The U.S. Department of State’s Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) initiative announces its fourth annual Technology Idea (Tech-I) Competition. The GIST Tech-I Competition provides an opportunity to address economic growth and innovation priorities by encouraging young science and technology entrepreneurs to accelerate the success of their venture, connect with a global community of like-minded innovators, and showcase their ideas internationally. Thirty finalists will attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) in Morocco. Applications for Idea Stage and Startup Stage ventures by young science and technology entrepreneurs are welcome through 9:00 a.m. EDT on July 21, technology innovation along with a 90 second video explaining their idea or product/service to http://www.aaas.org/gist-tech-i. Application period closes July 21, 2014.
The Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) Initiative, which is led by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), operates at the intersection of science & technology (S&T), innovation, and entrepreneurship to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems and to empower individual innovators. GIST equips young men and women around the world with the skills they need to be successful entrepreneurs and leaders who turn their ideas into new ventures that transform their communities. GIST has connected over 2.5 million youth with entrepreneurship resources through social media platforms, has trained over 3,500 startups, and has created a network of over 230,000 young motivated entrepreneurs. These young entrepreneurs, who serve as role models and agents of change in their home countries, have created remarkable scientific and technological innovations –from creating customized self-sanitizing surfaces to developing a GPS-enabled continuous heart rate monitor.
The 2014 Tech-I Competition will have two tracks for which S&T entrepreneurs can apply: the Idea Stage and the Startup Stage. The Idea Stage is perfect for entrepreneurs who have an idea or prototype but who have not launched their company. The Startup Stage is designed for new companies that are further along the growth process—for example, companies that have completed some market analysis, have a launch timeline or have recently launched a product/service for distribution, or have a realistic strategy to sell a product/service. To apply, applicants should send an Executive Summary of their science or technology innovation along with a 90 second video explaining their idea or product/service to http://www.aaas.org/gist-tech-i. Applications for Idea Stage and Startup Stage ventures are open from June 10 to July 21, 2014.
The top 30 applicants will be identified through global public voting (from September 1 – October 1) and will receive an all-expense-paid trip to the 2014 Global Entrepreneurship Summit for the final round of the Tech-I Competition. The finalists will gain international visibility from pitching their ideas at the GES while competing for $70,000 in awards. All finalists will also receive extensive training and mentoring before the GES, up to three months of mentorship after the GES, and a year’s membership to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
To learn more about the 2014 GIST Tech-I Competition or for a copy of the program announcement with full details, please contact GISTinitiative@state.gov
