THIRD- and fourth-form students of local high schools have the opportunity to hone their business skills in a new competition to develop the most innovative idea in a number of product categories.

The competition, entitled “I3: Innovation, Ideas and Ingenuity”, may even see the winners having their business idea developed into a product, organisers say.

I3, which was developed by the Business Lab — an entrepreneur resource-driven enterprise — was launched at the offices of JAMPRO in Kingston on November 24.

Each school may enter one or two teams of up to five students who will be “challenged to use their imagination to create a product or service that could revolutionise Jamaican society or business practices”, states the competition’s guidelines.

Students are asked to develop ideas in one of eight categories, namely:

* mobile technology – applications or services that could be used on cellphones;

* food and beverage – includes not only food products, but also products that make food preparation and usage easier;

* fashion/accessories – includes creation of new kinds of fashion, but also fashion that is practical and makes the user more efficient;

* personal and student convenience – products that a process easier or address a need in personal or school life;

* education – a product and helps people learn better or faster;

* energy conservation – a product that appeals to the appreciation for going ‘green’;

* entertainment – a product that facilitates people being entertained in more convenient ways; and

* hair and cosmetics – involves the creation of cosmetics or makes the application of cosmetics easier.

First prize to the winning team is $100,000, but there are several other prizes on offer to entrants, including tablet computers, cellphones and a scholarship to HEART/NTA, disclosed Andre Burnett, the Business Lab’s creative, marketing and sales manager.

He said much interest is being expressed by schools in entering the competition, which has a registration deadline of December 14.

An innovation mentor will be assigned to each school for which there will be a day of training in January next year. Idea designs are due on February 20, 2012 from which the top 10 will be selected.

The top 10 schools will be showcased to the public via video features on February 28, and will present their innovations to the public on March 30 when the winner will be chosen by a panel of local innovators and business persons.

Assistant chief education officer in the Ministry of Education’s technical and vocational unit Patricia Fletcher, in endorsing the competition, said it would help to unlock the potential for innovation in Jamaica.

Omari Case, co-founder and lead developer of Tump!, a locally-based BlackBerry smartphone application that helps users find places for business and services within a geographic area, urged the students to look at ideas developed by others and examine how they were able to be successful.

Case challenged the students to be determined in pursuing their dreams if they felt they had a good idea, as they will be discouraged by some persons.

“Good ideas usually take a while to catch on. Develop a tolerance for rejection,” said the 26-year-old, who is the senior web developer for the Digicel Group.