Arctic Innovation Competition offers cash for bright ideas

August 27, 2015

Charlie Parr holds his check from the 2014 Arctic Innovation Competition.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Management will award more than $25,000 in cash prizes through its annual Arctic Innovation Competition.

The competition, now in its seventh year, invites competitors to propose new, feasible and potentially profitable ideas. The deadline to submit an entry is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, 2015.

Last year, many ideas were submitted covering a broad range of subjects. Winning ideas included a heated and insulated plumbing coupling to use when pumping water tanks in cold weather, a berry-flavored basting sheet for meat and a temperature alarm for a wood stove. Last year’s $10,000 grand prize winner was Charlie Parr, with the “Routinely” ground control system, an integrated hardware and software solution designed to fly a wide variety of drone aircraft using a simple, intuitive interface.

The competition is open to the public, there is no entry fee, and ideas do not have to be Arctic-related. Three divisions are now accepting submissions: Main Division (ages 13 and up), Junior Division (ages 13-17) and Cub Division (ages 12 and under). Individuals or teams are encouraged to enter, and multiple ideas are accepted. After the initial screening process, up to 32 winners will be selected to receive cash prizes ranging from $25 to $10,000. Finalists will showcase their ideas to judges on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 3-5 p.m. in the UAF Wood Center ballroom, with a reception to follow. The public is encouraged to attend.

ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Tammy Tragis-McCook, 907-474-7042, tammy.tragis@alaska.edu

ON THE WEB: www.arcticinno.com