Final counts show that we received almost 25% more valid submissions this year than in 2008.

By the closing date for submissions, we had received 415 valid entries of which 200 were from women and 215 from men: 14 were in French, 78 in Spanish and 323 in English.

The essays came from young people of 75 nationalities currently living in 70 different countries.

New for this year is the Spanish-language competition, which has attracted healthy interest, and a special section for Cuban essays for which the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba will give a prize. We are very grateful to the members of the specially constituted committee in Cuba, chaired by Dr Nereida Rojo of the National School of Public Health, for their assistance also in reviewing all the Spanish-language entries and selecting essays for the shortlist.

Forty essays have been shortlisted. They cover very diverse areas of innovation. Their authors come from 26 different countries.

The winners will be announced in early August. Watch this space!