Got an idea that could change the world, or at least help a lot of people? Google wants to hear from you — and they'll pay as much as $10 million to make your idea a reality.

As part of its 10th birthday celebration, Google is launching an initiative to solicit, and fund, fresh ideas it believes could have a positive impact on people's lives.  Called Project 10^100 (pronounced "10 to the 100th"), people are encouraged to submit their ideas, in any of 25 languages, on http://www.project10tothe100.com/index.html through Oct. 20. Entrants must briefly describe their idea and answer six questions, including, "If your idea were to become a reality, who would benefit the most and how?"

Google employees, with the help of an advisory board, will narrow the submissions to 100 semifinalists by Jan. 27. Between Jan. 27 and Feb. 2, the public will vote online for their favorite ideas. A panel of as-yet-unnamed judges will then review the top 20 ideas and announce up to five winners in mid-February.  Funding, from a pool of $10 million, will be awarded in May. If the judges decide to reward five winning ideas, each will receive $2 million. If only two ideas are chosen, each will receive $5 million, and so on.

Those who submit winning Project 10^100 ideas will not be required to have the technical expertise to implement them. People may submit more than one idea. Through its online submissions, Google also hopes to connect people with good ideas to charitable organizations who could help implement them.

The project's Web site suggests that successful ideas should address such issues as providing food and shelter, building communities, improving health, granting more access to education, sustaining the global ecosystem and promoting clean energy.