Stuart Mercer, Validus Research Inc.: "We were able to get down to business in no time. The Accelerator Centre has been the perfect place for us to launch our Canadian subsidiary."
Smart Start Contest Results
TECNET AWARDS
Further to the Smart Start Contest Innovation Fair held in October (info below), the Centre for Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (CBET) recently announced that the following MBET practicum projects were the winners of $5K prizes through TECNET.
- IP/TV
- RFID
- Biometric Telemetry
- Lab-on-a-Chip and
- Energrow
The $5K awards are administered through CBET for the advancement of these MBET "Practicum" projects which are now underway. The funding will assist with practicum team expenses, approved by CBET, associated with the commercialization of these technologies.
Congratulations to all the winners.
Smart Start
Introducing SMART START, a contest to promote the commercialization of Intellectual Property (IP) by faculty and student researchers at Conestoga College, Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Guelph, and University of Waterloo. The competition is a joint initiative of the AC, Centre for Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology, and the University of Waterloo (UW) Intellectual Property Management Group (IPMG) at the Office of Research.
SMART START teams will be comprised of students and researchers who "partner" at an Innovation Fair to be held at the AC on October 9, 2007. The Innovation Fair will feature posters describing the IP and discussion between students and researchers.
The winning teams will receive funding and participate in the SMART START contest in eight months time, during which the CBET students will develop the business plan in conjunction with the researchers.
Faculty and students from CBET will be available for coaching. For teams of students from the MBET program, the IP may be considered for their commercialization project, subject to approval of CBET faculty.
What could I win?
1) $50,000 will be shared equally amongst the Innovation Fair's winning teams. Funds will be placed in the researcher's account to further the development of the Intellectual Property (IP). At the end of the prescribed eight-month business development period, teams will present their business plans to a panel that may consist of local business people and potential investors.
2) At that time, up to five teams who have made the most progress, as selected by the panel, may be eligible to receive a $25,000 investment in their company, subject to terms and conditions, should they wish to continue their commercialization efforts.
3) The team that has made the most progress, as determined by the panel, will win the use of two SMART CARS for one year. The cars have been kindly donated by Victoria Star Motors and Mercedes Benz.
4) Winning teams who evolve into companies will automatically be eligible to locate in the Accelerator Centre.
5) The winning teams will automatically be eligible to participate in the Launch Pad contest, which is expected to have prizes of up to $100,000 in value.
6) Students participating in the winning teams may also be eligible for an entrance bursary into the Masters of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology program (one-year program). These students will have the opportunity to continue developing their business concept as part of the program.
If you are interested in participating in the SMART START Contest, please email your contact information and a brief description of the Intellectual Property to bmuise@acceleratorcentre.com.
