Idea 2 Innovation 2014 officially launched

Mr. Hayden Ferreira, CEO of CARIRI; Mr. Richard Lewis, Chairman of the Council for Competitiveness and Innovation (CCI); Senator Dr. the Honourable Bhoendradatt Tewarie, Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development; Mrs. Arlene McComie, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Planning and Sustainable Development and Dr. Rikhi Permanand chat during the launch of the 2014 i2i (Idea 2 Innovation) programme.

The main aim of the competition is to tap into the creative and innovative potential of our citizens, and thereby promote the creation of employment, improve global competiveness and long-term sustainability. The intent is not only to solicit our citizens’ innovative ideas and creative initiatives by providing the opportunity for individuals, enterprises and the non-profit organizations to access funding but also to offer significant assistance in getting their ideas off the ground.

At the inaugural stage of the competition in 2012, fifty winning projects were selected from several categories, these included personnel numbering 11 from the manufacturing and manufacturing ideas, 5 from services, 6 from creative industries, 13 from ICT, 6 from agro-industrial processing, 5 from food and beverage and 4 from waste management and green industries.

In 2013, fifty three winning projects were selected, and these included 14 persons from the manufacturing and manufacturing-related ideas, 13 from services, 6 from creative industries, 11 from ICT, 1 from agro-industrial processing, 2 from food and beverage 1 from tourism, 2 from primary agriculture and biotechnology, 2 from alternative/energy efficiency and 1 from environmental/eco-related activities.

CARIRI, as the technical partner of the CCI, will provide development, administrative and technical support to the creation of business plans and the development of the proof of concept of winning ideas. CARIRI will also monitor and evaluate projects. The programme is also supported by NEDCO, which operates in the capacity of Fund Manager.