I like contests for solving problems or generating new ideas. The X-prize will probably lead to affordable commercial space travel in the future, and the World Solar Challenge contributes to the knowledge and usability of solar cells. Recently a contest between Indian and Dutch students competed to create a cheaper and less polluting tuktuk.
Dutch students created a kit for tuktuks to run on liquid LPG. Drivers will need 40% less fuel, and the engine will generate 40% less polution than a usual tuktuk engine. The kits will be available next year, according to Enviu, the organisation that launched the contest.
