There are just 48 hours left for innovative West Midland businesses to apply for the BDI, Industry and Genius Awards 2005.

The clock is ticking for entries for the awards scheme, which aims to celebrate the most inspirational building, environmental and product designs borne out of Birmingham and the West Midlands.

Organisations across the region have already signed up to the awards with entries ranging from Gothic jewellery fashioned from recycled beer and soft drinks cans, to motorcycle racing tyres and even a baby hammock.

Award submissions are invited in six Places & Genius categories ( Architecture, Landscape, Conservation, Urban Design, Green Design and Interior Design), and six Product & Genius categories (Jewellery/Silversmithing, Ceramics & Glass, Consumer Products, Interior Products, Transport Design and Medical Products).

For the first time this year, a new Industry & Genius Award has been introduced to recognise pioneering collaboration between Birmingham's burgeoning design community and industry, which includes sectors such as manufacturing, engineering and healthcare.

The awards are principally financed by Birmingham City Council through its EQUAL European funding, with additional sponsors Calthorpe Estates and the Birmingham Design Initiative.

Andrew Russell Wilks, development director for Calthorpe Estates, said: "There is currently a discernible air of excitement which abounds around design projects and innovative ventures with their roots in the Midlands area, and the BDI, Industry and Genius Awards provide an ideal opportunity for such schemes to be revealed and applauded."

The winners of this year's awards will be announced at a ceremony at Millennium Point on November 24.

For more information see , www.BDIindustryandgenius.co.ukor contact Natalie Harris to make a request for an application form at nh@coremarketing.co.ukor on 0121 643 8151.