Australia's 2012 Innovation Challenge. (June 20, 2012)

The awards are run by The Australian in association with Shell with the support of the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education. The goal is to help drive game-changing breakthroughs by scientists, engineers, technologists, educators and backyard inventors to commercialisation or adoption.

The awards, which are open to both individuals and teams, have seven professional categories, each carrying a prize of $5000. The overall winner of the professional categories will receive a further $25,000. An eighth category, Backyard Innovation, is open to the general public and has a $10,000 prize.

The categories are:

• minerals and energy

• environment, agriculture and food

• education

• health

• ICT

• manufacturing and hi-tech design

• community services

• Backyard Innovation

To enter The Australian Innovation Challenge visit www.theaustralian.com.au/innovationchallenge

Entries close 12 August 2012.