Popular Mechanics to reward inventive entrepreneurs

Inventive entrepreneurs all over the world know what it’s like to have that “one great idea”. They know that it could change the world if they could just get a helping hand. If only someone would give them a little money to make a start in producing their product. Popular Mechanics aims to do just that with its annual “Inventor of the Year” award.

The renowned science and technology magazine has challenged inventors from all walks of life to submit concepts “with the potential to change the world (or at least a small part of it)”.

Concepts will be received in a number of categories, encompassing high-school students, the environmentally conscious and those with minimal resources.

A panel of experts will determine the winner in each category, from which the overall 2011 Inventor of the Year will be chosen.

According to the magazine, each category winner will receive R20 000 (US$ 2 700) in cash and the overall winner will receive an additional R30 000 (US$4 000). The competition forms part of INVENT 2011 — which the magazine calls an ambitious and wide-ranging project — that encompasses the third annual Popular Mechanics Inventors’ Conference.

Popular Mechanics editor Alan Duggan says that the competition has been expanded this year following the success of the previous two conferences:

With two highly successful events under our belt, we decided it was time to expand the conference into something bigger, better and decidedly different. South Africans are a very inventive bunch, and it made sense to launch a national competition targeting the country’s most fertile minds. Based on our experience of the past few years, we’re confident of seeing some interesting entries, and probably some surprises.

The magazine has called for the entrants to apply “with genuinely original inventions”.

The conference and awards dinner will take place in November, with the “Inventor of the Year” award being announced at the end of proceedings.