Students’ chance to shine at ‘Innovation Idol’

May 08, 2007

Innovation Idol – to be staged at the University of Wollongong on Friday 11 May – promises 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, will demonstrate UOW research students’ capacity to develop an innovative solution to “Monday-itis – and their ability to ‘pitch’ their innovative idea.

The free event will provide 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 will be assessed by a panel of expert judges based on their enthusiasm, uniqueness of concept, marketing strategy and proposed commercialisation pathway.

Finalists will be 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 is on offer.

Sponsors for the Innovation Idol event are ?WhatIf! – The Innovation Company and Waples Marketing Group Pty Ltd. A representative from each of these companies will be 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 is being held from 7 May to 13 May. More than 42 organisations are taking part.

All are welcome to Innovation Idol but bookings should be made by phoning Leisa Ridges, Commercial Research Officer (Research and Innovation Division) on 4221 4817 or email leisa@uow.edu.au by Wednesday 9 May.

Date, time and venue for Innovation Idol: 5.30pm, Friday 11 May in the UniCentre Function Room 4.

For further information contact Leisa Ridges on 4221 4817 or mobile 0414 316163. Please note that Leisa can be contacted for interviews ahead of the 5.30pm event on Friday. She would also be available to help set up any pre photo/filming opportunities. See the following website: http://www.uow.edu.au/research/news/UOW1488.4html

For more information, contact:

media@uow.edu.au
University of Wollongong
Ph: (02) 4221 5942; fax (02) 4221 3128