Who said Web 2.0 was a load of hot air? Certainly not Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has been busy setting up a new social technology awards programme.

The press release for the UK Catalyst Awards states that "the search is on" to find the community activists, social entrepreneurs, software developers and Web 2.0 technologists who are enabling individuals and neighbourhoods to connect with each other in a positive way. Cool, man. There are nine Catalyst awards up for grabs:

• The Shock for Good Award: for something that shocked people into doing something good
• The Revolutionary Award: for something that makes people in power more aware of the need for change
• The Self-Help Award: for something that helps the creator to help themselves
• The Chalk & Cheese Award: for something that brings two different groups of people together
• The David and Goliath Award: for something little that made a difference to a something big and powerful
• The Young Achiever Award: for someone under 25
• The Individual Hero Award: for an individual
• The Community Award: for a community association or group
• The Enterprise Award: for an innovative new technology solution developed by a business

There will also be a public vote to decide an added extra - the People’s Choice Award. According to the Catalyst web site, every entrant gets entered for the People's Choice award.

But be warned - entering some of the Award categories might be a challenge in itself. Take 'The Shock for Good Award: for something that shocked people into doing something good'. Shock for what? Sounds like a load of hot air to me, which is ironic seeing that we're talking about the hyped-up world of Web 2.0.

Then there's 'The David and Goliath Award: for something little that made a difference to a something big and powerful' - which also sounds a bit broad, in my opinion.

Maybe the categories are knowingly broad, given the context of fluff surrounding Web 2.0? But it could be interesting to see how social technology is rewarded across the selected areas. After all, more elucidation of how social technology can create collaborative benefits is no bad thing.

If you're keen to compete, the applications deadline is Monday 16 June 2008. If you want to find out more, visit: www.ukcatalystawards.com

Further reading

• How can you make money from social networking?
• How can a CIO make the most of Web 2.0?
• Social web is about improvement, not innovation
• Next generation social networking
• Finding useful Web 2.0 and social networking tools
• Facebook? LinkedIn? Social networking is rubbish

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Want to contact the writer? Email Mark Samuels