The National Council for Science and Technology’s (NCST) National Innovation Competition has moved into its second phase, bringing participants one step closer to discovering who has created a winning concept.
According to Acting Director of the NCST, Charles Cyrus, the response to the competition has been encouraging.?? "Now, the process of elimination has begun to determine which ideas will go forward to the final stage in January/February 2012," he disclosed.
"We have reached the semi-final stage, [and] have reviewed all the submissions and we have selected 10. Further judging will take place using a strict set of criteria to select five finalists from these 10 entries," he explained. ??Mr. Cyrus revealed that judges would be reviewing the proposals, with "the element of innovation being the chief [deciding] factor", ending with the announcement of the winner in March.
In addressing the efforts of those who would not advance to the final round, the?? Acting Director explained that "just because a project does not make it through does not mean that it is not a good project…people are encouraged to [still] work on it and try to bring it to market.?? There have been instances when [persons] have not reached the finals but have been successful in the market," he added.
The first National Innovation Competition was held in 2003, in an effort to foster greater creativity and entrepreneurship among Barbadians.