Young Inventors Being Sought

Details of an innovative Junior Inventor competition have been revealed. The competition is aimed at Primary School students and is being launched by the Office to mark World Intellectual Property Day, which falls on 26th April every year.

The Irish Patents Office launched the innovation this week and said that the aim of the competition, which is now in its third year, is to encourage children to sow the seeds of interest in science and engineering at an early age.

Students can enter an idea or invention for a new product or procedure, an improvement on an existing product, or any idea that solves a problem or makes life better or easier.

This year's competition is divided into two categories with one overall winner who will be presented with the Junior Inventor 2010 award.

Prizes will be awarded in each category and the first placed winners in each category will also receive a prize for their schools.

Eamonn Laird, Controller of Patents, Designs and Trademarks, said: "One of the key features of a Smart Economy is building the innovation or 'ideas' component of the economy. The Junior Inventor competition is designed to begin that innovation process at Primary School level."

The closing date for entries is Friday 26th March at 5.30pm and the address to send entries is: Junior Inventor 2010, Patents Office, Government Buildings, Hebron Road, Kilkenny. The winners will be announced at a presentation ceremony in Kilkenny, as part of the Patents Office Open Day celebrating World Intellectual Property Day.

All Primary Schools will receive notification of the competition and details are also available on the Patents Office website at www.patentsoffice.ie

(BMcC/GK)