Students shine at 'Innovation Idol'

May 15, 2007

Innovation Idol was staged at the University of Wollongong on Friday 11 May and proved to be one of the University's showcase events in its support of the Australian Innovation Festival and the Illawarra Innovation Showcase.

Innovation Idol, an initiative of the Research and Innovation Division of UOW, demonstrated UOW research students' capacity to develop an innovative solution to "Monday-itis - and their ability to 'pitch' their innovative idea.

The free event provided an interactive, entertaining and fun avenue for presenting serious aspects of the innovation process, by following the formula established in entertainment shows such as Australian Idol.

Like Australian Idol, the students' pitch was assessed by a panel of expert judges based on their enthusiasm, uniqueness of concept, marketing strategy and proposed commercialisation pathway.

Finalists were given an unknown object and a limited period of time to develop a creative explanation of what the "product" is, what it is used for and why people should invest in it. A first prize of $1,000 was on offer.

Sponsors for the Innovation Idol event included ?WhatIf! - The Innovation Company and Waples Marketing Group Pty Ltd. A representative from each of these companies was a judge on the panel.

UOW is hosting seven events in all as part of the Innovation Festival.

The Australian Innovation Festival is being conducted between 26 April to 27 May while the Illawarra Innovation Showcase was held from 7 May to 13 May. More than 42 organisations are taking part.