Summer marks a pause in the calendar for many shows and events. For designers, inventors, and entrepreneurs it's a good chance to review upcoming awards and showcases that could bring great PR and other benefits for your product or invention.

Here's a handful of the significant general awards to go for this autumn. DO check their websites for closing dates.

• The Great Exhibition London www.thegreatexhibitionlondon.co.uk/ 29 Sept to 1 October 09

• European Women Inventors and Innovators Network Awards (EUWIIN) from GWIIN. Nomination form is found at www.gwiin.com/     7 to 9 October 09, Helsinki

• The British Invention Show www.britishinventionshow.com/show/index.html 14 to 17 Oct 09, Alexandra Palace
• Spark Awards www.sparkawards.com 29 Oct 09, San Francisco (why not!)

• Top Drawer www.topdrawer.co.uk 17-19 Jan, Earls Court

• Design Week (product category) http://awards.designweek.co.uk/dw/categories/product/consumer-product-design.php 2 March 2010

• Shell Livewire Grand Idea (if you're under 30!) www.shell-livewire.org/ Monthly £1000

...and 8 Good Reasons To Put Your New Product or Invention Forward ...

1. They're a great place for introductions to helpful contacts in the design/invention world. If you have a great idea and come across right, people will generally put you in touch with resources and contacts that can help you. It's good networking with other ideas entrepreneurs too.
2. Winning an award, or even being shortlisted, can kick off a handy publicity spiral with print and web.
3. You get instant credibility for your idea. Even if you don't win, the very fact that you entered shows others you are to be taken seriously.
4. Recognition in an industry award is an important endorsement of your idea.
5. Getting marketing materials together can be a useful (if tortuous!) exercise in pinning down your proposition. Exactly what IS special about your product or invention, and who is it for (in 1 sentence!). 
6. If you're lucky, you could get the chance to pitch your idea. Lucky, because any practise at pitching your product gets you ready for real pitching to investors and business partners, where the stakes are higher.
7. The exposure can be cheaper than any form of advertising, even if you have to pay a small entrance fee or cost to showcase your idea.
8. The media often use awards and showcases as a hunting ground for stories. You could find yourself on national TV within a matter of hours (I've seen it happen).