On October, 15 the official opening of a final stage of the All-Ukrainian festival of the innovative projects "Sikorsky Challenge 2013" took place. The festival purpose is attraction of student's youth to studying, and also scientists and businessmen to participate in scientific programs and project - design activity and stimulation of researches in technical areas. And identification of talented inventors and researchers who already found themselves in this activity, and providing them with necessary conditions for an embodiment of their projects and ideas in life.
This year the festival is held in a format of three competitions: "Sikorsky Challenge", traditional All-Ukrainian scientific - technical exhibition of youth innovations and the creative projects "Future of Ukraine" of Small academy of Sciences of Ukraine and Educational academy Intel ISEF "Science at School".
"It is very important that this year we attracted to a festival practically all groups of people. First of all, it is school students who are engaged in technical creativity in Small academy of Sciences, school students who take part in the similar project of the Intel company, and already mature researchers and inventors of all ages, - the rector of NTUU "KPI", the academician of NAS of Ukraine Michael Zgurovsky noted at the opening ceremony. That is unite under the auspices of this festival all creative people who can offer something new, and our doors are open for them".
In fact, the festival is the tool which allows talented people to offer interesting ideas and to pass short training on their commercialization which is carried out in its framework; to meet potential investors and, in case of a victory in competition, to have an opportunity to create startups, that is the companies for realization of these innovative ideas. Estimate proposals of participants and skilled experts choose the best among them. The vice-president of Academy of Sciences of the higher school of Ukraine, the doctor of the physics - mathematical sciences, the president of the Ukrainian physical society Maxim Strikh heads the international jury of a festival competition "Sikorsky Challenge”.
It is necessary to notice that among 15 projects which will be submitted in the festival ending, 5 have to be chosen from the works presented on the competition "Future of Ukraine", it is necessary to add that these are projects of school students. No wonder that the main action of the first day of final part of the All-Ukrainian festival "Sikorsky Challenge 2013" is the IV All-Ukrainian scientifically technical exhibition competition of the youth innovative projects "Future of Ukraine", which have opened in the Center of culture and art NTUU "KPI", drew great attention not only participants of a festival, but also numerous visitors.
At the exhibition more than 100 projects from 20 regions of Ukraine, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the cities of Kiev and Sevastopol are submitted. Its participants are pupils of 8-11 classes of general educational institutions and students of the corresponding age with technical direction of education, out-of-school and higher educational institutions of I-II levels of accreditation which are members of Small academy of Sciences and who are actively engaged in scientific research activity. Projects are submitted and estimated in the following directions:
- electronics and instrument making;
- materials science and perspective technologies;
- mechanical engineering;
- information telecommunication systems and technologies;
- ecology and resource-saving;
- technical creativity and invention;
- robotics and robotic systems.
However measures of the first day of the festival aren't limited only to an exhibition and booth (poster) protection of works by participants. In its program there are also lectures, excursions and scientifically entertaining show "Magic Lab" presented by the Institute of Physics and Technology at NTUU "KPI" for members of SAS, carrying out trainings on obtaining skills of projects presentation to potential investors for the adult participants, open speech of the world-wide corporation Microsoft employee Mark Zbykovsky about twenty-five years work in it, actions for head participants of an exhibition and teachers of Kiev schools, etc.
All-Ukrainian Festival of Innovative Projects “Sikorsky Challenge” (Festival) is held to develop innovative activity in Ukraine, involve youth, gather science communities’ and technological entrepreneurs’ in scientific, design programs and engineering research, stimulate science inventions and increase science prestige of Ukraine in the world.
- Festival is held by the National Technical University of Ukraine “Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Science Park “Kyivska Polytechnika”, the Independent Association of Banks of Ukraine with the support of intergovernmental diplomatic organization ” Science & Technology Center in Ukraine “
- The Festival is held from April 15 to October 18, 2013.
Festival welcomes students, postgraduate students, scientists and employees of universities and research institutions etc.
- Completed self-prepared scientific (research) works should be submitted to the Festival. Works with scientific and applied value may be used in business.
- Project submitted to the Festival may be completed individually or in a group.
- Project submitted to the Festival should be completed in English, Russian and Ukrainian.
- Project to be submitted to the Festival may have both theoretical (research) and practical (discovery, invention, utility model).
- Project to be submitted to the Festival can be executed independently or team.
- The prize fund of the Festival – 160 000 UAH.
Festival will be conducted in 4 stages:
Stage №1 Projects submission
Everyone who willing to participate in the Festival can submit their projects from 15.04.2013 – 15.09.2013 by filling special form on our website: www.startup.kpi.ua.
Stage №2 Preliminary selection
16.09.2013 – 25.09.2013 will be a preliminary selection of 15-20 finalists by the expert commission. After the meeting all information about finalists will be published on the Festival’s web-page. By the results participants shall be notified and invited to the final.
Stage №3 Passing trainings
From October 14 to October 15 finalists will receive free training in presentation skills projects to potential investors.
Stage № 4 Final
Finals will take place on 17th of October 2013 in the hall of the Academic Council of NTUU “KPI”, Kyiv, Peremogy Ave., 37, camp. 1. Each team should present their project in 4-5 min term.
Winners awarding
Teams that win 1-3 places will have an opportunity to incubate their project on the base of Science Park “Kyivska Polytechnika” (launch new company, get organizational, financial, and legal support, help in finding investors)
Winners of the festival awarded by Diplomas of All-Ukrainian innovative projects festival «Sikorsky Challenge», and also awarded cash prizes in the following proportions:
- 1st place – 80 000 UAH.
- 2nd place – 56 000 UAH.
- 3rd place – 24 000 UAH.
Any project can be chosen investment council of Venture Fund «Sikorsky Challenge» for investments in full.