Do you have a great, innovative idea that could make a difference in the world or contribute to the public wellbeing?
Then the “Create the Future” Design Contest might be for you!
year, Create the Future once again brings attention to product designs that increase quality of life, improve the efficiency and quality of healthcare, help reduce dependence on non-renewable energy sources and more.
The contest is currently open for submissions and runs through July 1, 2016. Contestants are asked to submit innovative product design ideas that benefit society and the economy for the opportunity to receive global recognition and win a cash grand prize of USD$20,000. Entry is free and contestants can enter as individuals or as a team.
This annual event has attracted more than 12,000 product designs from engineers, students and entrepreneurs worldwide. Previous winners of the grand prize include a non-surgical circulatory support device for the treatment of chronic heart failure, a computerized construction method that rapidly 3D prints large-scale structures directly from architectural CAD models and an economical, rapid screening device that prevents foodborne illness.
Entrants can submit designs in one of seven categories:
- Aerospace & Defense includes product innovations with applications in the aerospace, aviation and/or defense markets.
- Automotive/Transportation features products that enable movement of people and goods from one place to another.
- Consumer Products includes products that increase quality of life in the workplace, at home, during leisure time or while traveling.
- Electronics includes products that improve computing, communications and other fields that rely on advances in electronic components, boards and systems.
- Machinery/Automation/Robotics showcases products that speed up, improve and/or automate work, manufacturing or research and development (R&D).
- Medical Products includes products that improve the efficiency and quality of healthcare.
- Sustainable Technologies features products that reduce dependence on non-renewable energy resources or products designed for other purposes using environmentally friendly materials or manufacturing processes.
Submissions must include visual illustrations along with a 500-word description of the entry in the form of a technical abstract. This will include information describing how the entry works, what makes it novel, how it would be produced and where it would be applied.
Supporting video is optional but will not factor into the judging for major prizes.
Entries will be judged on their innovation, manufacturability and marketability. One Grand Prize winner and seven Category winners will be determined by a panel of judges composed of representatives for the contest’s primary sponsors and the editorial board of readers for Tech Briefs Media Group, the producer and owner of the contest. COMSOL and Mouser Electronics are the contest’s principal sponsors, with Intel and Analog Devices as supporting sponsors.
There will also be a prize for “Most Popular Entries,” determined by votes from registered users of the contest website.
The contest opened for entries starting March 1, 2016, and will remain open for submissions until July 1, 2016. Voting will be open until September 9, 2016, and the final results will be announced later in September.
For more information about the contest, to submit entries or register to vote for your favorite design, visit Create the Future Design Contest’s website.