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Young Innovators Challenge
Introduction
The trend towards tech-innovation in green initiatives has accelerated with ground-breaking innovations in the recent years. Such innovations are beneficial as they bring about long-lasting and positive impact to man and his future generations, and the environment.
A major partner in the nation’s effort to promote and develop the entrepreneurship ecosystem, Nanyang Technopreneurship Center (NTC) of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, invites students and teachers to participate in the Young Innovators Challenge, to embark on a mission to create a sustainable future with new technology or innovative business model.
Supported by the Chua Thian Poh Entrepreneurship Education Fund, this Challenge is a series of innovation and education programme comprising of masterclasses, ideation, prototyping, coaching and competition. It is aimed at imparting essential innovation and business skills to students and providing fresh perspectives and exposure to cutting-edge technologies.
The Challenge invites students to propose innovative concepts, products or services to address challenges in Singapore’s green transition journey. Through a series of talks, mentorships, and project-based practices, we hope to inspire students to take on active roles in imagining solutions to cope with future climate change and its challenges for a sustainable future. The theme of this year is ‘Innovative Green Transition’.
What is the Green Transition?
As often quoted from the Brundtland Report (1987), "a sustainable future is one where people can meet their needs without compromising the ability of people in the future to meet their own needs.”
The green transition generally refers to efforts and measures which turn the present unsustainable global situations into sustainable reality. This calls for new breakthroughs and green innovations to be created and adopted in strategic domains to achieve a sustainable future sooner than later.
Key Takeaways
- Gain fundamental knowledge in the latest advanced technologies in sustainable development and innovation process
- Learn essential entrepreneurship and business concepts to solve major problems in our daily lives
- Acquire relevant knowledge from successful entrepreneurs, industry experts and professors
Open to matriculated STUDENTS in:
(A) Nanyang Technological University
(B) Junior Colleges, Integrated Programme Schools (Years 5 & 6) and Polytechnics
Challenge Structure
The event comprises of virtual masterclasses and a competition. Students can choose to join either masterclasses or both.
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”
Virtual Masterclasses
Date: 20 Jan 2023 – 5 Feb 2023
Competition
Categories in the Competition:
Category A (University) — Students from Nanyang Technological University
Category B (Pre-University) — Students from Junior Colleges, Integrated School (Years 5 & 6) and Polytechnics
Preliminary Round
Registration of Interest and Submission of Proposal: 20 Jan to 23 Feb 2023
10 teams in each category will be selected for the Semi-Final.
Semi-Final
Semi-Final: 21 Mar 2023
The top 5 teams in each category will be selected for Mentorship and Grand Final.
Mentorship
22 Mar – 16 Apr 2023
Grand Final
Grand Final and Award Ceremony on 22 May 2023
Masterclasses
Collaborating with industry experts and entrepreneurs, the virtual Masterclasses aim to provide students with the fundamental knowledge on the latest breakthrough technologies and their impact on earth sustainability. The masterclasses also equip students with methodologies to solve problems creatively and strategically.
Virtual Masterclasses: 06 Feb 2023 – 20 Feb 2023
Open to matriculated students in NTU, Junior Colleges, Integrated Programme Schools (Years 5 & 6) and Polytechnics
06 Feb 2023 (3pm – 5pm)
Innovation for Sustainability
10 Feb 2023 (3pm – 5pm)
Introduction to Innovation Process & Entrepreneurship
13 Feb 2023 (3pm – 5pm)
Design Thinking (DT)
17 Feb 2023 (3pm – 5pm)
Innovation for Health
20 Feb 2023 (3pm – 5pm)
Innovation for Smart Life
Registration Deadline: By 05 Feb 2023
Masterclass Registration
Click here to register
or scan the QR code
Competition
Students in this Challenge will design innovative and entrepreneurial concepts and prototypes to address sustainability challenges for Singapore’s green transition in the areas of health, energy, smart living, waste reduction or other impactful domains.
Students are encouraged to stretch their imagination and push their boundaries. Through this journey of addressing sustainability challenges, we hope that students can apply their knowledge in STEM to innovate, create, and pitch an idea or concept.
Click here to download the YIC Competition Details and Schedule
Task
Based on the theme “Innovative Green Transition”, the teams will identify a problem in the sustainability domain (such as Health, Energy, Smart and Sustainable Life or Others), propose an innovative solution and design a prototype to address the challenge.
