Google to pay $10 million for good ideas

MENLO PARK, Calif., Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Google Inc. says it will pay as much as $10 million for a fresh idea to help the world, the company said.

CNN reported Wednesday that the initiative, Project 10^100 (pronounced "10 to the 100th"), is part of Google's 10th anniversary.

The Menlo Park, Calif., Internet company said the public and a panel of judges will choose up to five winning ideas, which will be announced in February.

"These ideas can be big or small, technology-driven or brilliantly simple -- but they need to have impact," Google said in a press release. "We know there are countless brilliant ideas that need funding and support to come to fruition."

People can submit their ideas in any of 25 languages, at http://www.project10tothe100.com/index.html through Oct. 20. Entrants must briefly describe their idea and answer six questions.

Google employees and an advisory board will narrow the submissions to 100 semifinalists by January 27. Then, between Jan. 27 and Feb. 2, the public will vote online for their favorite ideas.

A panel of as-yet-unnamed judges will then review the top 20 ideas and announce up to five winners in mid-February.