Snapshots of the business plans are absolutely fascinating - One that captured my imagination is from Japan, where the team combines an ancient local technique of "braiding" with new age materials that result in light but incredibility strong objects. It is the combination of pulling both from cultural references and phd level research that inspires these participants to new ways to address challenges. When the judges ask if the braiding technique can be patented, the participant chuckles and responds you can't patent history but I can patent my materials that allow these results.
Other teams speak to breakthroughs that would allow epileptic patients not to suffer from reoccurring seizures or hepatitis C victims to receive long term medication with better results and less pain. These projects speak to using nanotechnology previously spoke of in regards to science fiction to solve truly human problems that have caused chronic suffering. Taking that "far out" concept and actually creating something that truly changes life - really brings engineering to life and out of the classroom.
Beyond the actual presentation to "real judges" who are volunteer Venture Capitalist who do this for their real job - the students are still students. As they wait to hear the first day results - they talk to their fellow participants as they would their local colleagues - but their scale is global - as they argue the challenges of startups in China versus India. Their dreams illustrate what truly could be possible tomorrow - with the ideas they are nurturing today.
Learn more about the program and the winners of last year's challenge
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