A competition to find ways grid computing technologies can be used to enhance everyday life has been launched by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the British Computer Society (BCS).

The competition will form part of the Grid Computing Now! Initiative, which is one of the DTI's Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs).

Knowledge Transfer Networks are part of the DTI’s Technology Programme. Its purpose is to provide funding to facilitate further investment in science, engineering and technology, with the active participation of business and industry.

The grid computing competition is open to students and young professionals and has the backing of the National e-Science Centre, Intel and Microsoft. It includes judges from the fields of science, technology, design and government.

Participants are asked to write a submission of up to 500 words describing a problem and their approach to a solution using grid computing technologies. The submissions will be reviewed by the organising committee and selected candidates will be invited to submit a more complete entry.

The winner will be eligible for a six-week paid Grid Computing Now! project internship hosted by Intellect, the UK hi-tech association, in Summer 2007. The winner will also be eligible to attend the Microsoft European Research and Innovation day held in Brussels.

They will also receive a year’s free membership of the British Computer Society, as well as a Microsoft XBox 360. They will be offered Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard 10 CALs and a crosoft Compute Cluster Server for the prize winner’s employer/university. There will be prizes for the runners up.

Ian Osborne, Grid Computing Now! project manager said: "Grid computing is generating more interest in business and administration environments today. But there is a rich potential to apply very large-scale computing capabilities to address the challenges we face in society. We’re very keen to hear the bright ideas of the younger members of our profession."

The deadline for initial entries is 30 June 2006 and up to 10 shortlisted entrants will be invited to present their entries to the judges at the competition final on 28 September at the BCS offices. More details and an online entry form are on the Grid Computing Now! Site.