The FutureFest Prizes will encourage innovative business ideas that will address major challenges in the near future across the four themes that underpin FutureFest. The Prizes, which include a Future Earth Prize, a Future Communication Prize, a Future Life Prize and a Future Machine Prize, which comprise a cash award of £20,000 (a total of £80,000) plus access to serviced offices in corresponding Innovation Centre’s for a year.

The Prizes will be launched by FutureFest Curator Doug Richard who first found public recognition through his appearances on the BBC's Dragons Den. With 20 years experience developing and leading technology ventures Doug knows what it takes to launch a new business. In 2006 Doug received the Queens Award for Enterprise for his work promoting, developing and helping entrepreneurs. On October 24, 2008, he will launch the Prizes at the 'Festival of Ideas' which will take place at the University of Cambridge.

After a five month search for entries a judging panel for each Prize will be looking for proposals that are exciting, novel, commercial, sustainable, defendable and manageable that combine financial returns with social and environmental benefits. These can include new products and services, innovative operational processes and business models.

A group of five Judges for each Theme, with corresponding expertise in the field, will decide a shortlist of three candidates to be put forward to the final. The finalists will be invited to pitch their ideas at FutureFest Future Debates, June 24 -25, 2009 and the winners will be announced on the main Conference stage at a Grand Finale at the close of the event.

Full information is available in a downloadable PDF document.