Singapore, 1 April 2017 (Saturday) – The fifth edition of the Youth Innovation Challenge, organised by the Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at SMU (IIE), came to a successful conclusion today with Outram Secondary School and ITE College Central emerging tops in the junior and senior categories respectively.

Launched in 2013, the Youth Innovation Challenge was organised and designed by IIE as a means of encouraging an innovative mindset among students from secondary schools and junior colleges.  The Ministry of Education was consulted on the format and the content of the competition. This annual contest is open to all secondary schools, ITE, centralised institute and junior colleges in Singapore.

This year, a total of 65 teams from 29 schools participated in the competition. Each team is comprised of up to 5 members. An increase was observed in the junior category meant for secondary schools in which 40 submissions were received from 17 schools, compared with 33 submissions from 19 schools last year.  

Mr Hau Koh Foo, Director of IIE, said “This competition seeks to cultivate the interests of our youths in the field of innovation & entrepreneurship early. They will acquire many enterprising skills in the course of the competition -- problem solving, leadership, interpersonal skills and teamwork.  These are the skills that they can take with them from school and across different work environments in their life.”

Secondary schools participating in this year’s competition were grouped into the junior category, while junior colleges, centralised institute and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) were grouped into the senior category.

The competition started with a briefing and training workshop on 5 November 2016. Junior Achievement Singapore conducted the workshop for both the senior and junior categories. The 20 finalists, 10 from each category, received mentorship through a boot camp on 15 March 2017 to help them further develop and refine their business plan proposal.

The judging panel for the junior category comprised of Howie Lau, Chief Marketing Officer of Starhub; Daniel Lim, Co-founder of Reebonz; Ting Yan Leck, Director of Tri5 Ventures; Ng Kai Scene, Divisional Director, Environmental & Infrastructure Solution from IE Singapore; and Ronnie Wee, Managing Partner of IncuVest Pte Ltd.

For the senior category, the judges were Semun Ho, Executive Director of Singapore Infocomm Technology Federation; Shirley Wong, Managing Partner of TNF Ventures; Lim Song Joo, Founder of BWG Consulting Pte Ltd; Lee Yu Fung, Group Director of Lifestyle Business Group from IE Singapore; and Elim Chew, Founder of 77th Street.

The finalists for each category were judged on innovativeness of business idea, go-to-market strategy, social impact, comprehensiveness of business plan, financials and internationlisation.

In the junior category, Team The Zelter from Outram Secondary School emerged as champions and walked away with $2500. The team designed a water and fire resistant portable tent - the size of a backpack - which features an inbuilt solar-power system that powers light, a heat generator and a charging port for electronic devices. There is also a water filtration system to ensure access to clean water.

Ms Jada Rose Q Camero of Team The Zelter said, “This competition provides an ideal platform for us to challenge ourselves to find ways to impact the world as young adults.”

The other winners in this category are:

[Professor Gerry George (fourth from right), Dean of SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business, presented the winner’s plaque and cheque to Team Re-Life from ITE College Central which emerged as champions in the senior category at the SMU Youth Innovation Challenge 2017.]

For the senior category, Team Re-Life from ITE College Central clinched the top position and took home $4000. The team has worked closely with physiotherapists to develop a multi-purpose equipment that reduces rehabilitation cost for stroke patients and inconvenience to caregivers, as well as promote continuous rehabilitation in the patient’s home.

Mr Aaron Yang of Team Re-Life said, “What motivated us to participate in this competition was the desire to create a useful product to ease the recovery process for stroke patients and bring more convenience to their caregivers. We also wanted to reduce the waiting time and cost so users would have a better experience with home rehabilitation.”

The other winners in this category are:

SMU extends its heartiest congratulations to all the winners of the fifth edition of the Youth Innovation Challenge and looks forward to greater participation by more secondary schools and junior colleges for next year’s competition.

Featured photo: Professor Gerry George (third from right), Dean of SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business, presented the winner’s plaque and cheque to Team The Zelter from Outram Secondary School which emerged as champions in the junior category at the SMU Youth Innovation Challenge 2017.

For more information, please contact:

Teo Chang Ching (Mr)

Senior Assistant Director, Corporate Communications

Office of Corporate Communications & Marketing

DID: 6828 0451

Email: ccteo [at] smu.edu.sg