A competition is looking for the best and brightest minds to help solve Brighton and Hove’s biggest challenges.

Planning is under way to bring the Grand Challenge competition to Brighton this autumn with the winners sent to a world-leading institute to further their skills.

Council leader Jason Kitcat, who is at the forefront of the new event, said he hoped its formation would cement the city’s status as the “Tech City of the South”.

The idea is modelled on the London Grand Challenge, which is currently searching for technological solutions to address some of the world’s greatest financial challenges.

The grand prize winners of the Brighton version will be sent to Silicon Valley in the US to participate in the Singularity University’s executive programmein a trip paid for by American Express.

The programme brings together future leaders, entrepreneurs and technologists for ten weeks to work on team-based technology solutions to widespread global challenges.

The winners will be expected to return to Brighton to use this experience to help solve the city’s “grand challenges”.

Planning is under way to hold the Brighton Grand Challenge as part of this autumn’s Digital Festival with support from American Express, Wired Sussex, the city council and the University of Sussex.

It is hoped the University of Brighton will also become involved.

Coun Jason Kitcat, who will be a judge at London Grand Challenge later next month, said: “Brighton and Hove is a forward-thinking, creative city packed with new and growing businesses in the creative, digital and information technology sector.

“The opportunity to take part in this challenge to help solve our city’s big challenges and the chance to go to Silicon Valley to participate in the Singularity University programme should reinforce our city’s status as a tech leader whilst supporting local entrepreneurs to develop themselves.”

Professor Paul Nightingale, professor of strategy at the University of Sussex’s SPRU research department and principal investigator on the influential Brighton Fuse report, said: “The important thing is this is industry led, it is bottom up with companies working together with the support of big institutions like the universities to address the core problems constraining growth, that’s what creates a dynamic cluster.

“A lot of what is good for the creative industries is also what is good for wider sectors such as improving broadband.”

Phil Jones, managing director of Wired Sussex, said: “Wired Sussex is really pleased to be a partner on this project.

“We believe it will continue to enhance the international reputation of our digital sector, will focus innovative thinking on some of the city’s challenges and will create a fantastic event for this year’s digital festival."

Professor Michael Davies, deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Sussex, said: “The competition is one of many ways in which we can help boost a key and thriving local economic sector.

“The university is very much committed to developing and supporting local innovation and this is one way in which we can identify and support enterprise and talent as well as encourage other aspiring individuals.”