A $4 million developer challenge has been launched for apps targeting the fledgling Tizen platform, a new-entrant to the device OS space backed by Intel and Samsung.

The competition also aligns with the launch of a new Tizen software development kit (SDK), for developers who “want to take full advantage of the improved APIs and new, powerful features of the release”.

The initiative comes shortly after it was reported that Samsung had pushed-back the launch of its first device powered by Tizen, due to the lack of a supporting apps market for the OS.

While competitions will undoubtedly help bolster the catalogue, Tizen is facing the same problem as other new platforms: until there is a substantial number of devices in the hands of paying consumers, the potential customer base for apps is small, making it a less appealing proposition than its established rivals.

The Tizen Association is placing HTML5 at the centre of its developer proposition, which should at least make it easier for developers to easily port apps between other HTML5 platforms – enabling them to address a wider user base from the same core code.

The Tizen App Challenge prize money will be awarded across more than 50 developers in nine categories, “providing an incredible opportunity to tap a new mobile ecosystem while reaping unprecedented reward”.

Games will be judged based on four criteria: entertainment value, visual design, performance, and controls and input.

Other apps will be judged on usefulness, visual design, performance, and controls and input.

Entrants can submit multiple applications, and the contest is open until the beginning of November 2013.