Idea to Product Latin America

BIO-FIEND, FROM UFMG, WINS IDEA TO PRODUCT™ COMPETITION LATIN AMERICA 2011

Rene Fernandes, competition director, Fernanda e Aluir, members of Bio-Fiend, and judges Carlos Miranda (BR Opportunities), Carlos Praes (Grupo Boticário) and Marcelo Tambascia (3M).

The winning team of the Idea to Product (I2P) Latin America 2011 was Bio-Fiend, from UFMG (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais). They will represent Latin America in the global final that takes place in Stockholm, Sweden, between November 17th and 19th. Team Bio-Fiend’s product is Fragdust, a dust suppressor to prevent or reduce the action of wind in the storage and transportation of iron ore. It utilizes residual glycerine from the biodiesel production process to reduce the dispersion of iron dust in the atmosphere, which causes devastating effects to the environment and health related issues. Their innovation can replace the current system used by mining companies, mostly polymers, used to create a thin layer on the surface of iron ore. In Stockholm the team can earn up to $ 10,000 in prizes.

IDEA TO PRODUCT™ COMPETITION LATIN AMERICA 2011

September 1-3, 2011

Fundação Getulio Vargas – Sao Paolo

Introduction

Do you want to develop businesses marketing new and exciting innovations? Is working on multi-disciplinary teams for you ideal? Does creating and presenting your innovation to an audience sound energizing? Not the least, do you want to win valuable prizes?

Then Idea-to-Product Competition Latin America is the opportunity you have been looking for.

The Centro de Empreendedorismo e Novos Negócios da Fundação Getulio Vargas – FGVcenn will promote in 2011 the 4th edition of the Idea-to-Product Competition – Latin America. The Idea to Product® Competitions, founded at The University of Texas at Austin, are early-stage technology commercialization plan competitions that aim for unique product ideas with clear market demand that use innovative technologies. The goal is educating and developing the next generation of technology entrepreneurs. The program is particularly interested in matching technologies resulting from a university’s fundamental research programs with potential markets. From now the FGV is responsible for the Latin American version of the challenge. The winning team will be automatically invited to participate in the Idea-to-Product Global, in the United States, with the winners from others local competitions. The Latin American contest wishes to bring to Sao Paolo a representative from each of the most important schools from all 33 countries in the region.

Idea-to-Product Latin America is an innovative competition inspiring the innovative spirit in students around Latin American countries where participants develop a technology commercialization plan to confirm the validity and market potential of a new, innovative, and competitive product. Students then present the commercialization plan to a group of knowledgeable judges. I2P’s mission is to create a competitive Latin American forum in which to enhance cross-disciplinary studies in entrepreneurship, research, technology & emerging markets.

Forms Downloads:

Team Registration Form

Team Registration Form Guidelines

5-Page Report Guidelines

Forms can be completed in Portuguese, English or Spanish. We wish all participants the best of luck.