NHS Innovations North
Rules
1. INTERPRETATION
In these Competition Rules references to:-
1.1 “the Competition” means the Bright Ideas in Health Awards 2009 managed by NHS Innovations North;
1.2 “the Prize Money” means prize money awarded to successful Competition Entrants in the technology, device or service categories of the Competition;
1.3 “Entry” means an entry in the form prescribed by NHS Innovations North submitted to the Competition by a Competition Entrant;
1.4 “Competition Entrant” mean persons complying with the terms of the qualification criteria set out in paragraph 3 below. Where a Competition Entrant is more than one person, all persons comprising the Competition Entrant must comply with the qualification criteria set out in paragraph 3 below.
1.5 “Opening Date” means 1st May 2008;
1.6 “Closing Date” means 28th February 2009;
1.7 “Competition Judges” means the panel of judges selected by NHS Innovations North to review all entries to the Competition and select the best Competition Entrant in each of the Competition categories.
2. MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPETITION
2.1 The Competition is operated by NHS Innovations North, a service delivered by RTC North Limited on behalf of the NHS.
2.2 The principal place of business of NHS Innovations North is 1 Hylton Park, Wessington Way, SunderlandSR5 3HD.
2.3 The amount of prize money awarded to successful Competition Entrants is at the discretion of NHS Innovations North and is subject to change.
2.4 Decisions on all matters relating to the Competition will be made by the judging panel of the Competition and where appropriate, NHS Innovations North, and will be final. No discussion on these decisions will be entered into with Competition Entrants prior to conclusion of the Competition.
2.5 Competition Entrants may instruct NHS Innovations North to request feedback from the judging panel.
2.6 NHS Innovations North reserves the right to change or withdraw Competition categories at its discretion. In this situation, Entries will be moved into the next most suitable category. Competition Entrants affected by such a decision will be informed as soon as possible thereafter.
2.7 NHS Innovations North reserves the right to extend the Closing Date. If this is the case then details will be posted on the NHS Innovations North website.
3.1 Competition Entrants must
3.1.1 be aged over 18 years, and
3.1.2 either be employed by an NHS organisation or hold an honorary contract with an NHS organisation located in the North East region;
3.1.3 not be an employee of either RTC North Limited and/or any member of the judging panel for the Competition;
3.1.4 declare any existing sources of funding they are receiving in relation to development and/or commercialization of their entry;
3.1.5 only submit ideas which are novel and have not been entered in similar competitions operated by NHS Innovations North in previous years
3.2 Entries submitted to the Competition by Competition Entrants must be
3.2.1 submitted in writing in the prescribed entry form and received by NHS Innovations North between the Opening Date and the Closing Date;
3.2.2 capable of being assigned to one of the Competition categories for the year of entry. The categories for 2009 are:- (i) Innovative Service; and (ii) Innovative Medical Device or Technology;
3.2.3 original, and must not infringe any intellectual property rights belonging to any party. NHS Innovations North reserves the right of legal redress for any loss incurred as a result of an infringement of existing intellectual property belonging to a third party.
3.3 All Entries into the Competition provided always that NHS Innovations North will be entitled to disclose such information to such parties as NHS Innovations North considers necessary to enable participation or the Entry in the Competition.
3.4 A Competition Entrant may submit more than one Entry to the Competition, but may only submit only one Entry per idea.
3.5 A team may submit an entry to the Competition.
3.6 Competition Entrants must state clearly the purpose and performance of the idea and should also give details of any contributing parties such as an employer or any external consultants or investors.
3.7 Competition Entrants may withdraw submitted Entries at any stage until the Closing Date.
3.8 NHS Innovations North takes no responsibility for any lost, damaged, defaced, incomplete, illegible or otherwise unreadable entries into the Competition.
3.9 Entries into the Competition will be assessed in the first instance by NHS Innovations North for compliance with the Rules and Regulations and suitability before being submitted to the Competition Judges.
3.10 Entries failing to comply with the entry form requirements will NOT be eligible for entry into the Competition..
3.11 By entering the Competition, Competition Entrants agree to have their name and/or photograph featured in various publicity materials, if appropriate.
3.12 Competition Entrants may not contact any of the Competition Judges to discuss the Competition. In the event of such contact being made, immediate disqualification will result.
3.13 No appeals against the decision of the Competition Judges will be accepted. The decision of the judging panel is final.
3.14 NHS Innovations North reserves the right to refuse any Entries where the intellectual property in such Entry
3.14.1 is not or will not be owned or part owned by the Trust whether automatically in accordance with Section 39 of the Patents Act 1977 or by assignment; and
3.14.2 has previously been or is currently licensed to a third party.
3.15 NHS Innovations North reserves the right to refuse entry into the Competition for any ideas which have been entered into a previous year’s Competition, unless significant changes to the idea have been made.
4. PRIZE MONEY
4.1 Prize Money will be awarded at the Competition Judges discretion to those Competition Entrants considered by the Competition Judges to be the leading entry in their relevant category;
4.2 Any Prize Money awarded to a team will be divided equally between each member of the team.
4.3 Any Competition Entrant receiving Prize Money shall be fully responsible for any personal or incidental expenses and/or tax liabilities incurred in claiming and using the Competition Prize.
4.4 NHS Innovations North reserves the right to withhold any Competition Prize or change its terms, conditions and rules without notice.
4.5 Prize Money is awarded on the basis that it is to be used solely for the furtherance of the successful idea.
4.6 Unless expressly agreed in writing by NHS Innovations North, Prize Money will be paid to NHS Trust employing the Competition Entrant.
4.7 The award of Prize money
4.7.1 does not constitute a guarantee of further support from or funding by, NHS Innovations North;
4.7.2 does not imply that an idea is necessarily commercially marketable and NHS Innovations North is under no obligation to use any idea submitted to the Competition.
4.8 NHS Innovations North will not be responsible for any damage, loss or injury resulting from entry into the Competition or acceptance and/or use of the Prize Money.
These competition rules will be construed in accordance with English law. Any dispute or claim in relation to or in connection with these competition rules will be decided on the basis of English law by the English courts.