Young Innovators Challenge Award 2016

What is Young Innovators Challenge Award 2016?

3M in partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry, brings the “Young Innovators Challenge Awards 2016” for India’s youth. This is an annual online competition to identify, encourage and recognise the ability of young people to create new solutions to challenges of sustainability. The Challenge is searching for disruptive innovations for a “Clean, Safe and Sustainable India”. These ideas could be in the areas of renewal energy, air quality, access and quality of water, building efficiency, safe and secure urbanization (including smart city innovations, waste management, biodiversity), livelihood, health care and education, access to resources and even housing & infrastructure. 3M is not only looking at products or technology as solutions but also practices and initiatives that will be responsible for generating a shift in people’s thinking to drive change for good eventually. Through this Challenge, 3M seeks to demonstrate how contribution from youth can pace up the country’s bright future.

In line with the Challenge’s vision of contributing to the country’s progress and sustainability, winning entries are expected to:

• Have an idea or initiative with proof of concept and layout of working model that does not rely on philanthropy or aid alone.
• Be capable of being piloted and scaled, in case the innovation is at idea stage
• Demonstrate evidence to create change even if based on postulation in case of idea stage solutions.
• Demonstrate leadership abilities of the participant(s) to drive the innovation
• Include a coherent and credible short term plan (one year) for the idea / innovation
• Indicate the difference the award prize and recognition would make to the initiative / innovation

The Challenge is open to submissions from anywhere in India, but the participating innovations, ideas and initiatives must specifically apply to Indian context.

Who can apply for this scholarship ?

• The Challenge is open to individuals, teams and organization.
• Age bar of the participating innovators, team members and organization’s founders’ should be between 18 to 30 years.
• All participants should be Indians or reside in India as permanent residents.
• Ideas presented could be at a conceptual stage with proof of concept. Innovations, initiatives or projects at prototype or start up stage which may have been institutionalized could also apply.
• Entries cannot be accepted from current 3M employees, interns or trainees nor can entries promote 3M or its products.
• Applications must be submitted in English.
• All ideas must be original and shouldn't have won any awards previously.

How can you apply ?

Application can be done online only.

Terms and Conditions

Assessment Criteria

• Innovation: The best entries will demonstrate a creative approach to a social challenge and a viable solution that can be prototyped. Such innovation must be disruptive and may be comprised of new products or practices, or new applications, or hybrid combinations of existing tools. The initiative(s) does not have to involve inventing something entirely new, but entries should describe how ideas are original.

• Measurable Impact: Entries should be able to explain how the idea has the ability to delivers positive measurable impact on people at large . The best projects will tackle a significant sustainability issue and will have the potential of making a big difference technically.
• Financial Sustainability: Ideas presented should have a clear plan for reaching long-term goals. The strongest entries will outline how their solution can be sustained without reliance on philanthropic donations or aid for core funding.

Important Links

• Original website
• Apply online link
• Ask question
• Others