ICT experts support region's young entrepreneurs

Pupils at six Highland secondary schools are preparing for a week of 'hothousing' from next Monday (June 23), when they go to Fairburn Activity Centre to fine-tune their business plans for the final of the ICT Youth Challenge.

Experts in the field have taken up their time and expertise to coach youngsters on their competition bids, helping them acquire the skills needed to develop brand new ideas in information and communication technology.

The final six teams from Lochaber, Nairn, Fortrose (x2), Wick and Keith will be competing for the three top prizes which include trips to IT centres of excellence at Seattle, Massachusettes and another to Ipswich.

The annual challenge is supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), BT Scotland and Microsoft who invite young people to submit ideas for information and communication technology of the future.

The teams benefit from a week of intensive guidance from top experts on issues such as intellectual property rights, prototyping and commercialising ideas, before presenting their invention to the judging panel on Friday (June 27).

Since Youth Challenge began six years ago, smaller contributors have supported the challenge year after year; Edesign Scotland which contributes unique advice on product development and ICASS, funded by the Scottish Government, which offers support for Scotland's inventors and innovative companies.

Edesign is keen to identify teams they can assist out with the competition and hope to press forward with this activity in order to create prototypes. The smaller sponsors have directly shared their experience in commercialising new technologies with more than 500 youngsters – many who have since gone on to become entrepreneurs themselves.

 "Without the support of these three operations and the voluntary help we receive from small local companies, ICT Youth Challenge just wouldn't happen" said the challenge content director, Bryan Fraser, "Every year they volunteer their time and money to encourage these youngsters to believe in their ambitions. Through their sense of educational responsibility many of these pupils will go on to become the next generation of innovators who can make a real difference to the world over the coming decades."

John Mackenzie, business transformation manager at HIE said: "Going forward, HIE is looking to support some of the teams to commercialise their ideas. The quality on display, as well as the enthusiasm of the young people, offers great opportunities for the region. In order to do this, advisory support from all our sponsors will be essential to bring their ideas to the next level."

Clive Robinson of Edesign said: "Since Youth Challenge began, our support for this competition has enabled us to work with the brightest young innovators in the Highlands. We work with innovators and entrepreneurs every day and the calibre of these young people is every bit as good. There is a fantastic opportunity for the region to continue to support these teams once their challenge journey has ended, and as sponsors we are happy to support the competition to achieve these goals."

The prize for the team who comes up with the best commercial potential will be a trip to the Microsoft lab in Seattle, while HIE is offering a trip to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to the team which demonstrates the best innovation in design. BT Scotland are providing a visit to their Futurology lab in Ipswich for the idea that shows the best use of communications.