Introduction
This is the 4th OISTAT Technical Invention Prize (TIP) initiated by the OISTAT Technology Commission, organised by World Stage Design 2025 (WSD25), Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (SPAA), and OISTAT.
The Technical Invention Prize (TIP) is an international competition that is aimed at technicians from theatre or any part of live performance or the entertainment industry who come up with the most creative and simple yet bright idea for device/s used in common practice on the stage, backstage or front-of-house.
What are we looking for?
The invention must be an apparatus or (auxiliary) tool that is specifically used in live performance technology, consisting of materials and/or parts and/or components that are ‘standard’, can be sourced easily and must already be in practical use somewhere.
The apparatus or (auxiliary) tool must be developed by a current or ex-theatre technician. Renowned solutions, gadgets or tools can not be submitted for the competition. The apparatus or (auxiliary) tool must not be developed by a professional commercial company and should be free of any rights and everyone should be able to use it without any financial consequences.
Entrys
A total of 20 entries will be chosen by a panel of 8 international judges.
Entrants can be individuals or a team. If your entry is from a team and your invention is chosen as one of the prize winners, a maximum of 3 people from your team will be given a free entry ticket to WSD2025.
Finalists
3 finalists will be chosen to exhibit their inventions physically. Additionally, and at the discretion of the Technology Commission and WSD2025 organisers, others apart from the 3 finalists may also be invited to exhibit their work physically, while others will be exhibited graphically only at Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park from 18th to 25th October 2025.
All accepted entries will be included in the digital TIP 2025 Catalogue.
Key Dates
February 1st 2025: Submissions Open
June 15th 2025: Submissions Close
July 1st - 30th 2025: Jury Deliberations
August 1st 2025: Notifications of Acceptance and Winners
How do I submit my materials?
All submissions should be submitted to the competition platform by no later than June 15th 2025
Provide a description of the invention making sure that the information is sufficient enough for the jury to fully understand the purpose, how it is used and its usefulness (maximum 500 words)
Submit a maximum of 6 photographs (each under 1MB) and all needed instructions and material specifications, including, for example, drawings and/or parts lists.
Attach a short video (no longer than 30 seconds) to assist the jury in understanding what the item is and how it is used.
Useful Links
More information about the Technical Invention Prize can be found at the World Stage Design 2025 website https://www.sharjahwsd2025.com/exhbitions, more information about Sharjah Performing Arts Academy can be found at www.spaa.ae .
If you have any questions regarding the competition, please contact infowsd2025@spaa.ae by no later than 6th June 2025.
1. Terms & Conditions
1.1 Sharjah Performing Arts Academy and the Technology Commission of OISTAT (International Organisation of Scenographers, Theatre Technicians and Theatre Architects) is promoting a Technical Invention Prize which is open to theatre and live entertainment technicians.
1.2 Technicians associated with members of the jury are not permitted to enter.
2. Entry Requirements
2.1 You can enter the Technical Invention Prize digitally via the World Stage Design Awards platform from Award Force. The World Stage Design 2025 Award Force page can be found here or accessed from the World Stage Design TIP page here. The platform will allow you to save and review your work before completing your application.
3. Technical Requirements for Entries
3.1 Provide a description of the invention, making sure that the information is sufficient for the jury to fully understand the purpose, how it is used and its usefulness (maximum 500 words)
3.2 Submit a maximum of 6 photographs (each under 1MB) and all needed instructions and material specifications, including, for example, drawings and/or parts lists.
3.3 Attach a short video (no longer than 30 seconds) to assist the jury in understanding what the item is and how it is used.
4. Competition Schedule
4.1 The competition documents and conditions will be available from 22nd July 2024 on the World Stage Design 2025 website.
4.2 Written questions can be sent by email to infowsd2025@spaa.ae. Questions must be received no later than June 6th 2025.
4.3 Competition entries are to be uploaded electronically to the World Stage Design 2025 Awards website . Entries can be submitted between 1st February 2025 and June 15th 2025. Entries submitted after this date will not be considered by the jury.
4.4 Entry to the competion is free.
5. Prizes
5.1. The following cash prizes will be awarded:
1st AED 4,000
2nd AED 2,000
3rd AED 1,000
5.2 The 3 winning entrants will also receive free event passes to attend WSD 2025, but will need to pay for their own travel, accommodation and living expenses in Sharjah.
5.3 If you entered as a team and you are one of the prize winners, please note that only a total of 3 the team members will be given free event passes.
5.4 The jury reserves the right to modify the distribution of prize money, within the same total amount and number of prizes.
5.5 The results of the competition will be announced on the World Stage Design 2025 website on 1st of August 2025. Prizes will be presented at the World Stage Design event in Sharjah between 18th – 25th October 2025 and paid electronically to those unable to attend, after the prize-giving.
6. Exhibition
6.1 The prize-winning entries and up to a maximum of 20 invention ideas, will be exhibited partly physically and partly graphically at the World Stage Design event in Sharjah between 18 - 25th October 2025.
6.2 WSD2025 organisers will arrange for the 3 winning invention items to be shipped to Sharjah for the exhibition.
6.3 Other 17 chosen entrants will, at the discretion of the Technology Commission and the WSD2025 organisers, be informed if their inventions will be displayed physically or graphically, depending on being able to fit into the exhibition area and freight logistics.
6.4 WSD2025 organisers will arrange for the 17 chosen entrants’ invention items to be shipped to Sharjah for the exhibition.
7. Publication
7.1 The applicants will give OISTAT and WSD2025 the rights to publish and exhibit the entries in any country.
7.2 WSD 2025 will respect and acknowledge the copyright of all participants.
7.3 A digital catalogue illustrating selected entries with the jury report will be published and will be available to download from the WSD 2025 website.
7.4 WSD 2025 and OISTAT will offer the results of the competition to the international press (publications covering theatre design, technology and architecture).
8. Acceptance of Conditions
8.1 By submitting an entry, participants or participating teams will:
a. Agree to the rules and regulations as set out in this document.
b. Declare that the proposed invention is their own work.
c. Agree to accept the decisions of the jury as final.
d. Agree not disclose their identities or publicise their entry in any way before the results are announced.
e. Any breach of this rule will render the entry invalid.
9. Jury
9.1 The international jury will consist of 8 experienced live entertainment technical practitioners.
9.2. In case of the absence of a juror or a juror is from the same country as the entrant, OISTAT will assign another qualified person as a member of the jury.
9.3 The jury will produce a report explaining the reasons for its decisions and commenting on the prize-winning entries.
9.4 The report of the jury will be published on the World Stage Design Sharjah website and included in the digital catalogue.
