A new all-Ireland schools competition has been announced, with the aim of finding the best and most creative ideas for a Web-based business. It is open to 15-17 year olds and is co-sponsored by the RDS, the Government's Science, Technology and Innovation Awareness programme and the Training and Employment Agency of Northern Ireland.

The competition will be run entirely over the Internet. Apart from a poster to be put up in schools north and south, the intention is to promote it by e-mail, handle applications over a Web address, judge entries on the Web and notify prize-winners by e-mail.

Students will be invited to submit a plan for a Web-based business and a design for a website to a panel of judges chaired by Sir George Quigley, chairman of Ulster Bank. Prizes include computers, digital cameras and medals from the RDS, to be presented at an awards function at the society early next year.

The Minister of State for Science, Technology and Commerce, Mr Noel Treacy, said the competition was important because of the growth of e-business and its significance to sustained growth. "The convergence of data communications and telecommunications is leading to a massive change in how the world does business," he said. "E-business is now one of the most significant drivers of national economic development."

The fact that it was an all-Ireland competition was important, he said. "It is vital that all of us on the island of Ireland learn to understand how e-business works."

Posters will be delivered to schools throughout Ireland this week. More information is also available at the competition website at http://www.young-ebiz.com.