2010 Cracking Ideas Competition

1 September 2010

The Intellectual Property Office has launched this year’s ‘Cracking Ideas Competition’, once again with the help of Wallace and Gromit.

This competition is based around patents, trade marks, design and copyright.

There are two ways to take part:

Complete each of the four Eureka Challenges which will be launched throughout the year.
Or fill in the competition form then upload your finished entry. You can complete as many forms as you like!

There are three age categories 4 - 7, 8 - 11, 12 - 16 and four regions England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.

Entrants are asked to help Wallace and Gromit design a new theme park, using their knowledge of Intellectual Property.

They aim to encourage creativity and teach children that they can all innovate, they all own ideas, innovation can be linked to financial reward and they can exploit their ideas if they are protected by Intellectual Property.

Prizes on offer include laptops, a family day out at Chessington World of adventure, bespoke trophies and signed Nick Park books. The competition is open until 31 March 2011.

This year’s winner of the Wales 8-11 age group, Ray Vandyck's dad William, commented "The day was just excellent. The children had a blast and felt very special. And I got to talk about the invention I'd put into the competition, to a patent lawyer, which made me very happy".

Finn Collinson, overall winner of the 8-11 age group (pictured) said "I had a brilliant day and the prizes you gave me are great, especially the unique trophy! A highlight for me was certainly meeting the friends from 62 West Wallaby Street!"

For a chance to bag yourself a laptop and a cracking day out please visit the competition website.