UTM and UPM bag top prizes in MSC startup gig

• Winners of IHL-MSC Malaysia Startup Challenge (i-MSC) 2013/ 14 announced
• 12 teams shortlisted in competition which was divided into two main categories     

UNIVERSITI Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) bagged top prizes at the 10th MSC Malaysia – Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) – MSC Malaysia Startup Challenge 2013/14 awards.
 
The competition was organised by the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC)’s Talent Division, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MOE), with representatives from the Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) and chaired by the Vice Chancellor of Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM).
 
The competition, which was previously known as the MSC Malaysia – IHL Business Plan Competition has been renamed IHL – MSC Malaysia Startup Challenge (i-MSC), MDeC said in a statement.
 
MDeC is the national ICT custodian that manages the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC Malaysia) project, which aims to further develop the ICT industry in Malaysia.
 
IHL-MSC Malaysia Startup Challenge 2013/14 chairman Prof Dr Ahmad Yusoff Hassan said the rebranded competition is specially designed in line with the Ministry of Education’s mission to generate entrepreneurial graduates.
 
In the Business Idea category, the UTM team (pic above) comprising Lim Thol Yong and Ng Ee Leen and their 360 Degree Sensing Car System won the RM6,000 prize money and trophy.
 
Their solution monitors the surroundings of a car with a 360-degree view, acting as an alert system, parking guide and also a black box.
 
The UTM team was mentored by Dr Yeong Che Fai, who also developed a robotics system that can aid in the rehabilitation of stroke patients.

Meanwhile Team WoCo from UPM (pic), which consisted of Ahmad Wazizi Samsudin, Mohd Fadzli Razali, Muhammad Zaid Yusoff and Puteri Suhaiza Sulaiman, emerged as champion in the Business Plan category, walking away with RM12,000 and a trophy.
 
[RM1 = US$0.31]
 
The team created the WoCo Stylus (World Colour Stylus) and a related drawing application, integrated with an RGB sensor that can capture the colour of objects.
 
The team, guided by P.Thinagaran, created the device based on feedback that there is a lack of colour accuracy between device screen colours and real-world colours, which can be an issue with
painting and design.
 
MDeC’s Chief Operating Officer Ms Ng Wan Peng said the competition emphasised the importance of developing entrepreneurial skills, and growing a sustainable entrepreneurship skill development ecosystem.
 
It also aims to raise the standards of idea generation, innovative thinking, problem solving and business pitching skills, and to also identify commercially viable ideas.
 
“I believe this competition has given students a taste of ICT entrepreneurship, and what to expect in the journey of becoming one, as well as understanding the challenges of becoming entrepreneurs,” said Ministry of Education Deputy Director-General (Public IHL Sector), Department of Higher Education Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir.
 
“It has also given them the opportunity to discover their strength, creativity, innovativeness and entrepreneurial capabilities,” she added.
 
A total of 21 universities and polytechnics took part in the competition, with 55 and 45 submissions in the business ideas and business plan categories respectively.
 
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