BUDDING HENRY FORDS and Hedy Lamarrs take note - the Patents Office is on the lookout for young inventors.

The office has launched its Junior Inventor Awards 2011, which seeks to encourage primary school children to demonstrate their creativity and inventiveness as well as sow the seeds of love for the sciences and engineering at an early age.

Perhaps you’re a young inventor who designs machines out of lego, or maybe you’ve noticed your own child has a mind for invention.

Children are invited to include any idea for an invention that solves an everyday problem. Some existing examples include the GPS system, or the dishwasher – the organisers are looking for inventions that help make life better or easier.

This year’s competition is divided into two class categories  - First Class to Third Class and  Fourth Class to Sixth Class - with one overall winner.

Prizes will be awarded in each category and the first placed winners in each category will also receive a prize for their schools.

The closing date for entries is Friday 15 April 2011 at 5pm and the address to send entries is: Junior Inventor 2011, Patents Office, Government Buildings, Hebron Road, Kilkenny.

The winners will be announced at a presentation ceremony in Kilkenny on Monday 16 May 2011.

More details are also available on the Patents Office website.