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The Royal Academy of
Engineering ERA Foundation Entrepreneurs Award
seeks to identify, encourage and reward young
engineering researchers working in UK
universities, in the field involving
electro-technology. The Applicant must be either
be a student at a UK University or be on a UK
University payroll at the time of applying for
the Award.
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The award will be given to
an individual or to a team demonstrating
considerable entrepreneurial promise and the
potential to benefit the UK's future prosperity.
Submissions from a team shall be in the name of
a lead applicant, supported by not more than two
co-applicants.
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The award will be given to
the entrant/s who, in the judges’ opinion, best
combine/s technological inventiveness, business
awareness, entrepreneurial potential and
complementary personal qualities. In the case of
university employees, preference will be given
to candidates at an early stage in their
academic career.
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Submissions are welcome in
the following subject areas: electrical and
electronic engineering, aspects of bio-medical
engineering, electro-mechanical engineering,
optics and optical engineering, instrumentation,
IT, software and hardware; and materials related
to the foregoing. The decision of the judging
panel on eligibility will be final.
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The prize will be £10,000
and is for the winning individual or team,
personally. A certificate will be presented at
an appropriate occasion in 2011. In addition an
award of £30,000 will be made available to be
used in any appropriate manner to support the
furtherance of the winning idea. These proposals
will have been defined in the submission and
plan and discussed with the judging panel. (For
example, this could include funding the
formation of a business, technological
validation, specific product developments, IP
protection, marketing or any other justified
use. Applicants must have their plans for such
developments endorsed by the University.)
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If more than one individual
is involved in the submitting team, the division
of the personal prize money with in the winning
team shall be determined by the Chairman of the
Judging panel after consultation with the
nominated individual and/or team. The Chairman’s
decision will be conclusive.
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Submissions must be
endorsed by a senior member of the applicant’s
University (Vice Chancellor or nominee) to the
effect that the development of a winning entry
will not be constrained and that every effort
will be made to ensure that the award money will
be used for its intended purpose.
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There is no limitation on
the number of submissions that any one
University may enter.
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An appropriate member of
the Judging Panel will be appointed as mentor to
the winner for a period of up to two years.
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The winner/s will be
invited to make a presentation to the Board of
the ERA Foundation. This may lead to further
support.
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In addition to the first
prize two additional prizes of £2000 each will
be awarded to those responsible for the two
submissions which are judged to be worthy
runners-up.
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In making their submission,
entrants agree to accept the decisions of the
judging panel as binding.
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By making a submission for
the award, entrants agree to take part in the
judging procedure and to be prepared to provide
all necessary evidence to enable the judges to
reach a decision. Winners will be required to
take part in publicity activity in connection
with the award.
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All submissions will be
treated in confidence.
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The Royal Academy of
Engineering seeks no share in the Intellectual
Property Rights of entrants but does require, as
part of the submission, a formal statement on
where the IP ownership lies.
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The award may be withheld
if the judging panel should so decide.
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Each submission should be
submitted electronically.
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Submissions must be
received at the Academy by Monday 17 October
2011. Late or incomplete entries will be
disqualified. Applicants should note that
short-listed candidates will be required to make
presentations to the Selection Committee in
London on Tuesday 29 November 2011.
