Illinois college students, inventors, entrepreneurs and developer teams are encouraged to enter the "empowering people. Award" competition with technical products or solutions that can aid communities in combatting basic supply problems. The global competition, sponsored by Siemens Stiftung (foundation), aims to make sustainable solutions more easily accessible so individuals and the broader community can be empowered to make a positive global impact.

Those who participate in the competition will have an opportunity to be part of a global database that brings together like-minded inventors, investors and practitioners in order to more effectively deploy solutions to those in need. Categories include; Water & Waste Water Treatment, Energy, Food & Agriculture, Waste Management & Recycling, Housing & Construction, Healthcare and Information & Communication Technology.

Winning project entries will be honored at an awards ceremony in June 2013.

The deadline for entries is December 31, 2012 at 12 00 a.m. EST.

To learn more about the “empowering people. Award” or to enter the competition, please visit: http://www.empowering-people-award.org.