USM PENANG, 12 Sept. 2022 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Pitch@USM programme via the Centre for Innovation and Consultation (CIC), Division of Research and Innovation has finally come to the end as the winners have been selected by the appointed panels.

Pitch@USM has announced its winners for the second cycle. The three winning teams have been judged thoroughly and chosen to be awarded a RM10,000 and RM20,000 grant respectively for their business start-up.

Pitch@USM has received 9 pitch applications comprising of 4 undergraduate students, 2 postgraduate students, 2 academic staff and 1 postdoctoral fellow.

In the latest pitch session, three teams were selected to pitch their ideas to the university panel of judges whereby each one was headed by:

1. Associate Professor Dr. Rafidah Zainon (Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, IPPT); Title: Smart Automated Radiopharmaceutical Dispenser; Successfully received: RM10,000 grant.
2. Dr. Mohd Hafiz Mohd Zin (Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, IPPT); Title: Software for Quick Quantitative (Qu) Image Quality (IQ) Analysis of Computed Tomography (CT) Imaging System; Successfully received: RM20,000 grant.
3. Kavita Sivapragasam (USM Alumna); Title: The Headstart Academy; Successfully received: RM10,000 grant.

The event focused on the problem statement and the solution, business plan, team members and working paper as required for the Pitch Competition.

USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Dr. Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan, who is also one of the judges, in his speech, on behalf of the panels, congratulated the winners with the hope that the chosen winners will make use of the opportunity and bring all things good to the institutions and communities.

Also present were the rest of the panel of judges:

• Professor Dato’ Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed (USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation)
• Farid Wajidi Mat Yusoff (USAINS Sdn. Bhd. Group Managing Director)
• Professor Ir. Dr. Srimala Sreekantan (Director of Centre for Innovation and Consultation, CIC)
• Dato' KK Hun [Toray Group (Malaysia)]
• Associate Professor Dr. Tan Jun Jie (Chairperson of Pitch@USM)

Additionally, Pitch@USM has also launched the Business Ideation Challenge for the USM community to submit any idea that they could think of that can create an impact and turn into a business.

This exercise is to induce critical, design thinking which are necessary for ideation among the USM community, with the hope that more ideas can be formulated and planned for Pitch competition and business start-ups in USM.

This year, Pitch@USM received a total of 18 entries – 5 entries from undergraduate students, 12 from postgraduate students and 1 from USM staff.

In the final evaluation, seven ideas will be selected and will be awarded RM100 each. Winners will be notified and announced in the Pitch@USM website.

Text: Nur Farrah Ezlin Mohd Suhaimi