For projects that use ICTs to improve the quality of lives...

The organisers of the Stockholm Challenge Award 2006 invite excellent ICT (information and communication technology) projects from all over the world to compete for the Challenge trophies. The Challenge is searching for the best initiatives that accelerate the use of information technology for the social and economic benefit of citizens and communities. The objective is to help local entrepreneurs, who work to close the digital divide, by bringing in research communities, development organisations and strong corporate initiatives.

The competition is open to private, public and academic contestants. Projects are invited in the following six categories:

• Public Administration
• Culture
• Health
• Education
• Economic Development
• Environment

Special focus will be on projects in countries and regions with the greatest needs. There will also be an international Challenge conference in Stockholm on issues related to the role of ICTs in global development work.

Award guidelines include:

• All submissions must be made in English and online, using the entry form on the Stockholm Challenge website.
• All competing projects must be fully implemented, or piloted in a realistic setting, for at least three months.
• All indicated fields must be filled out for the jury to evaluate the project.
• Projects that have not fully filled out their entries will be disqualified.
• Each project may only be entered in one category.
• Previous winning projects of the Stockholm Challenge Award can not participate again.

The winners receive Challenge trophies at an event in the Stockholm City Hall, venue of the Nobel Prize ceremonies, in May 2006.

The closing date for entries is December 31, 2005. The application form is easily accessible on the Stockholm Challenge website.

Click here for more information.