Arctic Innovation Competition finals scheduled Friday
October 26, 2010
907-474-7042
10/26/10
The University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Management will award $19,600 in cash prizes Friday, October 29 after the final round of presentations in its 2010 Arctic Innovation Competition.
The competition, in its second year, drew 235 ideas from 171 contenders worldwide, an increase of 18 percent over last year. It asked entrants to propose new, feasible and potentially profitable ideas for solving real-life problems and challenges.
The semifinalists’ presentations in the UAF Wood Center Ballroom start at 2 p.m., with the final four showdown and award ceremony from 5-7 p.m., followed by a reception. A panel of judges will select 20 winners to receive cash prizes ranging from $100 to $10,000.
Semi-finalists include a husband and wife competing against each other, 2009 AIC winner Chris Hunter and UAF School of Management student Zachary Jacobs. Topics range from consumer goods, energy and environment, construction and public policy. This year’s intriguing ideas include a temperature-controlled, automatic garage door; a permafrost foundation design; a green carbonated beverage container; and an automotive hobby shop for the public.
"It feels really great to be in the top 20 out of 235 ideas; it has given me a lot of faith that my idea is one I can really build interest in," said Jacobs. “This competition gives me the outlet I need to start promoting my idea, and I would like to do as much as I can to get the word out so this auto hobby shop will become a reality in the Fairbanks community.”
The public is invited to attend; all attendees will be eligible to win an Alaska Airline ticket. More information is available online at www.arcticinno.com.
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Ping Lan, professor, at 907-474-7688 or plan@alaska.edu.
ON THE WEB: www.arcticinno.com