Eligibility

• Trailblazer is open to any individual or group of individuals either employed or enrolled at The University of Queensland, University of Wollongong, James Cook University, University of Tasmania or University of Technology, Sydney. Mater Medical Research Institute staff and students may enter the University of Queensland round.

• Visiting scholars or researchers are not eligible.

• Entries from all faculties and institutes will be considered – entries from the Arts, Social Sciences and Design disciplines are encouraged.

• Innovations and ideas at any developmental stage may be submitted.

• Individuals or teams may make multiple applications, provided each application relates to a different idea.

• Entries which have been previously selected as Trailblazer finalists will not be considered.

• Each participating university can nominate up to five University Final winners to compete in the Grand Final.

Categories

• The two categories for prizes are Open and Student. Each entry will be considered for one category only, which will be the one selected on the online entry form.

• Team entries in the Open category may include students. Student team entries may include staff members but a student must present the pitch if the entry is selected as a finalist.

• Student projects entered in the Open category will not be considered for the Student prizes.

• Students may pitch in the Open category.

• Only students can pitch in the Student category.

Entries

• Entries will be accepted from individuals and from teams. A maximum of three members per team is preferred.

• Only online entries will be accepted, using the standard form provided on the UniQuest website.

• Supporting material will be accepted online only, consisting of a maximum of 4 x A4 pages and being no more than 2 MB in size in total.

• Closing date for entries at all participating universities is 17 June 2011.

• Entries will only be considered for the university round where the entrant is employed or enrolled, e.g. only University of Queensland entries will be considered for the University of Queensland prizes; only University of Tasmania entries will be considered for the University of Tasmania prizes.

University Finals and Finalists

• A maximum of 20 finalists will be selected for each University Final. The maximum number of pitches allowed per university in the Grand Final is 5.

• The nominated Team Coordinator of each finalist entry will be advised by email of the selection to this level in the competition on 8 July.

• The lists of finalists at all participating universities will be publicised on the UniQuest website from 11 July.

• The individual or team member nominated to present the pitch must be available to present on the Pitch Day arranged for their university (see further on for dates).

• Finalists presenting the pitch are strongly encouraged to reserve the whole day to participate in Pitch Day-related activities, including the awards ceremony that evening.

• Finalists will be expected to participate in a webinar on 15 July to hone their pitching skills.

• Finalists and winners will be expected to be included in photographs and video footage at Trailblazer events.

Pitches

• Team entries in the Open category may include students. A student or a staff member may present the pitch if the entry is selected as a finalist or grand finalist.

• Team entries in the Student category may include members who are staff but all finalist and grand finalist pitches in the Student category must be presented by students.

• Finalists will have approximately two weeks to prepare their pitches, during which time a draft presentation must be viewed by the relevant faculty-based Commercialisationⁱ Manager (UOWⁱ), UniQuest Manager of Innovation & Commercial Development or Commercialisation Associate.

• Final presentation slides must be submitted to the person or office and by the date specified in the congratulatory notice to finalists. This will maintain the optimum pitch time for every finalist and keep the Pitch Day schedule on track.

• The maximum number of slides allowed per pitch is 5.

• Only one person per finalist entry may pitch the idea. Team members may watch the presentation at the back of the room but must not contribute to the pitch.

• Supporters are not allowed to watch the actual pitch but may wait with the finalists in the ante room prior to their pitches.

Judges' Decisions

• The decisions of the short-listing and judging panels are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

• Due to the large numbers of entries for each university, the short-listing process does not allow for individual feedback to be given; however, entrants can talk to their UniQuest Manager of Innovation and Commercial Development or Commercialisation Manager about their ideas.

Prizes

• A $100,000 prize pool will be offered, distributed across the University Finals and Grand Final as a $50,000 pool for the University Finals and $50,000 for the Grand Final.

• University Finals winners will receive cash prizes and certificates. Grand Final winners will receive cash prizes, subscriptions to New Scientist, certificates and trophies.

• Finalists and grand finalists may be awarded more than one prize, e.g. Staff Runner Up + Vision Award for Business Innovation; Student Winner + Pitching Excellence Award.

• Cash prizes will only be paid to individuals or as a research grant to the research centre account nominated by the winner/winning team and not to any personal trust fund, company or similar commercial enterprise. Prize money maybe subject to tax - winners are advised to speak with their financial advisers.

• All members of prize-winning teams must provide written confirmation of their consensual agreement as to how the prize money is to be disbursed before it is released:

- Personal payments to each winner or equal share to each member of the winning team OR
- Lump sum payment to a nominated university research account OR
- 50% to a nominated university research account + 50% personal payments to each individual winner or equal share to each member of a winning team

• Cash prize acceptance forms must be returned to UniQuest within three months of the Pitch Day.

• There will be a draw from all entries at each University Final and at the Grand Final for a chance to win one of six iPads.