1. Contact:
Pakistan Innovation Foundation
Address: Suite 101, Al-Safa Heights 1, F 11 Markaz, Islamabad.
Email: info@pif.org.pk, Tel: +92 51 2511643
Web: http://www.pif.org.pk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PakistanInnovationFoundation
Contest Submission Page: http://www.pif.org.pk/ideas-contest-2013
Events Page for Updates: https://www.facebook.com/events/195546683940066/
P I F Ideas Contest 2013
Do You Have an Idea that Solve
One of Pakistan’s Challenges?

2. PIF Ideas Contest 2013
Purpose:
Pakistan Innovation Foundation is a private-sector-driven non-profit entity created
to promote innovation within the private sector and the broader society in Pakistan. PIF’s Ideas Contest 2013 is a
collaborative brainstorming exercise to help find ‘out-of-the-box’ solutions for Pakistan’s Development Problems
and Competitiveness Challenges.
The development discourse in Pakistan is ridden with multidimensional problems made complex by a historical
baggage, a culture that hinders empowered problem solving, vested interests, multiple stakeholders, and a lack
of policy focus. However, many of these complex problems, at their heart, are quite simple and can be
addressed through creative ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking, empowerment, and some inspired activism. The PIF Ideas
Contest 2013 seeks to encourage that.
What kind of Solution Ideas are we looking for?
Thinking creatively can greatly help facilitate the solution of long-
standing problems that seemingly appear to be intractable. ‘Out-
of-the-box’ thinking encourages and enables one to work around
the limitations or constraints that may have hampered the
solution of a problem in the past. Out of the box and innovative
solutions could come in many shapes and forms.
For instance, power is a serious problem in rural areas. This may
force the farmers to use solar tubewells to irrigate their farms. But
solar tubewells are costly. Could a technology enable sharing of solar
tubewells? Could a lower cost alternative energy solution be found
for running tubewells? How could the power of the ‘middle man’ be
reduced to empower the poor farmer? Could a low-cost robot be
created to support factory workers? Could an innovative technology
solution be devised to get around the challenges of e-learning and
spread literacy amongst millions? How could the impact of natural
disasters be mitigated? How could traffic congestion be reduced?
These are only some of the many challenges that can be addressed through creative problem solving and
‘out-of-the-box’ thinking. The PIF Ideas Contest 2013 seeks to inspire people to go beyond the ‘problems mindset’
into the ‘solutions mindset’ and instead of waiting for big policy changes that is often beyond their control feel
empowered to think of and act upon small localised solutions that can be achieved.
In short, we’re looking for everything from small and practical creative ideas that can begin to take small steps
towards the solution of a big problem and big inspirational ones that can change the landscape of the country.
Your Submissions may Target Any One of the following ‘Areas of Focus’:
• Agriculture and Rural Development
• Manufacturing
• Water, Climate, and Disaster Mgmt.
• Better Governance
• Energy
• ICT for Development
• Urban Living
• Literacy

