Education

  Star Education Fair

Sunday July 27, 2008

Ideas wanted

THINK you have the perfect ICT (information and communications technology) business idea, but not quite sure whether it will work in real life? Or better yet, do you have a sample product all ready to go, but are still clueless on how to get a business going?

If that’s the case, then the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) wants to hear from you. The company recently launched the fifth edition of its annual MSC Malaysia-IHL Business Plan Competition 2008/09 in Kuala Lumpur.

Dr Hou (second from left) and Abdul Hanan launching the competition, witnessed by MDeC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Halim Ali (left) and CEO Datuk Badlisham Ghazali (right).

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Higher Education Minister Dr Hou Kok Chung and Science, Technology and Innovation secretary-general Datuk Abdul Hanan Alang Endut.

Divided into two categories, the competition is open to all students and staff of Malaysian institutions of higher learning.

The Business Idea category is open to all undergraduates, who can participate in teams of a maximum of three members with a commercially viable business idea that is ICT-related.

The Business Plan category requires participants to also submit a prototype and/or actual products together with their idea.

This category is open to all tertiary students (undergraduate and postgraduate), as well as academic and non-academic staff members of tertiary institutions. Teams in this category are allowed a maximum of four members.

Entries must be focused on one of three clusters: Creative Multimedia Content, Shared Services & Outsourcing and Software e-Solutions, which includes Application Software and Mobility Embedded Software and Hardware.

The competition is divided into three stages. In the first stage, institutions of higher learning will conduct their own in-house competition to select the best teams in each category.

MDeC will conduct “Train the Trainer” sessions during this stage to help academicians advise their students and colleagues on how best to develop their business ideas.

Each institution must submit its top two entries to the competition’s organising committee by Dec 1.

Ten teams from each category will then be selected to advance to the finals to be held early next year, where they will present their business ideas or plans to a panel of judges.

The grand prize for the Business Plan category is RM7,000 cash, while the first and second runners-up will receive RM5,000 and RM3,000 respectively. Two merit prizes of RM1,000 will also be given out.

For the Business Idea category, the top three teams will receive cash prizes of RM5,000, RM3,000 and RM2,000, respectively, while the fourth and fifth-placed teams will receive RM750 each.

In addition, the top three teams in each category will receive a RM3,000 voucher, which can be redeemed at sponsoring companies for products and services relevant to their business ventures.

All top five finalists in the Business Plan category will also be fast-tracked to the MSC Malaysia Technopreneur Pre-Seed Fund Progamme Approval Committee, which provides funds to help kick off ICT projects.

All entries must be submitted in English on the templates provided at www.technopreneurdevelopment.net.my under MIBPC 2008/09.

Interested institutions must register for the competition before Aug 22. — By TAN SHIOW CHIN

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