- GE and AIM recognize role of Malaysian youth as the next generation of leaders, where innovation and knowledge serve as catalysts in maintaining high growth and competitiveness of Malaysia
- The GE University Challenge Malaysia is a collaborative effort with AIM to promote innovation in the area of energy efficiency
- Universities and academia identified as hotbeds for innovation, in line with GE's open innovation strategy to crowd source innovative ideas
- Top three winners received cash prizes while Team JYJY from University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus were offered learning opportunities including an internship at GE Malaysia and to 'shadow' a GE leader for a day
21 November 2013, Kuala Lumpur -- General Electric ("GE") announced the winners of the GE University Challenge Malaysia 2013 ("the Challenge") today, an open innovation challenge to bring together ideas on clean and energy-efficient solutions that promote sustainability and deliver cost savings for residential, commercial and industrial developments.
The Challenge comes at a critical juncture as the role of innovation has been identified as catalysts in maintaining high growth and competitiveness of Malaysia. A collaborative effort between GE and Agensi Inovasi Malaysia ("AIM"), the Challenge is open to undergraduate engineering and business students from public and private universities across Malaysia to promote innovation in the area of energy efficiency.
Speaking at the event, Stuart Dean, CEO of GE in ASEAN mentioned, "At GE, we recognize the role of young Malaysians and the importance of creating opportunities for them to challenge themselves. The objective of the Challenge is to tap into the bright young minds of the country's future leaders for ideas on solving one of the world's toughest problems."
The Challenge is a component of GE's open innovation strategy, where the company looks beyond its four walls to crowd source for ideas from the public such as universities and academia, which are hotbeds for innovation.
Naser Jaafar, Chief Operating Officer of AIM stated, "Youths today play a critical role as they are a key pillar in driving the country towards a developed, high-income nation. They are the next generation of leaders of our country and this challenge serves the objective of jump-starting wealth creation through knowledge, technology and innovation, by stimulating and developing the innovation eco¬-system in Malaysia."
Team JYJY from University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus emerged the overall winner of the Challenge, winning RM3,000, with opportunities to undertake an internship with GE Malaysia as well as 'job shadow' a GE leader for one day. The first runner up, Team Energive from Universiti Teknologi Petronas and second runner up, Team Silent Assassins from Universiti Putra Malaysia walked away with RM2,000 and RM1,000 prize money respectively.
The panel of judges which include Ahmad Khairuddin Abdul Rahim (Director of Clean Technology & Environment Management Division of Malaysian Investment Development Authority), Mohamed Azrin Mohamed Ali (Vice President [Built Environment] of Malaysian GreenTech Corporation), as well as senior representatives from GE and AIM selected the winning team from a shortlist of five teams from universities which include Universiti Malaysia Sabah and Universiti Tenaga Nasional. The contestants were assessed based on their holistic understanding of the Challenge, their depth of analysis, the innovation and imagination portrayed, the ease of implementation of ideas and the quality of presentation.
Speaking on behalf of Team JYJY, Chan Guan Yuan said, "We are honoured to be crowned winner of the 2012 GE University Challenge Malaysia. We have worked diligently throughout the competition and we are glad our efforts have paid off. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we look forward to our residency at GE as it gives us the opportunity to work and learn from one of the leading innovators in the world."
The Challenge is also organized on the back of recognition that innovation will play an increasing role in driving growth and performance, as well as the importance of thinking beyond conventional methods of innovation to stay competitive. Earlier this year, GE's Global Innovation Barometer, an annual survey to garner business executives' view on innovation, showed an emerging "Innovation Vertigo" (an uneasiness with the changing dynamics of today's business landscape and uncertainty over the best path forward), which is challenging leaders to think differently about how they will achieve growth.
Photo: The Inaugural 2013 GE University Challenge Malaysia
(Standing, from Left -- Right): Mohd Pahmi Mohktar, Country Leader, GE Oil & Gas, Malaysia; Mohd-Roslan Saad, Country Sales Executive, GE Power & Water; Mohamed Azrin Mohamed Ali, Vice President (Built Environment) Malaysian GreenTech Corporation; Ahmad Khairuddin Abdul Rahim, Director, Clean Technology & Environment Management Division, MIDA (fourth from left); Stuart Dean, CEO of GE ASEAN; Naser Jaafar, Chief Operating Officer, Agensi Inovasi Malaysia (AIM); Eddie Razak, Executive Vice President, Social Innovation & Communications, AIM (most right)
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
About AIM
Agensi Inovasi Malaysia (AIM), a statutory body established by the Government through an Act of Parliament is created to jump start wealth creation through knowledge, technology and innovation and stimulate and develop the innovation eco-¬-system in Malaysia towards achieving Vision 2020. For more information, visit: www.innovation.my
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Zatalini Zulkiply
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GE International Malaysia
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