Intellectual Property Office
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Think kit Competition is a winner for the UK Intellectual Property Office
The UK Intellectual Property Office's drive to raise Intellectual Property awareness within schools has paid off with a record number of entries being submitted in this year's Think kit(tm) "Hobby to Enterprise" competition.
Schoolchildren aged between 14 and 16 from all over the country have really taken up the challenge to come up with something new and useful to do with a hobby.
Pupils who entered the competition have the opportunity to win some fantastic prizes for themselves and their school.
With a record number of entries, a judging panel from the UK Intellectual Property Office will draw up a shortlist of the top ten Design & Technology entries and top ten Business Studies entries for formal judging by a panel of key stakeholders at our London Office.
The competition will culminate with an awards ceremony on 20 June in the DTI conference centre where an invited audience from the world of business and education will be there to see the winners receive their prizes.
Dave Morgan, the UK Intellectual Property Office Education & Enterprise Support Manager said:
"This is the 4th year this competition has been run. The increase in the number of entries we have received is indicative of the support our resources are receiving in the secondary school sector. It is essential that today's students receive some knowledge of IP which will enable them to meet future challenges in a competitive world economy"
Editors' notes:
* In renewed efforts to ensure that tomorrow's innovators are better aware of the potential influence of many aspects of IP, the UK Intellectual Property Office created the Think kit(tm), this is aimed at 14 - 16 year old students, particularly those taking courses linking design, technology and business. The kit provides the materials and guidance needed by both students and their teachers, using case studies of well-known products and brands.
* There are two categories for the Hobby to Enterprise competition one for Design & Technology Students and one for Business Studies Students.
* The Design & Technology Students have been asked to come up with something new and useful to do with their hobby. Students will need to show designs and label each element clearly to show how the product can best be sued. They should also illustrate how they checked the UK IPO website to see if similar technologies already exist and what protection they would need for their product.
* The Business Studies Students have been asked to imagine they are a business consultant, someone has come to you with a new innovation which has stemmed from their hobby. Students have been asked to develop a campaign to promote the product. They need to consider the branding including logo, and where and how they will promote the product and why. They should illustrate how they checked the UK IPO website to see what IP they need to consider.
* There will be two winners (one from each of the department's) of £1000 to spend on Design and Technology and Business Studies resources for the school.
* There will be four runners-up (two from each department) of £500 for the subject department to spend on resources for the school.
* There will also be individual prizes for each of the winners and a trip to the award ceremony which is taking place on Wednesday 20th June 2007 at DTI Conference centre 10am - 1pm.
* Due to large numbers of entries received for each of the categories we will bring 10 Design & Technology entries and 10 Business Studies entries for formal judging at our London Office
* The judges for the competition are:
Ian Punter - Designing Magazine
Phil Robinson - Zorin
Ltd
Lorna Collins - NCGE
Emma Duncombe - Writhlington
Business & Enteprise Specialist School
David Millar -
Enterprise Education Trust
Cathy Koester - British Music Rights
