Tomorrow marks the deadline for the Far North’s innovators to take their big step into the spotlight.

Entries in the Tropical Innovation Awards close on June 30 and Cairns Regional Mayor Val Schier said she expected a late rush of nominations.

“Last year we had 46 entries and most of them arrived in the final week,” Cr Schier said. “We know there are a lot of creative and ambitious people living in the Far North and we want to help them achieve great things.

The awards are open to residents of the Cairns, Tablelands, Cook and Cassowary Coast council areas, and for the first time a Tropical Zone category has been included to add an international element.

“So far, we have received entries from Africa, Papua New Guinea and Guam, as well as Townsville and Mackay,” Cr Schier said.

The Tropical Innovation Awards have been recognised nationally as an initiative that encourages partnerships, economic diversification and growth and sustainability.

“Awards coordinator Katrina Houghton and I accepted an award for Regional Collaboration in Canberra this week,” Cr Schier said.

“It was great to receive that sort of national recognition in front of Mayors and delegates from Councils across Australia.”

In its inaugural year, the Tropical Innovation Awards helped launch several new and locally-produced products.

“We live in one of the most enviable regions in the world and the Tropical Innovation Awards look for new ideas and products that draw on the uniqueness of the tropics and protect its characteristics,” she said.

Placid Pools’ Eco Splash purification system took out the top gong in 2010 and has now been installed in pools across the region.

For more information on the awards or to download an application form, visit the Tropical Innovation Awards website.