• Organisations are required to complete an initial screening process comprising seven basic questions and must agree to a TransUnion risk profiling assessment.

• Successful candidates are invited to proceed by completing an online detailed questionnaire comprising some 80 questions (many of which are drop downs):

• Section one is compulsory. This assesses an organisation’s innovation competency in the following domains: Technological Process Innovation; Social and People Innovation; Service Delivery Innovation; Product Development Innovation and Market/Brand Development Innovation. This section is best completed by the relevant custodian of innovation in the organisation — innovation manager, R&D lead, CEO’s office, chief information officer, business development, marketing lead, etc.

• Section two is optional. This evaluates one or multiple products, services or even a process in defined industry sectors. These must be fully commercialised and in the market for anywhere from one day to three years. This section should be completed by the owner of the concept within the department/organisation where the innovation was conceived.

• An adjudication panel (comprising academics, innovation/ industry experts, business people) then scores the questionnaire looking at both innovation competence (section 1) and innovative concepts (section 2) and if they met the criteria applicants are invited to attend face to face pitch sessions followed by a Q&A.

• Based on the combined scores of the questionnaire and adjudication sessions applicants are either shortlisted as an ‘Innovation Master of the Year’ or in relation to a product, service and process innovation/s in the following broad sectors: communications, media & technology, financial services, health & public sector, products and resources.

• A panel of judges (also innovation experts and industry doyens) weigh in to decide on an overall Innovation Master of the Year as well as concept winners by industry. This involves panel sessions and pitches by short-listed organisations. A credible scoring system again underpins this process.

• All organisations are eligible to enter the Accenture Innovation Index; established or emerging, public or private sector.

• Organisations are evaluated on their overall innovation systems and may also submit innovative concepts for consideration provided the concept (product, process or service) has been commercialised in the marketplace from one day to three years and is Proudly South African.

Enter the Innovation Index awards now — deadline is May 31 2013.