CEA Extends Deadline For “Apps for Innovation” Contest Submissions

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--To address mounting interest in submissions, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)^® today extended the deadline for its Innovation Movement “Apps for Innovation” contest until Monday, December 14, 2009. The grand prize winner will be announced on Thursday, January 7, at the 2010 International CES® in Las Vegas by CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro.

“App submissions might incorporate government data, while some might use interactive components such as photo-sharing or social-networking sites to encourage participation in the innovation debate.”

The winner will also receive $10,000 and a free trip to the 2010 International CES^®, January 7-10 in Las Vegas. CEA will notify the winner the week of December 20 if the panel of industry judges has selected his or her app for the grand prize.

“The ‘Apps for Innovation’ contest is an opportunity for software developers to impact both the private and public sectors by helping us visualize how innovation and entrepreneurial activity are at work across America,” Shapiro said. “App submissions might incorporate government data, while some might use interactive components such as photo-sharing or social-networking sites to encourage participation in the innovation debate.”

The contest is looking for developers to build apps that demonstrate how innovation and entrepreneurship are impacting the U.S. economy. The contest will also accept submissions from developers who create apps to help consumers advance policy goals that support innovation. The contest is open to apps for any type of device or any Web platform.

As an example, an app might take data from the U.S. government’s http://www.recovery.gov, its site to track the spending and use of stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Using that data, the app might reveal science and technology project spending and enable interactive features to allow comments from constituents or perhaps an easy way for them to e-mail their member of Congress.

In addition to the grand prize winner, judges will award a second place of $5,000 and a third place of $3,500. The best apps will be included in the “Apps for Innovation Library,” where apps will be available for free to the public as a way to help them learn about the innovation economy. The “Apps for Innovation Library” will be displayed on the show floor at CES via a Web kiosk, where the hundreds of thousands of CES attendees will have an opportunity to see the best submissions.

The contest is part of the Innovation Movement (http://www.innovation-movement.com), the grassroots campaign launched in June by CEA to mobilize Americans in support of public policies such as broadband and international trade that will play a key role in the global economic recovery and U.S. job creation. The mission of the Innovation Movement is to encourage the U.S. government to reward innovation and investment and support policies that foster entrepreneurship in a free-market system. More than 35,000 Americans have already joined the Innovation Movement.

To review the full rules of the contest and submit an “App for Innovation,” visit http://www.appsforinnovation.com.

About CEA:

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $172 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES – Where Entertainment, Technology and Business Converge. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CEA online at www.CE.org.

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