Intel in association with Department of Science & Technology, Government of India organized "DST-Intel India Innovation Pioneers Challenge 2006", an innovative business plan competition for educational institutions and organizations across India.

The objectives of "DST-Intel India Innovation Pioneers Challenge 2006" are to:

• Support students and alumni with entrepreneurial community in their endeavors to create real businesses

• Encourage commercialization of promising ideas emerging from the country's research centers

• Provide platform to develop business plans on some of most exciting technologies

DST-India Innovation Pioneers Challenge 2006 showcases the business opportunities that have the greatest potential for a positive impact on society through the deployment of new and truly innovative technologies. With areas that cover the spectrum of cutting edge technologies, "DST-Intel India Innovation Pioneers Challenge 2006" empowers aspiring entrepreneurs to work towards making their dreams a reality.

About 'Scholar Sparks' category

• Open only for student teams with potential to become big businesses. Students with new technology business ideas / plans from engineering colleges, polytechnics, universities, science colleges and B-Schools participate in this category.

• The top 3 teams will be given the following prizes*:

  • 1st Prize = Rs 3,00,000 (3 lakh)

  • 2nd Prize = Rs 1,00,000 (1 lakh)

  • 3rd Prize = Rs 50,000 (fifty thousand)

• The team receiving the 1st prize will also receive an all expenses paid-trip (Economy-class airfare, boarding and lodging only) to UC-Berkeley for participating at the Intel + UC Berkeley Technology Entrepreneurship Challenge in 2007.

• The judging criteria for the business plan includes: a) innovation, b) immediate and long-term
  impact and c) most elegant design solution to a challenging problem.

Background of "Scholar Sparks" category

• DST-Intel India Innovation Pioneers Challenge 2006 launched on 04 August 2006

• Received 98 executive summaries from students who have business ideas and want to make it
  big into potential; businesses

• Business ideas relevant to technology areas of the competition selected to proceed to the finals

• The judging criteria for the business plan to proceed to finals included: a) innovation, b) immediate and long-term impact and c) most elegant design solution to a challenging problem

• 12 teams comprising of 21 members selected to participate in the discussion with Mentors,
  "Mentor Meet" on 08 November 2006.

Technology Focus Areas

"DST-Intel India Innovation Pioneers Challenge 2006" showcases areas with the greatest potential for a positive impact on society through the commercialization of new and truly innovative technologies. Only business ideas that make integral use of novel technology, such as technologies in the following industry categories, have been chosen to participate at the "Mentor Meet" under Scholar Sparks category:

1. Manufacturing of electronic systems and hardware - techniques, technologies etc.

2. Hardware - new systems for instrumentation, control and applications.

3. Communications including rural and group level communications with special emphasis on mobile and wireless systems and devices.

4. Digital home - devices and systems for smart homes, remote control of appliances etc.

5. Consumer electronic devices with micro devices, better quality and new applications

6. Technologies and systems for retailing

7. Applications of IT for agriculture - measurements, implements - water supply, resource conservation, etc.

8. New types of software services and web services

The technology implemented in the business plan should also address issues like the novelty of the plan, feasibility, utility aspects and its applicability to disadvantaged people, rural areas and to improving the societal lifestyle. While the scope of technology innovation is not restricted to the above, plans without a strong technology focus may not be chosen to compete.

Products are preferred. If business models / entrepreneurship models are proposed, they should be really new and should have significant advantages over existing models.

Judging Criteria

A panel of experts from academia and industry will be judging the finalists to decide the top 3 teams. Some of the evaluation criterion that the Judges will consider during the finals are:

• Executive Summary of the competition (Less than 3 min elevator pitch)

• Markets and Competition

  • Clearly Identified target audience (Market)

  • Problem / need addressed

  • Competitive Assessment (Existing market / projected market)

  • Alternative Solutions available / possible

• Team

  • Relevant domain experience. education, network, Industry experience, business track record of the mentors, etc.

  • Gaps in the team

  • Steps taken to fill the gaps

• Products and Services

  • Solution proposed

  • Justification for the proposed solution

  • IP of the proposed product / service

  • Uniqueness of the proposal

  • Strategy for implementation of the proposed solution / business idea

• Financial Aspects

  • Profitability of the proposal

  • Projected capital requirements

  • Sources to raise capital

• Justification for why the business should be considered for next level?

Short listed teams with allotted mentors