Global regulator of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is searching for 60 young innovators at this year’s ITU Telecom World in Geneva.
Chief, Media Relations and Public Information, ms Sarah Parkes, who disclosed this in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online said that ITU Telecom World 2011 has launched a global competition that gives 60 Young and Digital Innovators respectively the chance to come to participate at the event in Geneva, coming up in October 24 through 27; to pitch their ground-breaking ideas to ICT industry with deadline for September 15.
She said that the three entrants from each category judged to have the best all-round concepts by an online vote of delegates attending ITU Telecom World 2011 would share prize money totaling over CHF 50,000 to help them realise their digital dreams.
“Industry mentors will also continue to work with the six winners after the event to help them turn their vision into reality,” she said.
The would-be innovators, Parkes noted, are required to submit their idea online in one of two competition categories, namely Young Innovators and Digital Innovators.
She explained that young innovators entails that contestants should be between the ages of 18 and 25 years, and their idea must have been developed independently of any project with their current employer.
The best ideas from around the world, she said, would win finalists an all-expenses-paid trip to Geneva, where they would benefit from two intensive days of training on how to best pitch their concept, culminating in a final ‘quickfire pitch’ at a grand final event on 25 October.
ITU, she said, is actively encouraging submissions from women and those still looking to enter the workforce.
On the Digital Innovators, she said, partnering with an NGO or other not-for-profit body entrants are encouraged to submit their ideas for new ways in which ICTs could help further their causes in areas like environmental sustainability, improved access to health and education, digital accessibility or the alleviation of poverty.
“The best partnerships will be brought to Geneva and trained on how to best pitch their developed idea, before making their final pitch on 25 October,” she said.
Entries, as said by her, will be judged on innovation, feasibility (technical implementation/cost) and applicant experience, mostly on the ability to deliver.
ITU Telecom World’s online community, she pointed out, will initially vote on their favourite submissions, with the 60 most popular ideas from each category then submitted to a high-level selection panel of independent experts from the public and private sector, which will choose the finalists.
Equally, the chance to win one of six cash prizes, the competition, she said, has been designed to offer finalists an enriching experience that will help them better succeed in the competitive world of ICT development.
“As well as the chance to build a valuable network of new professional contacts worldwide, all contestants will have their pitches filmed and uploaded to YouTube, Facebook and the ITU Telecom website, to give them and their great ideas maximum global exposure,” she said, stressing that the deadline is September 15, this year.
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