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Meeting with:Lead Coordinators from NUST Schools &FICS 2015 Core Team

25th November 2014

FINDING INNOVATIVE & CREATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR SOCIETY (FICS)

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Introduction to FICS

Finding Innovative & Creative Solutions for Society (FICS)

Concept: encourage students to get actively involved in social problem identification, & think innovatively to devise technology-based solutions

2014 was 2nd consecutive year of FICS

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Aim: instill a spirit of commitment amongst students, to give back to society by applying their knowledge & converting their creative ideas into value-adding solutions

3-stage competition: projects are shortlisted on the basis of relevance, impact, novelty, practicality & commercializability

2014 was 2nd consecutive year FICS 2014 co-organized by SEECS & CAC

Involves mentors from the Industry

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Objectives

To encourage students to contribute to societal / community development

To allow students to think creatively & develop latest applications & innovative technology based-solutions

To serve as a platform for identifying ideas & technologies that can be commercialized & converted into viable products & services

To engage Industry for NUST initiatives – mentorship opportunity particularly beneficial for students

To foster an entrepreneurial culture within NUST & at a national level

Objectives

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FICS Stages

Stage 1

• Synopsis submission

• Evaluation & shortlisting – SEECS internal team

• 77 project ideas submitted

• 56 shortlisted for Stage 2

Stage 2

• Posters & videos / ppt

• Evaluation by academicians & Industry members

• 38 projects shortlisted for Stage 3

• Few selected by Industry for mentoring

Stage 3

• 29 finalists• Prototypes

presented• Judges from

Industry, NUST Schools & other HEIs

• 3 winners selected

• 10 projects taken up by Industry for mentoring

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FICS Stages

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Projects

ICT-based

Electronics

Telecommunication

Health & Medicine (Biotechnology)

Automotive

Energy

Projects Cutting Across Sectors

All 3 prizes sponsored by Industry (50k, 30k, 15k)

Event cost sponsored by Industry (Total: Rs. 200,000)

Projects in Stage 2 selected for mentorship

Feedback: Industry to give project ideas before competition is launched

Industry Support

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FICS 2015

2013 & 2014: FICS was intra-SEECS

Successful in inculcating interest towards Social Entrepreneurship

FICS 2015 co-organized by SEECS, SMME, Corporate Advisory Council (CAC) & NUST Entrepreneurs Club (NEC)

Project to be expanded to intra-NUST; scope enhanced to include all disciplines

Formation of multidisciplinary project groups

Broader spectrum of social / community development

Enhance & enrich Industry interest & involvement

Winning projects from FICS can go to DISCOVER & other business plan competitions

From Intra-SEECS to Intra-NUST

Lead CoordinatorsFaculty members from all NUST SchoolsCoordinating with student teams for project ideasGuiding students through various stages of FICSManaging student project ideas submitted online

NUST Entrepreneurs Club (NEC)Marketing & PR activities in all SchoolsWorking with Lead Coordinators in their respective SchoolsOrganization & coordination tasks

Teams Formed for FICS 2015

FICS 2015 Core TeamLead Coordinators from Schools + NEC office bearers + Faculty members from SEECS & SMME + CAC team membersPlanning & monitoring (including managing website)Act as the hub for all coordinationAct as the conduit between Industry & students

FICS 2015 TeamFICS 2015 Core Team + School Principals and Senior Reps from SchoolsKept in the loop for high-level updatesContacted for support / help at School level

Teams Formed for FICS 2015

THANK YOU