1. Presentation of the competition

Technical innovation is widely recognized as the engine of economic development. Innovative technologies can provide solutions to technical problems that arise in everyday life, taking into account the particular environmental, social or economic conditions of the community facing such problems. Such technologies are often referred to as ‘appropriate technology’, and their role is critical in enhancing development.

Patent documents are a major source of information that can be used in support of technological innovation. In order to optimize the possibilities of developing new technologies, the use and access to the information contained in patents must be carried out in a systematic way.

The competition in Trinidad and Tobago focuses exclusively on projects aimed at national developmental issues in the specific areas of crime, flooding, traffic, energy efficiency/solutions, waste management and food production. These issues are linked to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, namely SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), and SDG 13 (climate action).

I. Organizers

The competition is organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in cooperation with the Trinidad and Tobago Intellectual Property Office (TTIPO) and the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO).

This competition is also being held in collaboration with the executing agency The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (UWI STACIE) and supporting partners Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI), Planting Seeds Caribbean (Planting Seeds) and the National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (NIHESRT).

The TTIPO is in charge of organizing the contest and providing logistical and technical support. In particular, in its capacity as co-organizer, the TTIPO will provide the necessary documentation and information. It will also facilitate access to patent information, receive  contestants’ projects and offer assistance during the contest.

II. About the competition

1. Objectives of the competition

• Promote the use of information contained in patents to obtain appropriate solutions to the technical problems that we usually face. Participants must identify a specific problem and consult patent information databases in order to develop “appropriate technology” to solve the problem.
• Promote and reward excellence in the search for innovative solutions to problems we face in everyday life, specific to the national developmental issues outlined, particularly solutions that use technologies appropriate to local conditions. The use of patent information to find solutions will be one of the basic conditions of the contest.

2. National developmental issues and research areas

Crime, flooding, traffic, energy efficiency/solutions, waste management and food production.

3. Participants

The competition is open to nationals and/or foreign nationals who have permanent residency in Trinidad and Tobago.

Participation can be individuals or in groups.

4. Schedule

• Wednesday January 11, 2023 and Thursday January 12, 2023- Official launch and orientation sessions
• Friday January 13, 2023 – Dissemination talks and promotion
• Tuesday January 24, 2023 – WIPO virtual orientation workshop on the use of business model canvases.
• Wednesday January 25, 2023 and Thursday January 26, 2023 – National Workshops on patent search services and patent information services
• Friday March 3, 2023 – Final submission date for projects
• Monday March 6, 2023 to Monday March 13, 2023 – classification, preliminary evaluation of projects
• Tuesday March 14, 2023– Selection of ten finalists (maximum)
• Tentative workshop on Tuesday March 21, 2023 (online) for finalists.
• Tuesday March 28, 2023 – Final workshop : “How to pitch”
• Wednesday March 29, 2023 – Pitch, final evaluation, selection of three (3) winners and Awards Ceremony

All applicants are encouraged to send a preliminary submission on or before February 13^th, 2023. However, final submissions are due on March 3^rd, 2023.

5. Presentation of the Projects

The projects must be presented using the National Appropriate Technology     Competition Application Google Form.

Projects submitted after the established deadline will not be accepted. The presentation     of prototypes will be valued.

6. Evaluation and Selection

The projects will be evaluated in two phases. The first phase, the preliminary evaluation, will be carried out by a panel with experience in the fields of intellectual property, appropriate technology and business who will evaluate the projects submitted. Ten (10) maximum finalists (or less) will be selected from among them. In the second phase, the finalists must present their ideas orally before the aforementioned panel, who will select the three (3) winning projects for first, second and third place.

1. Initial evaluation

All the proposals will be evaluated, and ten (10) finalists (or less) will be selected.

Criteria for the initial evaluation:

• Analysis of the problem that they observe 20%
• Degree of innovation that they present 20%
• Use of patent information 20%
• Practical application including business canvas usage 40%

2. Final evaluation

The TTIPO will provide the finalists with all the technical or legal information                required to facilitate their participation and oral presentations.

Each finalist will be required to demonstrate the link between the patent information used and the way in which it has been useful for the development of their project. Finalists must also demonstrate their business model.

Each candidate will have a maximum of fifteen (15) minutes to present the project, followed by a question and answer section. The three (3) best projects will be announced as the winners.

Regarding the final evaluation, the selected projects will be evaluated taking into account again:

• Analysis of the problem that they observe 20%
• Degree of innovation that they present 20%
• Use of patent information 20%
• Practical application including business canvas usage 40%

Explanation of evaluation criteria:

• Analysis of the problem 20%

At this point the description of the problem will be evaluated. The environmental, social and economic aspects of the problem will be explained.

• Degree of innovation that they present 20%

At this point it will be determined whether the project is a new solution or an adaptation to an identified problem. Also, its degree of complexity as well  as the associated costs will be evaluated.

• Use of patent information 20%

At this point, it will be evaluated whether or not the use of patent information is evident with respect to the most relevant prior art and its effective proximity to the solution found.

• Practical application including business canvas usage 40%

At this point, it will be determined whether the project allows the community to get involved in various aspects such as development and implementation, joint management and training to expand and produce it, if it uses local resources in its manufacturing and production.

7. Exclusions

• Projects that do not present solutions that have a clear application to the national developmental issues to which this Competition is directed will not be evaluated.
• Projects that are limited to the general statement of an idea, business plan, entrepreneurship, training and/or awareness programs, general research papers, as well as computer programs (software only) will not be evaluated.
• Projects that do not present a clear and sufficient description that allows their understanding and the application of the appropriate technology evaluation criteria will not be evaluated.

8. Evaluation Committee

It will be made up of a panel with experience in the fields of intellectual property, appropriate technology and business who will evaluate the projects submitted.

9. Awards

The prizes for the AT Competition include WIPO Medals, WIPO Certificates, training and mentoring by partners, the opportunity to pitch the proposals to Planting Seeds Caribbean, a scholarship by the TTIPO to pursue WIPO’s Advance Distance Learning course on intellectual property, entry into CARIRI’s Idea Advisory Service (IAS) subject to relevant criterion, and a scholarship to CARIRI’s Business Hatchery Programme.

Prizes will be given to three (3) winners.

The first prize of US $1000.00 will be sponsored by United Independent Petroleum Marketing Company limited (UNIPET). An Ipad will also be awarded.

The second and third prizes will be tablets.

10. Competition regulations

All participants, when applying, submit without reservation to the rules established by the organizers of this competition.

III. Orientation and reception of projects using the Google Drive.