The MAD Ideas competition is an opportunity to develop your creativity and discover how to put your ideas into action. Students could win part of our £10,000 prize fund, and be on your way to seeing your ideas turned into innovations.

Final - 23rd April, Portsmouth

30 ideas go through to the Final in Portsmouth to be held at the Aspex Gallery at Gunwharf Quays.  Students who attended the MAD Camp at the Institute of Directors Southern Hub in Reading are working hard on their ideas to take them further towards feasilibity and reality.   See more information in the Right hand panel and photos.

Following the exhibition (which all are welcome to attend), there will be a gala presentation in the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, followed by a drinks reception.

For students who haven't made it through to the final, then please don't give up on your ideas.  Your university contact will be pleased to help you develop these and other business ideas, and would be glad to see you take part in any entrepreneurial activities going on at your Uni.   For more information, please email your university contact (found on the "Can I enter" page).

What's it all about?

Creativity:

MAD Ideas is about the special idea that transforms lives. It's about coming up with a unique solution to the problems around you. It's about the wacky and wild, the brilliant or crazy idea that might, just might, change the world. It's about capturing your fascinating ideas that have the power to make a profound difference to our everyday lives.

Innovation:

MAD Ideas is about bringing together University students and staff to generate innovative thinking and original project ideas. Innovation is about the flash of inspiration that changes the mundane around us into the world-changing solution. It's about the collision of technology and the ubiquitous, the range and the microwave oven, the lightbulb and the energy saver. MAD Ideas helps you move your idea towards a new reality.

Entrepreneurship:

MAD Ideas is about helping both students and staff in Universities to the notion that being enterprising - whether in a personal, social or economic context - is vital for our future. It's about embracing the spirit of enterprise and championing a vibrant culture of entrepreneurship. The Competition will focus on both the generation and validation of ideas. The quality of the idea and its ability to progress to make a stunning difference will be paramount.

Last year's winners

The first prize went to a team from the University of Kingston for their ‘Tactik system,’ an aid to mobility in the street for the blind and partially-sighted. Students from the winning team included Adam Mileusnic, Emily Maher and Donna Plastow.

A team from Royal Holloway University took second place for ‘Stay Fresh,’ an innovative material to help slow the aging of fruit which landed them £3000. The team included Douglas Maffei, Sofia Orfanidi and Francesca Robertson.

Third place and £1000 went to Matt Bridger from the University of Reading for his website which rates activities within a region or town in terms of their access for people with disabilities.

Your idea is safe.

You're intellectual property is 100% protected. If you need convincing: Read more about Intellectual Property.