Irish group offers 100,000 euros prizes for good ideas

Offering prize money in exchange for good ideas is a concept that goes beyond the borders of the United States. A contest currently under way in Ireland is offering two 100,000-euro prizes for individuals or teams that can come up with proposals that can secure prosperity and jobs for the country.

Ireland’s contest is called Your Country, Your Call. It is being funded by Irish and non-Irish corporations as well as a small number of Irish firms and individuals, according to the contest's Web site. Ireland’s government is also backing the contest.

The organizers also plan to commit 500,000 euros to implement each of the ideas, according to the Web site.

The proposals should come up with ways to allow businesses to grow and create jobs.

“Your Country, Your Call gives you the chance to share your creativity to give life to new industry, revitalize or revolutionize an existing market, or even change the way we do business entirely,” the Web site states. “It's not about creating new products. It's about creating something that will make a long-term positive impact on the future of Ireland, its people, and its economy.”

The competition began in February and closes April 30. Prizes are scheduled to be announced Sept. 17.

In the same way many architectural competitions are run, the winning individual or group may or may not be involved in the subsequent implementation of the proposal, according to the site.

The White House released a memo March 8 detailing how federal agencies can conduct similar contests.