Bluetooth Innovation World Cup FAQs
The 2011 IWC contest ended 30 January 2012, when winners were announced at the ISPO trade show in Munich, Germany. Information on this page is about the 2011 contest.
Details on the next contest will be announced in spring 2012.
My company is not a current Bluetooth SIG member. Am I eligible to participate in the Innovation World Cup?
Bluetooth SIG membership is a requirement for participation in the Bluetooth Innovation World Cup. Bluetooth SIG membership is free and you can register online at: https://www.bluetooth.org/login/register/.
The only exception to the Bluetooth SIG membership requirement for participation in the Bluetooth Innovation World Cup is for college/university students. Bluetooth SIG membership is optional for students registering for and participating in the Bluetooth Innovation World Cup. Students who elect to become Bluetooth SIG members may create user accounts associated with their school’s existing Bluetooth SIG membership, but may not register their school as a member of the Bluetooth SIG. (Only individuals holding the power and authority to accept the Membership Agreements of the Bluetooth SIG on behalf of a college or university may establish Bluetooth SIG memberships.)
I am a student. Am I eligible to participate in the Bluetooth Innovation World Cup?
Yes. College and University students are eligible to participate in the Bluetooth Innovation World Cup. Students should enter the name of their school in the “Company / Organization / University” field of the online registration form.
Students are not required to have active SIG memberships to register for or participate in the Bluetooth Innovation World Cup. Students who elect to become Bluetooth SIG members may create user accounts associated with their school’s existing SIG membership, but may not register their school as a member of the Bluetooth SIG. (Only individuals holding the power and authority to accept the Membership Agreements of the Bluetooth SIG on behalf of a college or university may establish Bluetooth SIG memberships.)
I am not a student and am not affiliated with a company. Am I eligible to participate in the Bluetooth Innovation World Cup?
Bluetooth SIG membership is a requirement for participation in the Bluetooth Innovation World Cup. Bluetooth SIG membership is not currently open to individuals. For additional information about Bluetooth SIG membership, please visit our membership page on Bluetooth.com.
Is there an entry fee for the competition?
Bluetooth Innovation World Cup registration is free of charge.
Bluetooth SIG membership, which is a requirement for participation in the Bluetooth Innovation World Cup, is also free.
Note that the only exception to the Bluetooth SIG membership requirement for participation in the Bluetooth Innovation World Cup is for college/university students. Bluetooth SIG membership is optional for students registering for and participating in the Bluetooth Innovation World Cup.
How do I submit my application or product concept?
You can register for the Bluetooth Innovation World Cup and submit your concepts for new applications and products via the Bluetooth SIG’s secure Internet registration database.
Registrants must select a user name and password to complete registration. Participants must supply specific personal data that will be electronically saved, used and processed by the Bluetooth SIG for the Bluetooth Innovation World Cup competition and the award of prizes to winners of the competition.
My concept does not target the sports, fitness or health care markets. Can I still submit my idea for the competition?
Yes. All innovative ideas that leverage the specific features of Bluetooth low energy technology will be accepted for evaluation.
Do I need to submit a prototype of my concept for the competition?
You can submit just an idea for a new product. But prototypes are welcome.
Can I submit more than one concept for the competition?
Yes. You may enter more than one idea or prototype. Once you have created your account, you can submit additional ideas or prototypes by starting a new entry for each one.
Do I have to protect my idea before participating in the Bluetooth Innovation World Cup?
Concepts submitted to the Bluetooth Innovation World Cup may become excluded, lost, or considered common property. We therefore strongly recommend that you take steps to sufficiently protect your intellectual property before submitting your concept for the competition.
Who are the judges and will they evaluate submitted concepts?
The panel of judges will consist of international industry and research experts from the wireless industry and electronics, sports, and health care markets. The judges will evaluate concepts through an anonymous, online evaluation process that will be used to select the top four ideas for final evaluation.
Judges will nominate the Bluetooth Innovator of the Year and three runners-up from the four ideas selected for final evaluation. All judges will be required to sign a non-disclosure-agreement (NDA) before beginning the concept evaluation process.
What will happen to my submission if my concept is not selected as one of the finalists?
If your idea is not selected as one of the four finalists your name and idea will not be published. Contest sponsors and judges will have the option to contact individuals not selected as finalists if there is an interest in further evaluation of their concepts.
What criteria will the judges use to evaluate concepts and prototypes?
The panel of Bluetooth Innovation World Cup judges will evaluate entries based on the level of innovation as well as opportunity for successful implementation and the marketability of the concept.
If I am one of the nine finalists will I need to present a real product or prototype for display at one of the trade shows or the award ceremony?
The Bluetooth Innovation World Cup is a competition of both ideas and prototypes. Concepts, not necessarily products, will be evaluated during this competition. Finalists will be contacted individually regarding suggestions for the best presentation of their concept.