Patent Office launches Think kit 2007 competition

 The search is on to find students who have what it takes to turn a good idea into a viable business proposal.

The Patent Office Think kit 2007 competition is a great opportunity for students aged 14-16 years of age, working individually or in groups of up to four to gain a better understanding of Intellectual Property (IP) in an innovative and exciting way. Students entering our exciting new competition could win some fantastic prizes for themselves and their school, plus an all expenses paid overnight trip to London for themselves and their teacher.

To help students gain an understanding of IP Think kit includes a case study which is based on Phil Robinson’s experience of developing the ZorinPump. The case study follows Phil’s journey from his initial eureka moment to turning his idea into commercial reality and illustrates the vital role that IP plays in the course of product development.

Dave Morgan, the Patent Office Education & Enterprise Support Manager said:

"Think kit assists students to understand the value and significance of Intellectual Property in the commercial world and adds value to existing curriculum topics. The competition aims to get students thinking about IP and with this years focus being one of a generic hobby allows greater flexibility and freedom and should stimulate a great deal of creativity and innovation".

There are two strands to the competition, one for Design and Technology students who will need to come up with something new and useful to do with a hobby. The other is for Business Studies students who are asked to imagine they are a business consultant and a friend has approached them with a new innovation which has stemmed from their hobby.

The deadline for receipt of entries is 4 May 2007 with the awards ceremony taking place in June 2007.  

Editors' notes:

• Design and Technology Competition - This asks students to come up with something new and useful to do with a hobby. Perhaps something that solves a problem in their hobby, like the ZorinPump is a deterrent to bicycle pump thieves. Students will need to show designs and label each element clearly, & show how the product can be used. They should illustrate how they used the Patent Office website to see if similar technologies already exist or how they developed them. What IP protection will they need for their product?
• Business Studies Competition - This asks students to imagine they are a business consultant, a friend has approached them with a new innovation, they are like Phil with his ZorinPump, and it has stemmed from their hobby. Students could look at recently patented inventions for ideas. Ask students to develop a campaign to promote the product. They should generate the brand including name, logo & packing where and how will promote the product? Illustrate the decisions made for the campaign. How did they use the Patent Office website to research their trade mark and design? What IP they will need to consider?
• Philip Robinson is featured as the subject of a case study and is the inventor of the highly successful ZorinPump .
• The Prizes
  
  For the school
  2 winners (1 from each department)
  GBP £1000 to spend on Design & Technology and Business studies/Management resources for the school
  4 runners-up (2 from each department) with GBP £500 to spend on Design & Technology and Business Studies/Management resources for the school.
  
  For the individuals/groups
  2 winning students or groups (1 from each department) GBP £250 of vouchers for each entry. Plus a trip to an awards ceremony in London.
  4 runners-up (2 from each department) GBP £100 of vouchers for each entry. Plus a trip to an awards ceremony in London
  Plus individual prizes and a trip to an awards ceremony in London.
  Every entrant will receive a special certificate.
• The competition deadline is 4 May 2007.
• Further details and entry form (121Kb)
• How to enter - for teachers
  
  IP is important to the curriculum, with students having at least 5 days of enterprise tuition every year. Think kit is our free educational resource aimed at key stage 4 students, although it can also be used for other age groups. The resource highlights the four areas of IP using case studies of well known individuals and organisations. It looks at IP in real-life scenarios by relating real stories about people and their journey to success.
  
  Challenge their Design and Technology /Technology Studies students to design a product which has something to so with a hobby. The students will need to label each element clearly and show how the product can be used. We are looking for evidence of research into similar existing technologies using the Patent Office website.
  
  Challenge their business Studies/Management students to develop an innovative new campaign promoting the new product. They should illustrate how they would use intellectual property to establish a brand, they will need to provide evidence that they have researched existing brands by using the Patent Office website.
  
  The competition is open to students aged 14-16, working individually or in groups of up to four (prize money will be shared). The deadline for receipt of entries in 4 May 2007. The awards ceremony will take place in June 2007. Please note that ideas submitted will be used only for the purpose of the competition and will be treated in confidence. They will not be used for any commercial purposes.
  
  All work must be original and the students own.
• An electronic version of Think kit aimed specifically at educators is to be launched in February 2007; this is being designed to fit in with the Enterprise Agenda for secondary schools and colleges across the country.
• Any enquiries please contact Emma Dwyer, The Patent Office, 1L01 Concept House, Cardiff Road, Newport, NP10 8QQ or e-mail market@patent.gov.uk

Date of release: 12 January 2007