Swiss Challenge lets Malaysians learn, show skills
KUALA LUMPUR: The Swiss Innovation Challenge Asia 2017 (SIC Asia) gives Asean participants the chance to showcase their entrepreneurial skills and receive mentoring from leading experts.
Through its mentorship programme, SIC Asia has given innovators the opportunity to learn and gain business knowledge.
Held in Switzerland for the last two years, the event was organised by the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW). Around 30 per cent of its participants came from Asia.
In January, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s (UTM) International Business School (IBS) had the honour of collaborating with FHNW to organise the competition in Malaysia.
The SIC is supported by the Swiss embassy, Swiss-Malaysian Business Association, UTM Innovation & Commercialisation Centre and the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.
SIC Asia head of programme Dr Rolf-Dieter Reineke said the challenge was held in Asia to strengthen diplomatic relations.
“We wanted to explore other regions after receiving good response. Since we have strong connections in Asia, particularly partnerships with universities such as UTM’s IBS, we are able to conduct the programme here,” he said.
“The organisers hope to strengthen ties between Malaysia and Switzerland in terms of business. The challenge also allows mentors from Switzerland to guide participants via Skype or in person,” said Dr Reineke, who is also a lecturer in FHNW.
SIC Asia project director Dr Rahayu Tasnim said the objective of the challenge was to learn from Switzerland, which was a leader in innovation, technology and commercialisation.
“We are familiar with Switzerland’s reputation and we like to learn from them.
“The challenge provides a mentorship programme that is not classroom based, and each team is assigned a personal mentor.
“We also have participants of different ages and nationalities, and it is exciting to see their enthusiasm.
“The eldest participant is a 74year-old woman,” said Rahayu, who is a UTM senior lecturer.
She said UTM championed the implementation of “Industry 4.0” and “University 4.0” trends, and the SIC was in line with the purpose.
The challenge had attracted 189 businesses, researchers and students, as well as nongovernmental organisations.
Waterbay chief executive officer Azhan Mohd, 42, said the competition gave his company a perspective on how to present and pitch ideas to a global market.
Azhan’s company produced innovative products for the medical industry. One of them was a portable examination chair that could be used in remote areas.
“Due to the experience I have in the industry, it is refreshing to have a platform for Waterbay to start internationally,” he said.
The challenge recently saw 100 teams pitching their business innovations. Twenty-five of them will advance to the grand final in September, where the awards ceremony is scheduled.
Finalists will have the opportunity to win prizes amounting to US$23,000 (RM101,400), while an additional US$5,000 will be awarded to the most convincing internationalisation strategy.