This innovation prize aims to encourage students to contribute to the development and practical realization of innovative concepts in the field of Geoinformatics. In return, the students gain valuable, practical experience working in an international team of researchers and developers, benefit from a new social environment, individualized supervision and support for their work, and acquire additional qualification resulting from successful completion of the work.

This call is open to all students of geoinformatics, computer science, business informatics, media informatics and other fields associated with geoinformatics, who have not yet completed a master's degree or diploma in geoinformatics/informatics/computer science. Students are invited to apply, as individuals or in small teams (2 - 3 members).

A jury of prominent members of the GI community will evaluate the submissions and choose the winner:

• Prof. Dr. Edzer Pebesma, Institute for Geoinformatics, University of Muenster
• Prof. Dr. Menno Jan Kraak, ITC International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation
• Dr. Ir. Rob Lemmens, ITC International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation
• Dr. Andreas Wytzisk, con terra GmbH
• Dr. Gerd Buziek, ESRI Deutschland GmbH
• Günther Pichler, ESRI Europe
• Prof. Dr. Antonio Krüger, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz
• Prof. Dr. Ulrich Streit, 52°North Initiative.

The winning team has the unique opportunity to further develop its concept together with 52°North students and academic personnel from the sponsoring organizations. Their work should culminate in the implementation of a fully functioning open source software program as a proof-of-concept.  A stay at the 52°North Initiative in Muenster is intended for this purpose. Prize money of 1,000 Euros per team member and a maximum of 3,000 Euros per team will be awarded. The prize money is to be paid upon successful completion of the entire work (see applicant information).

The application must be entered in English, and must include the following documents:

• for the team as a whole: an explanation of the motivation and practical relevance behind the idea, a functional and technical concept for its implementation, and a time schedule stating the desired dates for the stay in Muenster;
• for each member of the team: a curriculum vitae in tabular form, including previous studies, and a personal declaration.

Download:

1. personal declaration
2. applicant information
3. call for papers

The winning idea should be developed and implemented in Muenster by the end of October 2010.

Please send your application by January 31, 2010 to:

52°North Initiative
Ms. Ann Hitchcock
Martin-Luther-King-Weg 24
48155 Muenster, Germany
52nprize(a)52north.org

The innovation prize is awarded by 52°North GmbH, con terra GmbH, ESRI Deutschland GmbH, the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC in Enschede) and the Institute for Geoinformatics at the University of Muenster. These institutions work together under the banner of the 52°North Open Source Initiative to promote research and education in the field of geoinformatics. A central part of 52°North's activities is the constant exchange of research topics/ideas and innovative developments between academia and business/industry. Located in Münster, the 52°North Initiative possesses a level of potential which is unique throughout Europe when it comes to the development of innovative solutions in the field of geoinformation as a whole, as well as in its constituent applications.