Categories in the Competition:
Category A (University) — Students from Nanyang Technological University
Category B (Pre-University) — Students from Junior Colleges, Integrated School (Years 5 & 6) and Polytechnics
Eligibility
- Full-time matriculated students at Nanyang Technological University, Junior Colleges, Integrated Programme Schools (Years 5 & 6) and Polytechnics in Singapore.
- Student teams from Category A (Nanyang Technological University) will be able to apply directly. (max 4-6 students per team)
- Student teams from Category B (Pre-University) should be nominated by their respective schools. Each school should have at least one accompanying teacher for coordination and supervision. (max 4-6 students per team, and up to 2 teams per category per school)
- Teams and teachers must be able to commit to the entire duration of mentorship and competition.
- Students must provide valid email addresses and contact numbers for communications and online collaboration purposes.
Judging Criteria
✓ Creativity ✓ Originality ✓ Feasibility
✓ Level of Impact on the chosen sustainability domain/topic
Competition Registration
Click here to register
or scan the QR code
Competition Process
| Competition Schedule |
|---|
Preliminary Round
|
Preliminary Round
- Essay (300-word limit) in pdf format + Video (5 mins max) in mp4 format. Essay and video are judged as one submission. For example, the video may be used to illustrate why a problem is chosen and allow students to illustrate their ideas clearly.
- The essay should include a short description, a concept of the solution which the team proposes for addressing a sustainability domain. The concept could be explained in words, drawing or video with indication on how the concept is realised.
- The essay must be in English. Submission in any other languages will be disqualified.
- In the title of the essay and video submission, teams should indicate School name, Team name, Category (Pre-University or University) and Sustainability Domain. For example, the essay and video are titled as “ABC School, Team A, Pre-University, Water”
- Please email this form with the completed essay and video from the team to Ms Nicole Chew at [email protected] and Ms Marilyn Tan at [email protected].
- Deadline of submission of essay and video for Preliminary round is 23 February 2023, 23:59 pm.
- Download the YIC Essay Submission Template a Topic and submit the essay in pdf format, and the video in mp4 format. Submissions should be registered by Teachers for Category B (Pre-University).
Semi-Final
1. The Semi-Final will be held on 21 Mar 2023 at Nanyang Technological University.
2. In the Semi-Final, students will present a description of their identified problem with a mock-up prototype of their proposed solution in front of a panel of judges and audience.
3. Five teams of each category will be selected for Mentorship and Grand Final.
Mentorship
Finalist Teams will be mentored by NTU mentors to provide learning support, expertise and resources for improving their prototypes. This is a 1-to-1 mentorship for each team using a hybrid-mode where guidance on soft and hard skills, i.e., technical development, entrepreneurship, and presentation, is provided.
- Mentoring Sessions will take place between 22 Mar – 16 Apr 2023.
- The mentoring sessions will be arranged between the mentor and the respective team.
Grand Final and Award Ceremony (22 May 2023)
Competition Requirements
- All finalists are required to submit their Prototype and Final Presentation Materials by 15 May 2023.
- Finalists will be judged based on a 20-min presentation and demonstration of prototype, and 5 mins of Q&A on 22 May 2023.
- The presentation should cover the process in design thinking including:
a. How ‘user’ needs were ascertained
b. Problem definition
c. Possible solutions explored
d. Creation and demonstration of a prototype
e. Usefulness/effectiveness to users
4. The team’s work must be original and does not contain plagiarised content. It should not infringe on any intellectual property rights or copyright regulations. However, adaptation to improve existing products may be accepted.
5. NTC reserves the right to make all changes to the competition. No claims may be made by members of the teams as a result of the changes.
6. By joining the competition, the teams permits NTC to use their works in the competition for publicity, media, publication, purposes etc.
7. Judges’ decisions are final.
The 3rd Young Innovators Challenge Awards
AWARDS
Category A: Nanyang Technological University
First Prize: $10,000
Second Prize: $8,000
Third Prize: $5,000
Category B: Junior Colleges, Integrated Schools (Years 5 & 6) and Polytechnics
First Prize: $10,000
Second Prize: $8,000
Third Prize: $5,000
Certificates will be awarded to all participants in the Grand Final.