CAP4INNO IDEAS COMPETITION
Project Acronym: CAP4INNO
Full Project Title: Knowledge transfer capacity building for enhanced energy access & efficiency in the Caribbean
Contract Number: FED/2013/320-272
CAP4INNO
UNIVERSITY WIDE STUDENT COMPETITION
Contest Description
Work with fellow students at the graduate or undergraduate level to develop a Concept Paper outlining an innovative energy-efficient idea that will result in cost savings, has potential for commercialization and benefits the environment and society. This can include ideas for: products, services, technology, change of behavior, new organisational forms, and new ways of working. The Concept Paper should be not more than seven pages and should provide the following:
· Name of the Idea
· Brief Summary (a few sentences- this section is often written last)
o Describe your idea and concept.
o What are the problems/needs that have to be addressed?
o What are the benefits and contributions of your idea?
· Detailed Description of your Idea
o What is your idea?
o Where does this idea come from?
§ Is it solely your own idea? Explain.
§ Can others also claim to be part of this idea? Who? Please explain.
o Why is there a need for the concept?
o What is the problem or issue that needs to be solved?
· Implementation Plan
o How would you implement your ideas/concept over the next year?
· Value Proposition/Uniqueness of Idea
o Describe how your idea creates value for your customers.
o Why is your solution better than those that already exist?
o What is unique and innovative about your idea?
· Market Potential and Business Opportunity
o Describe the customer base and the market for the idea.
o How big is the market? Where is your market?
o Describe the typical customer for the idea (e.g., gender, age, lifestyle, income?).
o How many customers do you think you will be able to sell to?
o How will you reach your customers? What are your strategies to market/implement the idea?
· Potential for Regional Impact
o How could your idea benefit the Caribbean region as a whole?
o What constraints would you face to achieving regional impact?
o How would you modify your marketing strategy for effective regional impact?
· Budget and Resources Needed to Develop and Market/Implement the Idea?
o What do you think will be your biggest costs?
o How will you be able to pay for these costs?
o How can you charge for your idea?
· Team and Competence
o What skills will you need in your team to develop your idea (product, service, technology, organisation)
o What skills will you need in your team to market and implement your idea?
o How will you access those competencies?
Evaluation of Ideas
Members of the CAP4INNO project team will evaluate the ideas based on the clarity and ability to address the issues above in your Concept Paper. The evaluation criteria and weighting are provided in the table below.
Evaluation Criteria / WeightingDetailed Description of the Idea / 10%
Implementation Plan / 20%
Value Proposition/Uniqueness of the Idea / 10%
Market Potential and Business Opportunity / 25%
Potential for Regional Impact / 15%
Budget and Resources needed to Market/Implement the Idea / 10%
Team and Competence / 10%
What about my Idea?
• Idea has to be in the field of energy efficiency.
• Idea should be unique and should be your own.
• Idea has to be new to the market/region, with potential for regional impact.
Team
Each Team should have no more than two members. Students are also allowed to work individually. Participants in this contest can liaise with the CAP4INNO project team members if there is need for guidance on matters regarding the competition.
The University of the West Indies team members for the CAP4INNO Project are:
Ms. Natasha Corbin:
Dr. Graham King:
Ms. Ayanna Young-Marshall:
Professor Wayne Hunte:
Guidance can also be sought from:
The University of Chalmers
Professor Sverker Alange –
Dr. Sari Scheinberg-
Timelines
Concept Papers must be submitted via email no later than May 31, 2016. The winning team will be announced on June 15, 2016 and the final CAP4INNO event will take place on July 12th -13th, 2016 in Trinidad and Tobago.
Participating Universities
This Energy-Efficiency Ideas Competition is being held in The University of the West Indies, the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo, and the University of Technology, Jamaica.
Competition Prizes
· The winning team will be invited to the final CAP4INNO event in Trinidad and Tobago to present their idea.
· Travel costs and accommodation expenses will be covered by the CAP4INNO project.
· The winning team and all participants will be acknowledged on the CAP4INNO website and will benefit from the international exposure so obtained.
How to Submit
Your Concept Paper should be emailed to Ms. Natasha Corbin: .