Do you have the big idea to save your city?

If you have a fresh idea to tackle air pollution in London, or using tech to boost the quality of life in Manchester or even reverse the rise in homelessness in Glasgow, you could earn £50,000 to make it a reality.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched the global Cities for our Future challenge – a global bid to battle some of the most defining issues of our time: rapid urbanisation, climate change and resource scarcity.

Run in collaboration with UNESCO UK National Commission and The Association of Commonwealth Universities, the competition is seeking imaginative young professionals, start-ups or students specialising in surveying, urban design, architecture or engineering to offer their most innovative ideas.

The winner will then receive a £50,000 prize and mentoring with industry experts to bring the idea to life.

All entries must be in by May 31 with a regional shortlist announced a month later before a global winner.

Each idea is asked to offer a specific issue in a listed city. Glasgow’s high levels of homelessness – with a 46 per cent rise in the number of people at risk of losing their home in 2016 – is one of the problems that is available to be solved in the competition. And if the proposal is a hit then it will be rolled out to other cities elsewhere experiencing the same problems.

Other fresh thoughts are required to make Manchester – a textile powerhouse in the 19^th century – a world leader again in the use of data and technology to solve modern day urban problems; improving energy efficiency or the effectiveness of public services.

In London, innovative thinking to help clean up its act is also being welcomed – a crisis that has led to London mayor Sadiq Khan setting aside £875 million over the next five years to clmap down on.

https://twitter.com/RICSchiefexec/status/953733967978663936

RICS CEO Sean Tompkins said: “RICS and the profession have been central to the sustainable development of global cities for 150 years, and this competition is an incredible opportunity for students and young professionals to join us and play a role in shaping the world we live in for generations to come.”

Entries can be made here.

The Big Issue is also asking for fresh thinking to help break the cycle of homelessness with our Big Platform initiative. Tell us your big ideas at editorial@bigissue.com.