Google offers $10 million for ‘world changing ideas’

Google is offering $10 million (5.4 million) for world changing ideas from its users as part of its 10 year birthday celebrations.

Project 10 to the 100th as it is called - in reference to the number googol from which the company got its name - will use the money to fund up to five ideas that the board selects.

Google will then identify organisations in the best position to implement the ideas, and supply them with funding. However, there will be no material reward for the winning submitter of the idea apart from what Google called "good karma".

Google said in a statement: "Our company's very name expresses our goal of achieving great results through smart technology that starts small and scales dramatically over time to have a tremendous long-term impact.

"Project 10 to the 100th is a similar attempt to produce those kinds of scalable results by harnessing our users' insights and creativity. We don't know what ideas would help the most people. The project's premise is that maybe you do."

A selection of Google employees will review the submitted ideas and select 100 for public consideration, which will be announced in late January. The public will be invited to select 20 semi-finalists, with an advisory board selecting the ideas to be funded.

Ideas will be judged on their potential reach, depth, attainability, efficiency and longevity. Categories that the ideas may be about include community, energy, the environment, health and education.