Premier Farnell/Newark's $100K green design competition open

London-based Premier Farnell and its US-based company Newark have opened registration for their "Live EDGE–Electronic Design for the Global Environment" international design competition and are taking an extra student-friendly approach to the contest this year. 

In short, the competition invites electronic design engineers, students, and hobbyists to use electronic components in the design of products that will positively impact the environment. (See our earlier coverage, "Green design could win you some greenbacks from Premier Farnell" for more on that.)

Unlike last year’s Live EDGE competition, the distributor will separated entrants into two categories — student and open/general competitions — which, I think, will give students a better shot at taking home a $50,000 prize package. (The winner of each competition receiving a $25,000 cash award, plus a package of support services valued at an additional $25,000 from experts in the fields of design consultancy, marketing, legal and commerce, to move the designs toward production.)

While submissions are accepted through January 31, 2009, entrants who submit completed designs early are automatically entered into monthly regional drawings held at the end of October, November, and December. One winner each from the Americas, Europe/Asia, and China will be selected each month to receive $2,000 to help move their designs forward.

Also on the student-friendly, youthful front and in addition to the availability of Live EDGE info via social networking site Facebook, the competition program will be hosting a series of technical learning and networking events held in a "virtual global community," which Premier has dubbed the "Live EDGE EcoSphere." 

Registration is available at the Live EDGE site for the first event on October 15, "Designing for Energy Efficiency." Through the event, attendees will have the opportunity to chat live with manufacturer representatives from the likes of National Semiconductor, Vishay Intertechnology, and Ohmite Manufacturing, and to download technical videos and whitepapers. Bonus: I’m told Gary Nevison, Premier/Newark’s environmental compliance guru and EDN blogger, will be on the event to answer legislation questions. 

What are your thoughts on competitions like these? Do they encourage student interest in engineering? Voice your opinions below.