The Koforidua Technical University in the Eastern Region has launched an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Challenge.
The initiative by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Smile Dzisi Guava is aimed at empowering innovative students with brilliant business development ideas.
It was spearheaded by the Directorate of Research and Innovation, Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Development and the Business Development Centre of the University.
Speaking at the launching of the challenge at the Aba Bentil Andam Hall of the school, the Vice-Chancellor indicated that the initiative is in line with the values and principles of the university.
“Opportunities abound all over but we need to stimulate the thinking of our students to find solutions to the societal problems. Our academic institutions are filled with young, vibrant and energetic students who need just a little support and push to achieve greater heights and it is our core mandate as an institution to bring the best out of our students by stimulating and challenging them”.
“The Vice Chancellor’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Challenge is not something Smile Dzisi will take away. It is something that has come to stay to make efforts of faculty members very easy, challenge students to think positive and in a more matured manner and help them to develop great business ideas”.
Professor Smile Dzisi added that: “This is in line with the principles, core foundations of the establishment of this Institution.”
“We want the majority of students who graduate from this university to be entrepreneurs, build their own businesses and companies, provide employment opportunities for people out there to reduce employment in the country and as such this initiative I believe will send the right signals to students for them to think big and come out with business ideas,” Prof. Smile Dzisi Guava added.
KTU gives student cash
After brief presentations by 8 groups, one was eliminated in the first stage, and 3 others were also sidelined at the end of the second stage leaving 5 groups to battle it out for the start-up seed money.
A group called Tech Leads, was eventually adjourned winners for the 1st Vice Chancellor’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Challenge after presenting and testing a prototype of a business idea for Smart Energy Saver.
Tech Leads came first with 83 points over 125 as declared by the jury. The team was awarded five thousand cedis funding.
Their product, the smart energy saver which seeks to solve the problem of irrational use of electricity is an IoT powered device which uses the heat generated from the presence of people to control electrical appliances as it measures and displays electricity consumption per a given time.
For the second and third places, two groups who made a presentation on Sound Recording Studio and a Solar Lamp Device received Four Thousand Cedis and Three Thousand Cedis respectively to help with their startups.
The Director of Research and Innovation who was pleased with the outcome of the launch and presentations encouraged students and potential entrepreneurs to venture into partnerships to build a strong force.