The Australian, in association with Shell and supported by the Commonwealth Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, has launched The Australian Innovation Challenge, a competition that promises to discover ideas and innovations to inspire our nation.

The Australian Innovation Challenge is open to both individuals and teams in a range of professional categories and one general public category.

A panel of eminent judges will short-list five entries in each professional category as finalists to be featured in a dedicated section published in The Weekend Australian, and online.

From this set of finalists, a winner from each category will be selected and awarded a cash prize of $5,000.

Each professional category winner becomes eligible for the final round of judging, with the overall winner being awarded a further $25,000 cash prize.

In the Backyard Innovation category, which is open to the general public, judges will select five finalists to be published in The Weekend Australian and online. From this set of finalists, the judges will select an overall winner to receive a cash prize of $10,000.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on December 7, and published in The Weekend Australian on December 10.

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) deputy chairman Terry Cutler, who is heading the judging panel, said the awards would "help spotlight and further unleash the ingenuity we Australians are not only capable of, but now need to put to work more than ever".

Dr Cutler, who led the federal government's 2008 review of the national innovation system, said: "The moment we stop asking how we might do things better or differently, we start to suck oxygen out of our industries and communities. Here is an excellent opportunity to showcase just what we are capable of."

Innovation Minister, Senator Kim Carr, encourages Australians to take up the challenge with confidence.

"We are a creative and resilient people - a nation that should be in the business of solutions. Every Australian can be an innovator, and every Australian can benefit from innovation. The new Innovation Challenge will help us show that phenomenal potential to the world," he said.

The editor of The Australian, Clive Mathieson, said: "We are delighted to be leading the search for undiscovered and undeveloped innovations around the nation - from university laboratories to backyard sheds.

"The involvement of Dr Cutler - and the calibre of judges who have generously agreed to give up their time and expertise - demonstrates the importance and credibility of this project."

Country chair of Shell in Australia Ann Pickard said "Shell aims to be the most innovative energy company in the world. We work closely with partners in and outside of our own industry, universities, and other experts to spark new ideas and share expertise. That is why we're delighted to be sponsoring The Australian Innovation Challenge, which we hope will unearth new and different ways of tackling the challenges we all face."

Entries now open, until September 28, 2011.

For entry details visit: www.theaustralian.com.au/innovationchallenge