The University of Adelaide eChallenge
Singapore Challenge 2009

eChallenge winners visit to Adelaide 2009

eChallenge2010     

More than 70 hopeful teams of young aspiring entrepreneurs from the polytechnics were in the running to win a share of $20,000 in cash, prize and seed fund sponsored by Ngee Ann Kongsi.

Three teams emerged as winners of the Singapore Entrepreneurs’ Award 2009 after a series of pitches on their business ideas and plans to the panel of jury formed by venture capitalists and entrepreneurs led by Chief Judge, Professor Noel Lindsay, a Director of the University of Adelaide’s Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and Innovation Centre.

Singapore Polytechnic’s team “Little Chocolatier” was in high spirit and had every reason to be when its business pitch was picked by the panel of jury as the deserving team to win the Grand Prize title. “This is our first experience participating in a business plan challenge and it has been a fulfilling and beneficial one for our team. The feedback from the jury was useful as it helped us gain an insight on what are the essences of a sound business plan.” The team can look forward to gain more from their educational trip to the University of Adelaide sponsored by Ngee Ann Kongsi.

Organised by Ngee Ann-Adelaide Education Centre, the Singapore Entrepreneurs’ Challenge (eChallenge) aims to foster the spirit of entrepreneurship and encourage the minds of innovation amongst Polytechnic students and graduates.  This is the first time that the University of Adelaide’s offshore Campus in Singapore has hosted the competition for aspiring entrepreneurs, which is modelled on the highly successful annual eChallenge competition held by the University of Adelaide’s Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and Innovation Centre (ECIC) in its home city since 2002.

Guest-of-Honor, Dr Lee Boon Yang, Member of Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC delivered the Opening address and graced the Inaugural eChallenge Award Ceremony, which was held at Asian Civilisations Museum, Ngee Ann Auditorium, on 17 November 2009 evening. Dr Lee highlighted the importance of encouraging entrepreneurship, intra-preneurship and techno-preneurship to tap on creativity and innovation, research and development for new growth opportunities. He urged that there is a need for collective effort of students, academics, professionals, business leaders, policy makers and trend-setters to seek fresh ideas and pursue these ideas vigorously so as to create Singapore’s future.

Professor Noel Lindsay, keynote speaker for the evening shared his views on “Why Corporate Builders Need to Be Entrepreneurial?” and outlined the change of economy, as a key driver to why management and employees in organisations must embrace entrepreneurial spirit to be sustainable.  He also went on to stress that new knowledge is essential as many traditional rules of business no longer apply and corporations must continually adjust, adapt or redefine.

Business and non-business Diploma graduates from the polytechnics can look forward to seek an undergraduate degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship with the University of Adelaide, at its Singapore campus, which will have its first intake in January 2010. The Bachelor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a 21 month degree taught fully by the University’s teaching faculty and is applicable for aspiring entrepreneurs and relevant to those who wish to seek for business development and technology commercialisation positions in companies.

Winners

Grand Prize
LITTLE CHOCOLATIER
Singapore Polytechnic

2nd Prize
COORDINATES
Alumnus - Singapore Polytechnic,
                  Ngee Ann Polytechnic

3rd Prize
ANTIQUE TROVE
Ngee Ann Polytechnic

Commendation Awards 

• CREASO TECHNOLOGIES
  Nanyang Polytechnic
  
• GREEN URBAN
  Singapore Polytechnic
  
• HYGIEIA
  Temasek Polytechnic