Promoting entrepreneurship and showcasing innovation to empower young people to become the business leaders of tomorrow
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
- Italian team, Sensing ElectroMagnetic Plus (SEM+), won the top prize for their technology that introduces the third touch dimension in consumer electronics enabling a more natural interaction between humans and devices
- Prizes awarded to five teams from Italy, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Denmark. The five winners will now compete at the Intel® Global Challenge at UC Berkeley in October 2013
- Competition reached thousands of students across 27 EMEA countries. Top 24 teams from 9 countries were selected for the European Finals in Dublin, Ireland
- In its eighth year, the challenge continues to drive what it initially set out to do: catalyse entrepreneurialism, inspire young people to create and to produce, and to become owners of their own destiny
DUBLIN, June 19, 2013 – Intel Corporation today announced the winners of the Intel Business Challenge Europe 2013, the result of an eight month long business plan competition that helps identify and support some of the most creative and innovative students and graduates across Europe. Set alongside the Euro Nano Forum, a forum bringing together European experts on nanotechnologies, the Intel Business Challenge Europe is a competition fostering innovative solutions and the smart technologies of the future. Finalists developed concepts which spanned healthcare & medical devices; energy and cleantech; people and society; ICT; biotechnology and nanotechnology. The participants had to demonstrate to the jury of venture capitalists, academics and business leaders that their solution was capable of becoming a real-world business by articulating a clear value proposition, business strategy and potential market.
Following a series of intensive training workshops and a two day pitching process, five winners were awarded a place at the global finals, selected by a judging panel chaired by Marcin Hejka, Managing Director of Intel Capital Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa and Russia. The five winning teams will now represent Europe at the Intel® Global Challenge 2013 Finals at UC Berkeley in October 2013.
The first place was awarded to Sensing ElectroMagnetic Plus (SEM+) from Italy. SEM+ develops and markets a new patented technology that introduces the third touch dimension in touch sensors. SEM+ layer detects the position and intensity (pressure) of multiple contacts on a surface even if it is curved or flexible. The technology, applied in consumer electronic devices, enables a more natural interaction between humans and devices.
Security solution – Excalibur - from Slovakia received second place. With the rise of the Internet of Things, Excalibur aims to provide seamless and omnipresent authentication, with all of a user’s accounts being secured centrally using their mobile phone.
Third place was awarded to implantable biomaterials solution, Tensive, from Italy; in fourth place was Bulgarian game design platform, Gameleon; and in fifth position was the innovative Catheter coating technique from the Danish team, BioRepeller. All five award winners have been granted a place at the Intel® Global Challenge at UC Berkeley, Silicon Valley.
Bernadette Andrietti, Vice President, EMEA Director Marketing at Intel said:
“I have been blown away by the talent we have seen at this year’s final here in Dublin. The standard has been so high and the drive, ambition and creativity showcased by all 24 teams have made the jury’s decision very difficult. What has really stood out this year is that so many of the projects not only aim to generate revenue, but also look to use technology and science to advance society as a whole.”
The winning teams were amongst thousands of submissions from 27 countries initially received for the Challenge. Teams competing in the Finals in Dublin came from 9 countries: Bulgaria, Denmark, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and United Kingdom. All participating teams received coaching and support from international experts throughout their preparations to refine their ideas, create viable business plans and hone their presentations to attract interest and investment.
Intel is the project organiser, with Junior Achievement-Young Enterprise and INVESTIN High Tech Foundation as the strategic partners. This year, the IBC Europe Finals have been approved by the Irish presidency of the European Union, which gives the participants even higher visibility on the European market and at a policy-making level. The winners will now go on to compete globally against finalists for the international title at the Intel® Global Challenge at UC Berkeley, based in the global technology hub, Silicon Valley.
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Note to Editors
Images and photos from the Intel Business Challenge Europe 2013 are available at:
https://www.facebook.com/IntelBusinessChallengeEurope
A video is available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGd7HzFigDk
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Contact: Diana Kaaserer
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