Hi, I’m Phil Rogers, SCEE Research & Development‘s Head of Network with my first post on PlayStation Blog!

SCEE R&D provides support, training and consultancy for the PlayStation developer community, across all our platforms, as well as providing components for the SDK (Software Development Kit), and development of some of the non-game products on our platforms.

Today we are happy to announce our involvement with IC Tomorrow for the Digital Innovation Contest, looking for the next generation of innovation within the games industry.

This contest is aimed at game developers and start-up companies, both in the UK and EU. In all, there are five challenges set by various companies in the entertainment industry.

The challenge that SCEE has set focusses on the use of Second Screen Technology within games. SCE has a long history of companion devices working with our PlayStation consoles, most recently with PlayStation Vita connecting to PlayStation 4. This challenge will seek to build on this area, and generate new innovative uses of second screen technology that can be applied to the next generation of consoles and companion portable devices.

The contest opens today, with more details here. There will be a briefing event on Thursday 19th September, which applicants can attend in person or via a webinar.

Up for grabs is the chance to win up to £25,000 from IC Tomorrow, for your company to help develop the concept into a prototype.

To enter, register on the IC Tomorrow site, check out the guidance documentation, and upload a two minute video detailing your concept – all by Wednesday 16th October.

A shortlist will be taken of these videos, where finalists will take part in a 10 minute presentation and Q&A session on Wednesday 13th November.

You can also follow the competition on twitter at @ICtomorrow or ask me any questions here on the blog!