3. The Competition:
The PIF Ideas Contest 2013 is a three-stage Contest whereby initial ideas will be judged and voted upon to
determine Semi Finalists from each of the three regions (North, Centre, and South-West). The Semi Finalists
shall attend a one-day mentoring and training event in ISB, LHE, or KHI after which they will get an opportunity
to revise and refine their ideas. A list of Finalists shall be announced from the refined ideas. Winners and Runner
Up shall immediately follow from the Finalists.
Important dates to remember are:
• July 15, 2013 – Launch of the Contest
• July 15 – August 5, 2013 – Submission of Entries
• August 8 – August 12, 2013 – Online Voting on Entries (Semi Finalists are Announced)
• August 13 – August 23, 2013 – Semi Finalists Attend a ‘Hands-on Innovation Workshop’ in ISB, LHE,KHI
• August 23 – August 30, 2013 – Revision of Entries by Semi Finalists
• September 6, 2013 – 5 Finalists including Winner and Runner Up are announced.
Prizes, Certificates, and Benefits:
There are a number of prizes and certificates of accomplishment. These are:
• First Prize: Pakistani Rupees 50,000 plus a Certificate of Accomplishment
• Runner Up: Pakistani Rupees 25,000 plus a Certificate of Accomplishment
• Finalists: Certificates of Accomplishment
• Semi Finalists: Certificates of Participation in a ‘Hands-on’ Innovation Lab
Plus lots of mentoring and training on how to refine your ideas and practical advice on taking them forward from
some of the leading innovators and entrepreneurs in Pakistan.
Contestants shall also learn critical skills that will benefit then when competing for the National Innovation Grand
Challenge (More than PKR 5 million in Total Prize Money!) that will run from September 2013 to August 2013 and
will involve actually developing a working prototype of an idea and demonstrating it in real life.
Rules of the Competition:
1) The Competition is Open to Contestants of All Ages.
2) The Contestants must register their entries by filling out a form on PIF’s website
(http://www.pif.org.pk/ideas-contest-2013) and submit any associated files such as figures, graphics, or
diagrams relating to their idea. Contestants are required to think carefully about their ideas and provide as much
detail as possible to enable a jury to evaluate the ideas. However, the decision of how much is revealed to
convince the jury of the viability of an idea is that of the Contestants.
3) The ideas submitted should be original, concise, and relevant to the themes of the competition outlined
above. The Contest may also entertain ‘non-original’ ideas but they need to be innovative in the manner they
are being applied to the Pakistani context.
4) The participants may submit the entry any time during the Contest Window (July 15 to August 5, 2013) and
may revise their entry at any time. However, One contestant may submit up two entries only, though we
strongly encourage contestants to focus on their best entry.

4. “Creativity is its own reward …
Creativity is a source of happiness–
even if that sounds idealisticnon-sense,
it’s still true.”
-Max Mackeown, InTheTruth About
Innovation
5) By submitting an entry, the contestants give PIF the right to use the disclose the ideas in a manner complete
'non-exclusive' license to use all ideas submissions in original or altered form as it deems appropriate. However,
Any supporting documents or diagrams submitted with the entry shall not be divulged to the public without
prior permission of the contestant.
6) By submitting an entry, the contestants certify that the work being submitted is their own and absolve PIF or
its partners of any claims - legal or moral - of intellectual property infringement of any kind. ‘Non-original’ ideas
must have an innovative and original angle to application in Pakistan. And this will be evaluated by the judges.
7) PIF reserves the rights to exclude any entry from the competition without having to disclose a reason for it.
PIF also reserves the right to modify certain rules of the competition to allow better competition without
jeopardising the intent of the overall contest.
8) The judges shall decide 85% of the marks of an entry based on a variety of criteria including relevance,
innovativeness, simplicity and clarity of the idea, resourcefulness and out-of-the-box thinking, the size of likely
impact, among others. Entries must score at least a minimum threshold (50%) points to be eligible for voting.
The decision of the judges will be final and binding on all contestants.
9) The training and mentoring provided to the Semi-
Finalists is free of cost. However, PIF is not responsible for
travel or boarding expenses for the participants.
Contestants are responsible for making their own travel
arrangements to the city (ISB, LHE, or KHI) nearest to their
place of residence.
Visit our facebook page for latest updates and our website
(http://www.pif.org.org/ideas-contest-2013) to fill out an
ideas submission form.
About Pakistan Innovation Foundation:
Pakistan Innovation Foundation (PIF) is an apolitical and non-partisan private-sector driven entity charged with
developing and executing an analytically rigorous, evidence-based, and deeply passionate agenda to promote science,
innovation, and entrepreneurship in the Pakistani society. Pakistan Innovation Foundation is in the process of rolling
out a series of activities – Innovation Labs, Ideas Contests, and Innovation Challenges – within Universities and
Corporate Sector in Pakistan.
Contact:
Pakistan Innovation Foundation
Address: Suite 101, Al-Safa Heights 1, F 11 Markaz, Islamabad.
Email: info@pif.org.pk, Tel: +92 51 2511643
Web: http://www.pif.org.pk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PakistanInnovationFoundation