PolyU SPEED Best Innovation Awards 2017 Sub-degree students improvise novel ideas for CSL Mobile Limited

PolyU SPEED Best Innovation Awards (BIA) 2017 offers a precious opportunity for local sub-degree students to unleash their creativity, apply what they have learned to actual work, and devise practical and sustainable proposals for corporations.

After sponsoring BIA for three consecutive years, CSL Mobile Limited (CSL) has become the partner organisation of BIA 2017.  Other sponsors include Ngong Ping 360 Limited, UnionPay International, MTR Corporation Limited, The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited, The Chartered Institute of Marketing, Hong Kong, and Job Market Publishing Limited.  Apart from sponsoring prizes, some of the above organisations also sent their representatives to join the judging panel and evaluate the participating teams.

The competition was joined by sub-degree teams from six local tertiary self-financing institutions.  They had to write an innovative and feasible proposal for mainly teenagers.  The three teams with top scores given by the judging panel in the preliminary selections competed against each other in the Final Presentation at Chiang Chen Studio Theatre, PolyU on 29 April 2017.

Innovation meets technology Promotion of integrated approach of service

At the Final Presentation, three finalist teams racked their brains to use different high-tech gadgets and social media to present their proposals lively. The judging panel raised questions to test students’ performance on-site. In the end, the “Transcendence” team from Hong Kong Community College, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University reaped the Gold Award by tailor-making a proposal for the partner organisation and maintaining their composure during the presentation on stage. The Silver Award was presented to the “4ORTY” team from the same institution, whereas the “MCN” team from School of Continuing and Professional Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong was awarded the Bronze Award.

Mr Clive Chow, Vice President, Marketing of CSL, was the representative of the partner organisation cum one of the judges of BIA 2017. He first congratulated all the participating and winning teams on their devotion in realising the two main themes of BIA, i.e. striving for the best and pursuing innovation. He also gave a tip to the participating teams --- they have to devise a customised proposal solely for CSL rather than put forward some ideas that are easily imitated by its competitors.

Integrating “Data Bank” with “Data Race”
Gold Award-winning “Transcendence” team proposed a highly innovative concept of “Data Bank” by leveraging on the distinctive consumer behaviour of teenagers. They motivate clients to use their data balance to redeem rewards. By integrating the features of social media, the team also suggested a “Data Race” programme to enhance interaction among friends and strengthen bonds among them. Top data user clients can also enjoy a monthly fee reduction. As their proposal consolidated various relevant services of the partner organisation, which cannot be easily imitated by its competitors, the “Transcendence” team was crowned the Gold Award.

Exploring Trends Running Together
The other two winning teams also proposed some interesting ideas. They suggested topics such as “exploring trends”, “working hard”, “healthy lifestyle”, “run together”, “appreciate HK”, “reading challenge”, etc. By utilising music videos, key opinion leaders and outdoor advertising campaigns, etc. as the promotional channels, they aspired to attract more teenagers to join the programme.

Innovation has nothing to do with R&D budget
PolyU SPEED Director Dr Jack Lo encouraged the participating students to help corporations grow by putting conventional wisdom to test and applying innovative ideas to real business environment. The competition also lets corporations appreciate that the standard and performance of sub-degree students are on a par with those students enrolled in government-funded degree programmes. The partner organisation of BIA 2017 planned to offer internship opportunities to the Gold-Award winning students, which is a recognition of the standard of the winning proposals by the industry.

PolyU SPEED also provided the winners of the Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards with scholarship opportunities as a token of appreciation. Two members of the Gold Award team of BIA 2016 were admitted to PolyU-SPEED Award top-up bachelor’s honours degree programmes.

Dr Lo encouraged students to equip themselves, enhance their language proficiency and communication skills, maintain a decent work attitude, and show their creativity in order to be recognised eventually. Dr Lo concluded his speech with the remark of Mr Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple computer, “Innovation has nothing to do with how many R&D dollars you have …… It’s not about money. It’s about the people you have, how you're led, and how much you get it.”

For the list of winners of PolyU SPEED Best Innovation Awards 2017, please visit www.speed-polyu.edu.hk/bia2017/
Enquiry：3400 2828

The following is the full list of winners of BIA 2017