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The Australian Innovation Challenge awards are brought to you by The Australian in association with Shell and supported by the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education.  These awards can help give your idea clout in the economy, the environment or the community.\

Entries now open (and close 12 August, 2012)

More details available here: www.theaustralian.com.au/innovationchallenge 

Professional categories (1–7)

1. Environment & agriculture/food (Prize $5000)
The environment & agriculture/food category covers innovation, including clean-energy technology, to help Australia reduce its carbon footprint and adapt to natural climate variability and global climate change. It also covers technology tackling problems in pollution control, biodiversity conservation, land degradation, and water conservation and quality. It includes advances in enabling technology such as nanotechnology and biotechnology. This category also covers breakthroughs in food production and processing, and ways to promote global food security and to safeguard the industry from invasive pests and exotic plant and animal diseases. It includes the application of biotechnology and nanotechnology in these areas.

2. Health (Prize $5000)
The health category covers innovation in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, and in the improvement of Australians’ quality of life through good health. It includes breakthroughs in the application of genetics, genomics, proteomics, biotechnology and nanotechnology, and the development of new treatments and medical devices. It also covers indigenous health.

3. Community services (Prize $5000)
Social innovation and innovation in the organisation of community-based services is increasingly important to our quality of life. Examples include novel programs for community development, innovation in the delivery of public services, and social entrepreneurship in the not-for-profit arena.

4. Minerals and energy (Prize $5000)
The minerals and energy category covers innovation in minerals and energy exploration, extraction and processing. It includes advances in sustainable energy production and the deployment of platform technologies.

5. Manufacturing and hi-tech design (Prize $5000)
The manufacturing and hi-tech design category covers innovation with the potential to make Australia’s manufacturing sector more efficient and competitive, to transform existing industries and to stimulate the creation of new industries and products. It also covers the use of hi-tech design in supporting competitive manufacturing and exports. It includes breakthroughs in textiles and in the application of enabling technology such as nanotechnology and advanced materials.

6. ICT (Prize $5000)
The ICT category covers innovation in digital technology and services, including systems with the potential to transform the productivity of the economy at large and the way we work, live and play.

7. Education (Prize $5000)
The education category covers advances promising to strengthen Australia’s skills base, to ensure equity in education and to consolidate our position in the global education market. It includes the application of new technology and services in teaching, learning and workplace training, and breakthroughs in indigenous education.

Overall winner (Prize $25,000)
Only professional category entries are eligible for the professional category winner and overall winner prizes.

8. Backyard Innovation (Prize $10,000)
The backyard innovation category covers inventions by the general public that are at an advanced stage, with a prototype, if relevant. It includes inventions with the potential to have an impact on our lifestyles, environment, work and play, ranging from better domestic appliances to clever agricultural or construction technology.
Backyard innovation entrants are not eligible for the professional category winner or overall winner prizes.