The Best Idea Cup kicked off as the first event of the “StartGlocal – Global Spirit for Local Start-ups” project run by the Centre for Research, Innovation and Transfer at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. As in-person events are virtually impossible due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s annual ideas competition took place online.
For the ‘Best Idea Cup 2020’ competition, held online, 56 business ideas were submitted by students from all faculties at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences. Eight of them were given the opportunity to present their ideas in an online pitch. The Best Idea Cup jury, comprising members of the StartGlocal project team, has now awarded the top three entries prize money of 500 euros, a six-month start-up coaching programme and a certificate.
“We are delighted with the ideas submitted and the students’ creativity. Everything was represented, from technical ideas and social innovations to projects focusing on sustainability. It was no easy task for us to select a top three from such a wide range of entries,” reports Dr Gerhard Heusipp, jury member and Head of the Centre for Research, Innovation and Transfer at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences.
The following ideas were awarded prizes:
Autonomous Drone Route System (Mark Trubetskoy and Ralph Deymann, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, B.Sc.)
The Autonomous Drone Route System aims to develop safe and autonomous flight routes for drones in urban areas for commercial and government use.
Self-Care Cards (Julia Gessler, Environment and Energy degree programme, B.Sc.)
Self-Care Cards is a collection of cards featuring psychological techniques to reduce anxiety and stress. The cards can be carried in a trouser pocket or handbag as a daily companion. Thanks to their attractive design, they also make ideal gifts.
Builder Bee (Alistair Kane, International Business and Social Sciences degree programme, B.A.)
The Bee Box is a new and modern type of bee hotel. Through a transparent pane, interested visitors can watch the ‘Builder Bees’ at work and learn from them.
Once again this year, the prize money was sponsored by the friends’ associations of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences – Förderverein Hochschule Rhein-Waal e.V., Förderverein Campus Cleve e.V. and Förderverein Campus Camp-Lintfort e.V. The university would like to express its sincere thanks to the support associations and wishes the award-winning students every success in further developing their ideas.
The “StartGlocal – Global Spirit for Local Start-ups” project is funded as part of the EXIST programme by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the European Social Fund. For further information, please contact startglocal@hochschule-rhein-waal.de.
