by PO Lucena

Legazpi City (1 February) -- The Technology Resource Center (TRC) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) invites students of public and private higher education institutions to join the "TeknoBiz Idea Challenge" to be held in conjunction with the 1st Techno Partnering Forum to be hosted by TRC on February 24, 2010.

Evolving on the theme: Merging Business with Technology, the event typifies a youth business idea contest designed hone their creativity and entrepreneurial skills to become successful techno-preneurs in the future.

DOST's promotional papers states that entries on technology-based ideas should be innovative, must not have been introduced elsewhere in the country and have market acceptability both to the Philippine and foreign markets.

It added that the entries must be endorsed and signed by the school's authorized representative (College Dean or President) shall be accepted.

The entry form and requisite proofs of registration shall likewise be submitted in a folder in two sets and similarly labeled on the outside for easy and clear identification.

Elimination will be held on January 27, 2010 and winners will be duly notified by the Contest Secretariat through email and call-out.

Pre-requisites for participation include the following:

a) All registered students should submit their technology-based business idea between December 15, 2009 and February 5, 2010.

b) Must be a bonafide student of a CHED-accredited educational institution or a state college/university during the abovementioned period. Proof of enrolment in the form of a photocopy of each team member's Registration Form or school I.D. for SY 09-10 must be attached to the Entry Form.

c) Must comply with all contest entry requirements (eligibility, entry form, formats for concept paper and presentation, and school endorsement) per information kit.

d) Must agree to abide by the TeknoBiz Idea Challenge contest rules and the decision of TRC, the Contest Organizer.

e) Students may opt to form a team but should not be more than five. All team members must be enrolled in the same school.

f) A student can be a member of only one team.

In addition, participants are required to submit a concept paper or the executive summary of their business technology idea. Participant are also encouraged to submit a prototype/model/design mock-up/sample product to support their idea.

Entries must be submitted to TRC's Technology Livelihood & Information Dissemination Services Group (TLIDSG), TRC Bldg., #103 J. Abad Santos St., Little Baguio, San Juan City, Metro Manila 1500 with contact nos. (632) 727-6205 locals 201 or 206 (telephone); (632) 721-0063 (fax) and tlidsg@yahoo.com (email/Mr. JC Amobit, Junior Technical Expert as contact person) on or before 5:00 p.m. on January 31, 2010 and to consider the other contest timeline as follows:

Deadline for submission of entries : February 5, 2010
Announcement of 10 Finalists : February 12, 2010
Presentation at the Technology Forum/Final Judging : February 23, 2010
Awarding Ceremonies : February 24, 2010

All basic criteria must be met and judging will be based on the following factors:

Innovativeness - 25%
Market Potential - 25%
Feasibility (Philippine Contest) - 25%
Social Impact - 15%
Environment Friendly - 10%
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Total: 100%