Arc (the science fiction magazine from the publishers of New Scientist) has teamed up with The Tomorrow Project, Intel’s futurism project, to run a competition soliciting near-future stories with a heavy technological emphasis. The winning entry will be published in issue 1.2 of Arc due in May 2012, with the winning author receiving £500. £200 will also be paid to each of five runners-up, and those stories will then be published on the Tomorrow Project website and used to stimulate conversation about our shared future.

The publishers are looking for fully fleshed stories of between 3,000 and 5,000 words. By ‘near future’ they mean near enough to be recognisable, but not so near as to be boring. Technology, in whatever guise – from robotics to synthetic biology to geoengineering – should feature prominently, but they are looking for stories, not theses, and the human element will have to be compelling.

It is recommended that entrants read issue 1.1 of Arc for guidance on the approach required. Distinctive, thoughtful visions inspired by the theme are more likely to be successful. Arc 1.1 also explains the Arc / Tomorrow Project collaboration.

The deadline for entry to the competition is one minute to midnight GMT on 8 April 2012. Full details can be found in the Tomorrow Project section of Arc 1.1, or on the Arc submission page. Arc 1.1 is available now for Windows and Mac computers, iPads, iPhones and Android devices, as well as for Kindle and as a collectible print edition.