Get Green To Win Green in a $100,000 Design Contest

Think you’ve got the right stuff with a design that’s effective and environmentally friendly? Then check out Live-Edge-Electronic Design for the Global Environment, an international design competition sponsored by Premier Farnell plc. Newark, the company’s Chicago-area-based distributor, will support the competition throughout the Americas. Electronics engineers, students, and academics around the world are invited to submit innovative designs that use electronic components and have a positive impact on the environment. Examples of the latter includes increasing energy efficiency or reducing carbon emissions. The winner will receive a cash prize of $50,000 as well as support to move the design toward production. Estimated to be worth about $50,000, the support package offers the services of an electronic design consultancy that will develop the design to prototype stage. The consultancy will also assist with legal matters and intellectual-property registration, marketing, and publicity. Premier Farnell plc will help secure investment funding and actively market the end product through its “Leading Edge” Web page, catalog, and direct marketing. Reflecting the environmentally friendly theme of the competition, Live Edge will be largely Web-based to avoid unnecessary international travel and transportation. Judges will confer online, and spectators will be able to view the award ceremony on the competition Web site. The closing date for registration is October 31, and entries must be submitted by November 30. The winner will be announced in January 2008. Full details are available at www.live-edge.com/info.