It's time for young people around the Bay of Plenty to put their thinking caps on and submit their most innovative ideas in the Young Innovator Awards.

Now in its fifth year the awards run by Priority One's Instep programme are held annually to find the region's most creative secondary school thinkers and this year includes a new category for young professionals under the age of 40.

Tauranga Boys' College student Jonathan Kent won the senior category at the Young Innovator Awards in 2010.

The Young Innovator Awards have been embraced by local schools, and last year Tauranga Girls' College student Melanie Duff was named supreme winner in the senior category for her concept of CUSI - a thermos that retains and releases heat back into the drink it holds.

Aidan Winch from Mount Maunganui College took home the supreme winner prize in the junior category for his innovation, the Breathe Easy Inhaler, which helpfully counts down the number of puffs left in an inhaler.

Timothy Allan, managing director of Locus Research, says, 'whether you are a secondary student, studying at university or in full-time employment, we're looking for the best and brightest ideas from out-of-the-box thinkers.

'The successful applications will have a boundary-pushing thought, some proof of concept and excellent delivery.

'We encourage entrants to develop something that excites them – AJ Hackett was a thrill-seeker before he commercialised the bungy experience and Steve Jobs was a computer enthusiast before developing Apple.”

The awards are judged by a panel of experts on five foundations: research, communication, sustainability, innovation and creativity.

Joining the judging panel this year is David Darling, CEO of Pacific Edge, a biomedical company that specialises in research and technology for early detection and monitoring of cancer.

David is also the keynote speaker at the 2013 Young Innovator Awards innovation forum, to be held the day after the awards ceremony.

This year, Bayfair Shopping Centre is supporting the Young Innovator Awards by hosting the People's Choice award. Entries from every finalist will be displayed in the shopping centre, where members of the public can vote for their favourite innovation. The winner of the People's Choice award will receive a $600 Bayfair voucher.

Louise Chapman, marketing manager at Bayfair, says all people need is one good idea, but we know that Bay of Plenty residents have a plethora of great concepts to offer. We hope that secondary students and adults alike submit their light-bulb thoughts for awards consideration.

'We are proud to support the Young Innovator Awards and can't wait to see all the finalist ideas displayed at Bayfair.”

The entry categories and prizes are:

Junior: Years 9 and 10 - $1,000 cash prize

Senior: Years 11, 12 and 13- $1,000 cash prize

Young Professionals: Under 40 years – cheque for $2,000

Winners also receive the opportunity to spend time with a business mentor to further develop their idea.

Internship Award: Two week internship opportunity: one week at Locus Research and one week at Woods Creative.

People's Choice: $600 Bayfair voucher.

Applications are being accepted now and close on 4 July 2013. Further information on how to enter the awards can be found at http://www.yia.co.nz