[Sighci-l] Stockholm Challenge Award 2006

[Yong Liu]

*Please circulate widely and apologies for cross-posting*
I hope this will be of interest to you.If you have questions or comments,
please contact Earl Mardle at earl.mardle at stockholmchallenge.se or Ulla
Skidén at ulla.skiden at stockholmchallenge.se. 
Best,
Yong Liu
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The Stockholm Challenge Award 2006 is open for entries

THE STOCKHOLM CHALLENGE AWARD 2006 invites excellent ICT projects from all
over the world to compete for the prestigious Challenge trophies. The
Challenge is searching for the best initiatives that accelerate the use of
information technology for the social and economic benefit of citizens and
communities. The objective is to help local entrepreneurs, who work to close
the digital divide, by bringing in research communities, development
organisations and strong corporate initiatives. 

THE AWARDS WILL BE HANDED OUT IN SIX CATEGORIES in the City Hall - on May
11, 2006. Special focus will be on projects in countries and regions with
the greatest needs. There will also be an international Challenge conference
in Stockholm on issues related to the role of ICTs in global development
work. 

THE AWARD IS OPEN FOR ENTRIES until December 31st 2005. The application form
is easily accessible on the home page. 

The Stockholm Challenge is headquartered at the IT University - a joint
initiative by KTH (The Royal Institute of Technology) and Stockholm
University . It is managed by a consortium that also includes the City of
Stockholm, Ericsson and Sida, the Swedish International Development
Cooperation Agency. 

For more information, please contact: 
Project Manager
Ulla Skidén 
ulla.skiden at stockholmchallenge.se
Telephone: + 46 8 7904469 
Cell: +46 70 678 72 82 

www.stockholmchallenge.se 
 

Rules for participation in the Stockholm Challenge Award 2006 
These are the basic rules for the participation in the Stockholm Challenge
Award. All competing projects must:
1. Include ICT 
Illustrate how ICT is used to create new or better traditional services
and/or products, which are beneficial for human and social development. 
2. Be implemented
All competing projects must be up and running. They should be
implemented/piloted since no less than three months. The Stockholm Challenge
Award does not accept drafted concepts and ideas only. The jury will only
evaluate and compare projects that can show measurable outcomes and impact. 
3. Be linked to and/or supported by an established private or public
organisation.
4. Be verifiable, i.e. able to present credible references.
5. Be free from religious, political or other personal beliefs. 
To be noted:
Projects that have won one of the Challenge categories in previous years
cannot enter the competition again.
All applications must be in English 
Evaluation criteria
Innovation, creativity and the convergence of ICT with many different
disciplines are some of the qualities that are looked for in the competing
projects. The jury, a group of international senior experts, base their
evaluation on the following criteria, most of which all Challenge projects
should meet: 
Innovation
Competing projects should illustrate new and innovative ways of using ICT to
improve the living and economical conditions especially of those with great
needs. 
Convergence
The addition of ICT as a tool to traditional development work can improve
and widen the scope of the project impact. Projects should show successful
convergences of different disciplines and sectors. 
Inclusion
It is favourable for the competing projects to show that they bring
individuals, groups and local organisations into larger communities –
national and global - such as medical, government, educational and cultural
networks, as well business environments. 

Equal Opportunity
It is important that the initiatives counteract inequality related to the
likes of gender, origin, age, physical and/or mental disabilities.
Sustainability
An important factor is sustainability. Not only economic sustainability,
i.e. how long the project will last and bring benefits to its users.
Sustainability also includes the contribution of the project to a
sustainable society and environment at large. 
Opportunities
To enter a project in the Stockholm Challenge Award is not only to
participate in a prestigious international ICT competition - it is also a
way to join networks of some of the best ICT entrepreneurs and pioneers in
the world. Testimonials from many of the projects, which have competed in
their respective categories over the years, say that it is the inspiration,
the new ideas, contacts and partners that are the greatest rewards for a
Challenger. 
The Stockholm Challenge represents excellent marketing through the exposure
to media, and to private and public organizations that are involved in ICT
work and implementations. It gives promotional opportunities for
entrepreneurs, universities, cities, cities and regions. The Stockholm
Challenge Final Events include a Best Practice Exhibition and a Conference.
It is a meeting place for some the world's most successful IT entrepreneurs.

Winners and finalists of the Stockholm Challenge are global role models for
cities, companies, organisations, schools and others who are involved in
adapting and spreading the use of ICT.