Tensions are running high for finalists in a major information communications competition as months of brainstorming, creativity and planning culminates in a nail-biting 'HotHouse' showdown next week (Monday 30 June - Saturday 5 July).

A total of six teams have made it through to the final stages of the Highlands and Islands ICT Youth Challenge Programme and the winner will be revealed next Saturday at a special ceremony.

The competition is being delivered on behalf of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) by PICT Innovation - HIE's partnership company established to foster good ideas and turn them into business ventures by supporting research and commercialisation.

The finalists, from Tain Royal Academy, Fortrose Academy, Plockton High School and Alness Academy (see notes), will put the final touches to their information technology projects at a special six-day residential 'HotHouse' at Fairburn Activity Centre in Marybank, Ross-shire. 

There they will work on their ideas with expert advice from industry specialists, who will help them develop prototypes of their concepts in a bid to impress the judges from BT, Omnitech, BusinessLab, PICT, HIE and Michael Fraser Associates.

PICT project manager, Bryan Fraser, is delighted with the quality of the young peoples' ideas since the project was launched last October.  "We have been overwhelmed by the quality of ideas that have been put forward by young people over the course of the competition.  The types of ideas on display this week have real commercial potential, and it is essential for the future of the Highlands and Islands that this creativity and innovation within this age group is fostered and encouraged, and that's what the Youth Challenge programme is all about."

The various stages of the ICT Youth Challenge Programme were designed to encourage the development of a wide variety of skills such as business planning, marketing, presentation and project management skills.  But the challenge aims to be fun and exciting too so football games, paintballing and a music rap competition are some of the activities planned for this week to ease the tension and allow the finalists to develop their teambuilding skills.

The finalists will also have the chance to quiz a futurologist from BT on what makes a commercially viable project.  Graham Whitehead is responsible for new product development at BT and will bring along examples of emerging technologies as well as advising the teams on their ideas.

The competition kicked off last October and over 40 teams of young people from all over the Highlands and Islands entered their innovative ideas.  But with four heats to battle through, not everyone can be a winner so a special ICT Youth Challenge Fund has been set up to give all teams regardless of the stage they reached in the competition the chance to progress their ideas further.  A group from Stornoway, Quadra Blade, has already taken advantage of the fund and are carrying out further research into the viability of their computer programming software.

Prizes were awarded at each stage of the challenge and the finalists are competing for an all-expenses paid trip to Media Lab in Dublin to learn about the 'blue-sky' innovation research and development that is taking place throughout Europe.

The Highlands and Islands ICT Youth Challenge Programme is being supported by a host of sponsors including BT's world renowned research and technology business, BTexact Technologies, Sony, Media Lab Europe, BusinessLab, Michael Fraser Associates, Omnitech Ltd, PICT Innovation and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.