Final Selection of "Techno-I 2011" Idea Contest Held (November 23, 2011)

The "Techno-I 2011" Executive Committee, which consists of the Kyoto University Venture Business Laboratory (Professor Kazumi Matsushige, VBL director and professor from the Graduate School of Engineering) and Kinki Invention Center, held the final selection meeting for the "Techno-I 2011" idea contest at our North Campus General Education and Research Building.

The "Techno-I 2011" idea contest aims to facilitate the development of talented individuals with a venture spirit and application of unique ideas in society. Covering the two categories of "technology" and "ideas for living," this year's contest had a total of 549 applications from across the nation (394 from high school students and 155 from university students).

Out of these applications, eighteen ideas were selected through the first screening process (nine from high school students and nine from university students). At the final selection, the applicants gave presentations on their ideas, passionately showing their prototypes before a large audience. They were challenged with relentless questions by the judges and went through a fervent exchange of questions and answers with the floor. In addition, this year, after the selection process, there was a lecture by Professor Junichi Shimada from the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine (Division of Chest Surgery), who is also the director of Yanchers Inc Kyoto, a venture business started up in collaboration with VBL. Looking back on his own life, especially his experiences in venture business, he shared with the young researchers and high school students participating in the contest the benefit of pursuing two career tracks, which greatly stimulated the young minds.

Through the selection process, the grand prize, the second grand prize and other prizes were awarded to a total of eighteen ideas from high school and university students. The prizewinners were presented with certificates, shields and gorgeous extra prizes, and the contest was concluded with excitement. The general grand prize--a new prize created this year--was awarded to high school student Yuki Terakawa (Fushimi Technical High School, Kyoto) who received the second grand prize. His idea of a portable mini-size hydroelectric power generation system and efforts for commercialization earned high marks from the judge, reflecting also its future potential.

This contest was realized with financial support from the Kinki Invention Center and the cooperation of university faculty staff members and high school teachers involved in the selection process. More information on the management of the contest and the results of the final selection is available at the VBL website ( http://www.vbl.kyoto-u.ac.jp/techno-i/）(in Japanese).

Prizewinners (honorifics omitted)

University Category

Grand Prize	Software for the Dynamic Representation of Kanji; "Play with Kanji": Akiko Takahashi (Kyoto University)
Second Grand Prize	Beckoning Shelf: Michi Nakai, Yohei Hongo, Shoji Yonei and Misato Fukami (Kyoto Institute of Technology)
VBL Director's Award	Guidebook in a roll; "The Truth of Kyoto": Takumi Uchiyama, Kimiaki Kawamoto, Ami Haneda and Kengo Kometani (Kyoto Institute of Technology)

High School Category

Grand Prize	The Way to Remove the Astringency of Persimmons Using Light: Yuko Aratani, Rina Ichizawa, Ayumi Nakayama, Kana Wakamoto, Joji Akaishi, Shin Nishizuka and Daichi Yamada (Nakui Agricultural High School, Aomori)
Second Grand Prize *awarded also the General Grand Prize	Generator Snail: Portable Folding Power Generator: Yuki Terakawa (Fushimi Technical High School, Kyoto)
Kinki Invention Center Award	Rehabilitation of Salt-Damaged Soil with Micro-bubble Water: Yuko Aratani, Rina Ichizawa, Ayumi Nakayama, Kana Wakamoto, Joji Akaishi, Shin Nishizuka, Daichi Yamada, Manami Henmi, Kanae Abe, Ami Hizawa, Mei Sunazawa, Rina Sasaki and Kazuma Komachi (Nakui Agricultural High School, Aomori)