Students from all over the world are being invited to submit their ideas and contributions inspired by space solutions to help companies innovate sustainable products and services in a global competition.

The competition of "Down to Earth" was launched at the Sweden Pavilion on October 10 and will officially begin on November 20. People can log on to http://downtoearth.se/ to participate.

Teams of students will be engaged in a five-stage process from idea discovery to launch, and the winning team will get the chance to make their ideas commercial.

The purpose is to develop new business opportunities and to create new jobs for the young, mixing innovation, sustainability and space technology.

"Down to Earth" is a ten-year Swedish initiative which involves space agencies, companies and universities to develop sustainable innovations inspired by space solutions. The programme aims for industrial renewal, job creation and sustainable growth, which requires new thinking and methods.

(EXPO2010.cn October 12, 2010)