SOx Emissions Innovation Challenge
Finals May 3rd, 2017
Den Danske Maritime Fond – prepared notes, Carsten Melchiors.
1: Thank you for the introduction, Hanne, and thank you for the invitation.
2: Let me start with my conclusion and your key take-away;
On the wall of this complex there is a compelling motto “DTU Skylab – where it begins”. I want to add to that; Yes; let it begin here - but do not let it end here!
At the Danish Maritime Fund We welcome good ideas and entrepreneurs who dare take the Challenge!
3: There are four reasons why I am pleased to address you representing the sponsor of the “Challenge”.
4: Firstly; the involved parties; the private companies, the public institutions, the enforcement authorities joining in an effort to let you, the students at DTU, come up with your best ideas to address an issue of real concern to the shipping industry.
It would be nice for the Fund to support any of these parties, on their own, but to be able to support a collective effort is a true privilege – an opportunity not to be missed.
5: The challenge, therefore is unique, because it spans both the private sector as well as the public sector – this in effect means, that the suggested solutions need to address the interest of both parties – not as adversaries but as collaborators.
6: The solutions therefore must be easy to apply for the businesses and easy and cost effective to monitor for the relevant authorities. This is a challenge that require a cross-disciplinary approach, and the ability to focus on the issue from several different angles.
In short; you have to work together from several disciplines.
7: Therefore, the more important participants in this endeavor are you, the students, who “picked up the gauntlet” to contribute individually and collectively to come up with ideas addressing the “Innovation Challenge”.
8: The second reason is that the Fund thrives on good ideas.
Normally we do not pay to have the good idea developed, as in this challenge, but we are eager to see if the process works.
But once the good idea has been crystallized in your minds, the Fund is ready to support you, if the idea is good enough.
And, if you want to take the idea one step further – creating and testing the solution.
9: This leads to the third reason; good ideas very often need an entrepreneur to be developed, tested and exploited. Needles to say, the Fund welcomes entrepreneurs with the good idea.
10: These entrepreneurs often base themselves on observation of practical life and experience and tell themselves – this can be done in a better, smarter more efficient way.
11: this is where the Fund enters the scene with risk willing money.
The Fund will typically assist in the process from idea to prototype or proof of concept.
12: Many such projects come from sailors; engineers and deck officers, but we have also supported graduates from DTU, who – perhaps based upon a very good master thesis - decides to set up shop to take the idea to fruition. They can come to the Fund.
13: The Blue Denmark needs more entrepreneurs.
14: Fourthly and finally we are excited about the process of the challenge and look forward to see if such a “short run” – an intellectual sprint – can generate useful thinking, and novel ways to address the issue at hand.
15: More often than not academic research may take years to exploit and come up with one solution. Often formal research come up with more questions - that then – again – needs more research.
16: This approach, however, is in its basic structure very different and based on the idea that a competition brings out the very best in you and reward the best.
17: Does this process really work at the DTU? This evening will tell us.
18: So “Let the gloves come off”. Do your Best pitch. And May the Best team win.
19: DTU Skylab may be where it begins. But do not let it end here!
20: Thank you.
21: – By the way, I can assure you that you get more than 10 minutes when you do a pitch at the Fund.