Panels of leading digital content industry figures will help the Technology Strategy Board to decide which applicants to support. Each successful entrant will receive up to £10,000 to support a six month consumer trial on the new IC tomorrow digital test bed. The scheme will be high profile and provide the entrepreneurs with the ability to work closely with leading digital players.

Dr Nick Appleyard, Head of Digital at the Technology Strategy Board, comments:

"IC tomorrow offers an unrivalled opportunity to trial consumer applications and business models and we're now looking for the brightest digital entrepreneurs and organisations to submit their applications. By breaking down the challenges associated with delivering content rich applications to the market, IC tomorrow hopes to ensure the UK continues to be a leader in technology innovation."

The first stage of the process will open on the 11th February 2011 and close on the 11th March 2011 with the submission of a video and simple business case. Approximately 40 applications will be chosen to go through to the final face to face panel session phase at the end of March.

To register interest & sign up to the contest, users should visit the IC tomorrow site at www.tinyurl.com/ict-contest or https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/ic-tomorrow-digital-innovation-contest

IC tomorrow, developed by the Technology Strategy Board, enables content owners and application developers – any business with a new service, new business model or new way of deploying hardware or software technology – to trial their ideas with UK consumers.

"A wide range of leading digital content providers, including Beggars Group, British Library, Crytek UK, EMI, Faber & Faber, Getty Images, Lionsgate, The Orchard and Sony Music have agreed to participate in helping to evaluate the applications and to support the winners in subsequent consumer trials on IC tomorrow."

They're doing this to enable product and service developers to consider how they may build new services and find innovative new ways to use and commercialise their content.