Entry deadline: midnight, Friday, May 31, 2013

Applications will be accepted between April 1 and May 31, 2013.  Incomplete applications or applications submitted after May 31, 2013 will not be accepted.  Any Applications that do not meet the listed requirements risk disqualification or submission to the judges of less than all of the application.

Entering the Competition.

Applicants must submit their completed application and supporting visuals must (MS Word or pdf-based) electronically to InnovationErie@gmail.com. The email subject should contain the name of your product design/media arts concept.

APPLICATION
PRIZES

 

Application:
Submit a word document/pdf that includes the following information:

  • Name of Your Product/Idea
  • Which track of competition you’re submitting under: Product Design or Media Arts
  • Your Name (or Business Team Name if applicable)
  • Your Contact Information (Phone Number, Mailing Address, e-mail address)
  • Applicant Status:  Non-Student, Student (High School, Undergraduate, or Graduate)
  • Provide a brief summary of your design concept (50 words or less)
  • Provide a detailed product narrative (800 words or less) that:
    • Describes your product idea & what it does;
    • Explains/Shows how (technical description) it will benefit a customer;
    • Describes how it may be manufactured in the region;
    • Provides an explanation as to why this idea should win.

By submitting to the InnovationErie: Design Competition, you agree to all terms and conditions.

All applications are limited to 7 pages in total. Applications should include supporting visuals that illustrate the narrative.  No visual format is required, but possible formats include pencil drawings, CAD drawings, printouts, photographs, or embedded video. Visuals are to be submitted electronically as part of the 7-page application. Physical hardware, prototypes or products will not be considered.

 

Prizes:

Grand Prize


• $2,000 Cash

• Assistance with filing a Design Patent application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a Design Patent by the patent attorneys at MacDonald Illig Jones and Britton LLP (attorney's time valued at $2,000 does not include USPTO filing, issuance, and publication fees, costs for creating figures for the application or any costs associated with responding to USPTO Office Actions).

• Five (5) hours of consultation on intellectual property law or business formation with a patent attorney from the Intellectual Property Group at MacDonald Illig Jones and Britton LLP (attorney's time valued at $1,200).

• Additional in-kind InnovationErie: Design Competition partner services will also be available (including professional consultation for engineering design, prototype development, manufacturing analysis, marketing and business plan development).

• One year membership at the Erie Art Museum

First Place Runner Up

• $1,000 Cash

• Four (4) hours of consultation on intellectual property law or business formation with a patent attorney from the Intellectual Property Group at MacDonald Illig Jones and Britton LLP (attorney's time valued at $960).

• Additional in-kind InnovationErie: Design Competition partner services will also be available (including professional consultation for engineering design, prototype development, manufacturing analysis, marketing and business plan development).

• One year membership at the Erie Art Museum

Second Place Runner Up

• $700 Cash

• Three (3) hours of consultation on intellectual property law or business formation with a patent attorney from the Intellectual Property Group at MacDonald Illig Jones and Britton LLP (attorney's time valued at $720).

• Additional in-kind InnovationErie: Design Competition partner services will also be available (including professional consultation for engineering design, prototype development, manufacturing analysis, marketing and business plan development).

• One year membership at the Erie Art Museum

Third Place Runner Up

• $500 Cash

• Two (2) hours of consultation on intellectual property law or business formation with a patent attorney from the Intellectual Property Group at MacDonald Illig Jones and Britton LLP (attorney's time valued at $480).

• Additional in-kind InnovationErie: Design Competition partner services will also be available (including professional consultation for engineering design, prototype development, manufacturing analysis, marketing and business plan development).

• One year membership at the Erie Art Museum

Best in Show Award

This Popular Choice Award will be chosen by public ballots submitted during the Exhibition.

• $100 Cash

• Two (2) hours of consultation on intellectual property law or business formation with a patent attorney from the Intellectual Property Group at MacDonald Illig Jones and Britton LLP (attorney's time valued at $480).

• One year membership at the Erie Art Museum

 

Media Arts Concept Prizes

In addition to the prizes listed above, any entries for concepts in Applied Media Arts will be eligible to win the following:

• Media arts business at StARTup Incubator,

• Grand Prize for Applied Media Arts submission chosen by the Innovation Erie: Design Competition Judges
Panel:

    •  $10,000 to start a production company at the StARTup Incubator and purchase a Three Year Affiliate Membership at StARTup Incubator.
    • The Three year affiliate membership at the StARTup Incubator includes business mentorship, assistance with business and marketing plans, attendance at all classes and seminars offered at the StARTup Incubator and use of all applied media arts equipment located at the Incubator.
    • Cash prize is not intended to pay any salaries or benefits to Grand Prize winner(s); but may be used to purchase supplies or equipment not available at the Incubator, to cover outside marketing or consulting costs, etc.

All applicants will be notified of the Panel’s decisions. The InnovationErie: Design Competition Judges Panel decisions will be final and binding. InnovationErie: Design Competition winners will be publicly announced. No prize substitution is permitted. If a winner cannot or does not accept a prize, it may be forfeited and awarded to another finalist. Applicable taxes and/or expenses arising from this award will be the sole responsibility of the winner.

 

General Conditions:

Rights for Judging - In submitting a Product Idea to the contest, the applicant will give InnovationErie: Design Competition and its judges all rights necessary or convenient for judging. InnovationErie: Design Competition and contest judges will be immune from all claims of infringement and misappropriation arising from submissions. InnovationErie: Design Competition will administer and oversee the judging process and art exhibit.

Hosting for Others To See - In addition to your submission and the process described, your Product Idea will be publicly accessible on the Innovation Erie: Design Competition website. If your idea is judged and named a finalist, your submission will be on exhibit at the Erie Art Museum until the Contest winner is named. Applicants are encouraged to pursue intellectual property protection (i.e. patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets) prior to submitting an application. While InnovationErie: Design Competition and its partners can provide general economic development guidance on intellectual protection processes, qualified attorneys should be retained for formal patent researching, writing, and application submission at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. For intellectual property assistance, go to http://uspto.gov/.

Appropriate Content - Application ideas may not contain content that InnovationErie: Design Competition in their sole discretion deem offensive or inappropriate for public display, such as vulgarity, pornography, or anything overtly political.

Other Conditions - Participants are limited to a single entry related to a single idea for the duration of this competition. The submission must be the creation of and be solely owned by the applicant. The use and modification of a third party’s pre-existing work without express written consent constitutes an ineligible concept. Submissions cannot defame or invade publicity rights or privacy of any person living or deceased, or otherwise infringe upon any third party’s personal or proprietary rights.

Submissions not complying with all rules are subject to disqualification. By entering, participants release and hold harmless InnovationErie: Design Competition and their respective partners as well as prize suppliers and agents from any and all liability or any injuries, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with the Contest, the use of any submission, or the acceptance or use of any prize won unless prohibited by law.