environment and the norms of society.

Potential entrants to Design Challenge should give consideration to the following:

• Who are you targeting and what are their needs?

• What are the financial requirements and are the benefits of the design sufficiently significant to warrant the proposed expenditure?

• What are the impacts on the environment? Are the environmental costs worth the benefits?

Winners for the 2006 competitions will be announced shortly. Registration for the next competition will begin in October 2007.

For further information please contact us at:

NIHERST
Innovation & Invention/PM Awards
43-45 Woodford Street,
Newtown,
Trinidad, W.I.
868-622-7880, 868-622-2264
868-622-1589
E-mail: innovation@niherst.gov.tt