While the education component of the Intel-Berkeley
partnership carries the subtitle “Theory to Practice,
it is in the Intel+Berkeley
Technology Entrepreneurship Challenge that the focus
is truly on “Practice”.
This competition, hosted by the Lester Center, brings
the winners of business plan competitions supported
by Intel Corporation around the world to the Berkeley
campus. The inaugural event last October saw teams from
Mexico, Russia, Singapore and the United States compete.
This year over 30 teams will come from across the globe,
with entrants from India, the Middle East, China, and
Eastern Europe joining those from Mexico, Russia, Singapore
and the United States. The program will take place October
24-26, 2006 in Berkeley and will include opportunities
for education and interaction with Haas entrepreneurship
students and fellow contestants.
In emerging markets, innovation and entrepreneurship
are particularly important. The Challenge showcases
business opportunities from these areas that have the
greatest potential for a positive impact on society
through the deployment of new and truly innovative technologies.
Through the Challenge, Intel and UC Berkeley are committed
to aiding universities worldwide in providing an environment,
including technical and business curricula, that supports
entrepreneurs and helps them make their dreams a reality.
In the inaugural Challenge, finalists presented technologies
that ranged from semiconductors, medical devices, and
software to consumer web services and life sciences.
The competition recognized three plans in particular:
the Grand Prize winner (best overall technology and
presentation), the best Technology Impact prize (venture
idea that might have a significant impact in an industry
sector) and the best Global Market Impact (venture idea
that had the potential to affect the largest population
segment).
Many of the schools participating will have faculty
that also participated in the “Theory
to Practice” seminars. It is this unique focus
on the integration of rigorous academic training and
practical, mentored implementation, that makes the Intel
Technology Entrepreneurship Education Initiative
so innovative and holds so much promise for making a
practical and significant impact. As summed up by Jerry
Engel, “Working with Intel to enhance entrepreneurship
education world-wide, by extrapolating on the best elements
of our programs here at Berkeley, has not only been
exciting and rewarding in its own right, but as importantly,
has brought us new insights that will profoundly benefit
our programs here. This exemplifies how global innovation
and local program development can go hand-in-hand.”
