COMPETITION RULES

The competition is being organised in connection with the ‘Solutions local, together - Nordic Conference on Sustainable Development in the Baltic Sea Region’ scheduled to be held in the city of Turku, Finland, from 31 January to 2 February 2011. The organiser responsible for overseeing the competition is the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities.

Any company, organisation or municipality within the Baltic or Nordic countries are eligible to enter the competition.

Competition entries must be submitted by 30 September 2010 using the competition form available online. The form can be directly submitted through the online site. Entries can be submitted in English, Finnish or Swedish. Detailed information about the competition is available from the competition website.

Altogether 3-5 solutions will be selected as the winners, and these winners will be announced at the ‘Solutions local, together - Nordic Conference on Sustainable Development in the Baltic Sea Region’ in Turku on 1 February 2011. The competition winners will gain customer contacts, publicity and concrete expert assistance in the marketing of their solutions. The objective is to bring together solution providers and potential customers within the Baltic Sea region and Nordic countries. The organiser is entitled to give information also about the other solutions.

The evaluation of the competition entries will take into account, in particular, the proposed solution’s ability:

• to combat climate change,
• to support local and regional economics, employment and general well-being,
• to lead to concrete changes in the practices of the municipalities and their residents, and
• to be broadly implemented as a successful measure.

Detailed information about the criteria is available from the competition website. The winners will be selected by an international jury comprised of representatives of the following organisations:

The jury is entitled to request further information or clarification about any competition entry.

The organiser cannot be held liable for damage that may incur or can be claimed to incur as a result of participation in the competition or receipt of the award. All rights to the competition entries remain with those who draft the competition proposals.

The organiser reserves the right to make any changes necessary in response to possible impediments. The organiser has the right to market the competition proposals on a broader scale.

The competition participants commit to comply with the competition rules and any decisions made by the organiser regarding the competition. If a competition proposal contains business secrets, the participant must state this sufficiently clearly in the proposal. However, the participant must define the business secrets in a way that allows the jury to give reasons for its decision and sufficiently detailed information about the winning proposals.

Jonas Rorarius, Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities
Tel. +358 (0) 9 771 2368
E-mail: jonas.rorarius@kuntaliitto.fi

Maija Hakanen, Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities
Tel. +358 (0) 9 771 2106
E-mail: maija.hakanen@kuntaliitto.fi