The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is holding its 4th Annual International Smart Gear Competition to find “innovative ideas for environmentally-friendly fishing gear. . . . The competition is searching for new designs for fishing devices that reduce bycatch, real-world fishing solutions that allow fishermen to fish ‘smarter’ by better targeting their intended catch while safeguarding the dolphins, sea turtles and other marine life often caught unintentionally.”
First prize is $30,000 US, $10,000 of which is in the form of a grant to increase the likelihood of actually developing the idea. There are two runner-up prizes of $10,000 US each.
Eligible inventors–individuals or teams–from any profession can submit entries. Only entries submitted in English will be accepted.
Neither the sponsor nor any of the judges will retain any intellectual property rights to the technology contained in the entry. However, inventors should always read all of the competition requirements to ensure that the terms are acceptable to their particular circumstances.
Electronic entries, which are preferred, must be received by June 30, 2009. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by June 30, 2009, and received by July 7, 2009.
My suggestion is to start with the competition information on the WWF Website, then go to the Smart Gear Website.