Design for learning competition launched


1 Sep 2011

NDRC Inventorium and The Science Gallery have launched the Designs For Learning competition for innovative learning productswith €3,000 in prizes for the finalists. Five finalists will then compete for an overall prize of €5,000 and support to make their idea a reality.

Anyone with an idea for a new product that will bridge home, school and gallery based learning is encouraged to apply to this new competition that is aimed at enabling people of all ages (??) to learn in new and innovative ways.

Five finalists will receive €3,000 to develop their idea over an intensive six-week period, with the winner receiving €5,000, along with supports to make their idea a reality.

Applicants should download the competition criteria and guidelines at www.inventorium.org and return  by 5pm on Friday, 30 September 2011. NDRC and The Science Gallery are particularly interested in digital ideas but this is not mandatory.

Teresa Dillon of NDRC Inventorium said: “We are delighted to be working with the Science Gallery to develop exciting and commercially sustainable products and services which focus on new learning tools or materials. The NDRC team is seeking to support new ideas through to income generating products that will impact how people learn.”

A spokesperson from the Science Gallery said “Our objective is to find ideas that best link learning between home, school and gallery, that will enable pupils, educators and families to learn together. We are excited to be working NDRC Inventorium to turn great ideas into real-life products and services.”

The Designs For Learning competition welcomes entries from newly formed teams, existing companies and organisations already working in the area. All entrants will be required to demonstrate how the team can deliver.

Applicants should download the competition criteria at and guidelines at www.inventorium.org and return your completed application to teresa@inventorium.org by 5pm on Friday, 30 September 2011. Finalists will be announced on 17 October 2011. The five finalists will receive  €3,000 to develop their idea over an intensive six-week period. The finalists will then pitch their developed idea in a competition final. The winner will receive €5,000, along with other support that will make their idea happen.