25k Award - Structure
The competition is targeted at all staff in Northern Irelands public sector research institutes. This includes, but is not limited to all schools within Queens University Belfast and University of Ulster and research members of the Health Service. Eligible participants may enter as individuals or in teams which may combine members from technical disciplines with members from management disciplines - bringing together the pieces necessary for making the bridge between technology and the market place.
Submissions must consist of at least 50% students or staff registered with links to university research. Previous applicants may re-apply.
The most important thing for participants to understand is that the competition can help them and their team produce a successful venture, but it is up to them and their own entrepreneurial initiative to seek out the people, ideas and support they will need to make their venture a real world winner.
Please note, ideas that have previously made it to the top ten in previous years are NOT able to reapply.
The competition consists of three sections leading to the final Awards Ceremony:
2 Page Pro forma
The initial registration requires a 2 page synopsis of your idea, the pro forma is available to download now, please see below for Word or PDF format, it will need to be emailed to roisin.clancy@nisp.co.uk. The plans will be seperated into a category: Hi tech, Biotech, CleanTECH and Digital Media & Software.
£25k Pro forma.doc
£25k Pro Forma.pdf
The closing date for the 2 page submission is Friday 24th April 2009.
For an outline of the categories please see below:
2009 25k Award Category definitions.pdf
Elevator Pitch:
Teams (top 20) that have passed through the 1st round judging will be required to attend a workshop where they will deliver an elevator pitch to a panel of judges and business people. This will determine which teams from each category go through to the 2nd round of the competition and will be requested to submit a 25 page plan.
Each team will have a maximum of 5 mins to deliver their elevator pitch which will be judged by a panel of judges. The pitches will be judged on the teams enthusiasm and business idea. The pitch fest will be held in Northern Ireland Science Park on Wednesday 3rd June.
NISP Workshop
A workshop will be held in Northern Ireland Science Park for those that have made it through to the top 10 of the competition. This will be held on Wednesday 24th June. A representative of each needs to attend the workshop.
25 Page Business Plan Submission
From the elevator pitch, 10 teams will be shortlisted (2 from each category) to submit a detailed business plan (No more than 25 pages inc appendices) for consideration by the judges in stage II.
Closing date for the 2nd round plan submission is Friday 24th July 2009.
Top Ten Presentation
All ten teams are required to make a presentation to the 2nd round judging panel. The teams performance at this will impact on the final decision of winners. The presentations will be held in Northern Ireland Science Park on Wednesday 9th September.
Entrepreneurs Ball
All top ten teams will be required to attend the dinner to announce the awards. This will be held in the refurbished Pumphouse at Northern Ireland Science Park on Thursday 24th September.