A Celebration of Young Talents

We're looking for 16 to 25-year-olds who think they've got something to shout about, or who think they're onto an idea with the power to change the world, bring fresh perspective to timeless challenges, or simply start a conversation. Whether it's a video of your latest song cover, a picture of your artwork, or a business idea, we want to be the place you go to share it.

'There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns' - Edward De Bono

This week, we are launching Young Talent, a new section offering young people the opportunity to share their ideas about entreprenuership, innovation, and creativity. We're looking for 16 to 25-year-olds who think they've got something to shout about, or who think they're onto an idea - big or small - with the power to change the world, bring fresh perspective to timeless challenges, or simply start a conversation. Whether it's a video of your latest song cover, a picture of your artwork, or a business idea, we want to be the place you go to share it.

For a very long time, creativity has been associated with famous people in art, music, science and business. People like Picasso, Tim Berners-Lee and Steve Jobs. We tend to focus on the really 'big transformative ideas' created by people we have categorized as geniuses.

There's no question that these people and their transformative ideas have shaped the way we think, live and dream. But we feel that it's time to open up the conversation with a platform that spotlights a wider range of talent. If we want to put austerity behind us and get back on a track that can lead to resurrection through growth, we need to foster broader innovation and creativity -- and just as important, put the spotlight on the innovation and creativity that are already happening all around us.

I recommend visiting 'The Journey to Excellence' website that covers the topic much deeper and talk about the importance of being able to develop a creative attitude or state of mind and of fostering creative habits. These include:

  • Overcoming the perception that 'I am not creative'
  • Expecting the unexpected
  • Having fun playing with ideas
  • Facing your fears
  • Being proactive and going for it

Edward De Bono suggests that the creativity typical of young children is a function of their innocence. Children are often creative. Innocence can be creative. Ignorance can be creative. If you do not know the usual approach to a problem, you can more easily come up with a fresh approach.

This is reflected in the latest wave of Internet innovation that we have seen from very young and talented people like Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Nick D'Aloisio (Summly), David Karp (Tumblr), Andrew Mason (Group On), Drew Houston (Dropbox) and Daniel Ek (Spotify). All of these very entrepreneurial young men have founded companies that have either disrupted existing business segments or created totally new ones while they where still in their early 20s. This has lead to, in some cases, billion dollar business, 1000s of jobs, and an important part of the next phase of growth in the overall economy. The key to their success is that they are young enough not to be constrained and they are not afraid of failure. As with young children, the normal limitations and fears don't apply.

The Council of the European Union has realized that the current youth unemployment rate in Europe exceeding 20% -- twice as high as the whole working population -- is likely to have serious short-term and long-term implications for the young people affected. Yet there is a growing demand for creativity, innovation, adaptability and advanced communication skills in the labour market and in social life, as well as a need to develop entrepreneurial skills.

Creative and innovative potential of young people, powered by entrepreneurship, is one of the keys to achieving smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. So consider this an invitation to join the conversation, share your ideas, and be part of the solution. Let the creativity flourish and the conversation begin.

HuffPost UK's Young Talent section is now live! Want to be on it? Email: ukstudenteds@huffingtonpost.com

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