The program consists of three business categories and a separate schools based program.

BUSINESS CATEGORIES:

• Early Stage, for entrants who have developed their product or service from an idea, can clearly define the problem it solves, and have some form of Intellectual Property protection or a rapid route to market.
• Development, for entrants who have developed their product or service to a more advanced stage, ready for early market testing.
• Ready for Market, for entrants who have developed a product or service that is ready to be licensed, manufactured or marketed and have business and marketing plans finalised.

SCHOOLS COMPETITION:

The Schools Competition encourages students from Kindergarten to Year 12 to use their skills in science, design, technology or mechanical knowledge to invent a new product or device or to modify an existing tool. Students entering can win cash prizes from $250 to $3000!

This year the Premier increased funding to introduce a new category aimed specifically at Indigenous populated remote schools. The Remote Schools Category is awarded in two divisions, junior and senior class with each division being granted $5000 each to be put towards something that will benefit all school students and members in their wider community.

So if you have a new product or idea with strong market potential nominate now for the 2008 WA Inventor of the Year Award and you could win prizes from $25,000-$101, 000 to help towards
commercialisation!

For more information please visit www.doir.wa.gov.au/inventor or contact the Innovation Centre WA on 9361 9045.

For more information on the Schools Competition please visit www.scitech.org.au or contact Amy Willott or Kelly Dawson on 9215 0700.