Here is how you can participate in the 2008-2009 competition

Step 1. Select a team and develop your idea/product or environmental service, and notify us.
Student teams (made up of graduate, undergraduate, or a combination) will develop a service, process, or product that addresses a particular problem related to environmental sustainability. Examples include new ways to use wastes or by-products, products that can reduce the release of pollutants into the environment, new products that replace more toxic ones currently in use, a service that benefits the environment and society/communities, or a combination of these. It is important that the ideas and designs originate from one or more of the team's members.

Student teams will be self-assembled. We encourage teams to recruit students from science, engineering, management, communication, and social science backgrounds. Teams will need to assign ownership for the intellectual property produced and should determine how prize money or profits should be distributed among team members. For guidance on developing intellectual property, see the EEI Web site. Teams will also need to identify a faculty mentor who is willing to provide input. If you would like assistance in finding faculty mentors, contact Brent Ladd (laddb@purdue.edu) or Lesley Oliver (loliver@purdue.edu ).

Partner with a Local, National, or International non-profit organization (this is an optional step for EEI teams participating in the local Purdue University event. However, such a partnership is required should your team be selected to participate in the National event.)


EEI Teams should follow the guidelines below:

Criteria for Participation in the 2009 Idea-to-Product® Competition for Environmental & Social Entrepreneurship include:

• **Partnership with Local, National or International non-profit organization.
• **Clearly identify the benefits the product or service provides that is in keeping with the social/environmental mission of the Project Partner.
• Clearly describe the service, process, technology, or product and its current status (are there similar existing concepts?).
• Identify opportunities for entrepreneurship and the process of developing the service or product for the target audience.
• Indicate initial audience or market and the scalability of the product or service.
• Identify the potential to protect the intellectual property (IP) embodied in the services or products your team intends to create. (both traditional IP pathways, and alternative creative commons and open source pathways are encouraged)
• Demonstrate the completion of an initial prior search to insure the new service or product does not infringe on other protected IP.
• Identify any barriers to delivering or marketing the service, process, technology, or product.

** These two criteria are not required for competition in the local EEI, however they are required for competing at the National I2P event should your team qualify.

Step 2. Submit a Notice of Intent by Date TBD
Teams who wish to move forward in the competition must submit a Notice of Intent that includes the following information: Team members- list names, phone numbers, emails, and majors or programs of study, status (undergraduate or graduate) for all team members Faculty mentor- provide the name, department, phone number, and email for your faculty mentor.

Include signatures of all members and the faculty mentor.

Problem and product- Describe in a few sentences your product or service and the environmental issue it will address. Notices should not be more than one page and should be submitted to laddb@purdue.edu or to Cindy Taylor in room 301 of the Exponent building by 4:00 p.m. on TBD, December 2008.

An itemized budget for product development or testing.

Indicate where space is available for product development. If space is provided by someone other than the team's mentor, please include a signed or emailed statement from them indicating their approval of space usage.