The RealVNC Raspberry Pi Prize, awarded by RealVNC, recognizes the most innovative application of Raspberry Pi computing and RealVNC Connect software.
About the Competition
The Prize is open to anyone in the world* with a new and innovative use of a Raspberry Pi computer in which RealVNC Connect software plays a substantial role. We only ask that the application be either non-commercial, or not yet commercialized.
There is no age limit to enter the competition,** no entry fee, and your intellectual property remains yours. We do ask that everyone who takes part agrees to let us share their story and an overview of their creation on our website and takes part in the publicity that celebrates their accomplishments.
More information can be found in the full competition rules, and in a summary of information below.
*some countries are excluded. See rules for details
** entrants who are under age 18 need permission from a guardian or parent.
Prizes
$1,000 (plus more prizes to be announced soon)
$500 (plus more prizes to be announced soon)
$250 (plus more prizes to be announced soon)
Free tee-shirt and laptop sticker for the first 100 entries!
Show off your innovation skills to your friends and family!
The first 100 people who enter the RealVNC Raspberry Pi Prize will receive a free tee-shirt and laptop sticker with the competition logo that says, “CERTIFIED INNOVATOR.”
To qualify, entries must meet conditions, including a “minimum quality threshold” – see the full competition rules for details.
Criteria
Entries will be judged for innovation, impact, quality and execution of design, and the use of RealVNC Connect.
Entries must be a non-commercial technological application, or an application that has not yet been commercialized.
Applicants must be a named individual or a small team of named individuals (but not an organization).
Applicants must demonstrate the innovation of their design compared to existing solutions.
All entries must be a new technology solution that includes a substantial and significant use of RealVNC Connect software running on at least one Raspberry Pi computer.
Innovations should be the applicants’ own intellectual property (including improvements of already existing ideas, new combinations or creative applications in a new context).
Innovations should be the applicants’ own intellectual property (including improvements of already existing ideas, new combinations or creative applications in a new context).
Timeline
18 September
announced
Entries open
18 September
Entries close (extended!)
Finalists announced
Winner and runner-up
announced
RealVNC's story
RealVNC was founded in 2002 by the inventors of VNC®, who developed the technology while working at the AT&T Cambridge Laboratory in the 1990s.
Since becoming an official Raspberry Pi partner in 2016, RealVNC Connect has come pre-installed in all Raspberry Pi devices which run the Raspberry Pi OS and is free-of-charge for all Raspberry Pi owners for non-commercial use.
Judges
Tristan Richardson
RealVNC co-founder and principal architect of VNC.
Emma Smith
Director of Transformation at the University of Bath, Sunday Times Top 100 Innovative Entrepreneurs of the year
Matthew Ireland
Information security expert, experienced first responder, founder of MiPi Support
James Bruton
Former toy designer, current YouTube maker and general robotics, electrical and mechanical engineer.
Tristan Richardson
RealVNC co-founder and principal architect of VNC.
Emma Smith
Director of Transformation at the University of Bath, Sunday Times Top 100 Innovative Entrepreneurs of the year
Matthew Ireland
Information security expert, experienced first responder, founder of MiPi Support
James Bruton
Former toy designer, current YouTube maker and general robotics, electrical and mechanical engineer.
Frequently asked questions
Who can enter the RealVNC Raspberry Pi Prize?
Anyone anywhere in the world can enter (other than employees of RealVNC and their families, or residents of Russia, Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine, Moldova or Georgia, Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Iran, Sudan, South Sudan or Syria).
How much does it cost to enter the RealVNC Raspberry Pi Prize?
There is no cost to enter.
“What does “substantial and significant use” of RealVNC Connect mean?
RealVNC Connect should play a critical role in the implementation of the solution. For example, using RealVNC Connect to regularly control, maintain and monitor a system would be considered a “substantial and significant” use. Using RealVNC Connect to occasionally troubleshoot a system that normally operates without using RealVNC Connect would not.
Judges will make the final determination about this requirement for each entry but do feel free to ask questions in advance by contacting the competition administrators.
What happens to the intellectual property in my innovation if I enter the RealVNC Raspberry Pi Prize?
Nothing. RealVNC will make no claim on the intellectual property of any innovation in the competition.
Can I enter more than one innovation in the RealVNC Raspberry Pi Prize?
Yes. You can enter up to a maximum of five entries per person.
Does my innovation need to be recent?
We ask that all innovations entered into the competition be less than 5 years old.
My innovation is something I’ve done as part of my employment for a commercial company. Can I enter?
No. Innovations need to be non-commercial, or not yet in use for commercial purposes. Commercializing the innovation after the competition is fine – even encouraged!
Can you provide a grant to help me fund my innovation?
Entry into the RealVNC Raspberry Pi Prize is free, but we do not subsidize entries or cover the cost of designing and building the innovation.
Can you help me source a Raspberry Pi or Raspberry Pi-related hardware to help me build my innovation?
Sadly not. We do not have access to any Raspberry Pi hardware other than what may be sourced for prizes.
More information about the competition
For more detail please download and see the Full Rules and Entry Form File
