Dell sponsors small business again

Dell has called for entries to this year's Dell Small Business Excellence Awards, an international competition to find technology innovations which is now in its sixth year.

The competition is open to innovators from any country and is sponsored by the US National Federation for Independent Business and globally by the International Council for Small Business and Endeavour, a global non-profit organisation "supporting emerging market entrepreneurs".

The first round of submissions is due by Friday, April 3, 2009. Ten national finalists per country will be announced in mid-June and the 13 national winners will be announced in September.

The UK is a participant as is the US, Australia, Brazil, China, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain and the newest entrant which is India.

Chosen from the 13 national winners, the winner can receive, $50,000 (£34,791) in technology and services from Dell, and "global recognition, lifetime membership to ICSB, and engagement with Endeavor's network of business leaders and entrepreneurs in emerging markets worldwide", Dell said in a statement.

Each national winner receives $25,000 in Dell products and services, a day of best-practice sharing with Dell executives, including Michael Dell, and partner benefits. The nine finalists will also receive a Dell notebook computer.

According to the company, entrants must be businesses with 100 or fewer employees, and each "must show how it represents the spirit of innovation in applying IT in its business practices to improve the customer experience".