Winners of the 2018 Innovation Challenge were announced at an awards luncheon April 17. The annual competition features new, unique or re-imagined products and services developed by NDSU students. Teams compete for cash prizes during the competition, which is presented by the NDSU Office of the Provost, in partnership with the NDSU Research and Technology Park.
An independent panel of judges selected the honorees in three tracks:
• Products – creating and selling a physical item
• Services – finding ways to help someone else do something better
• Social Impact – changing public view or developing a non-profit organization
The winners received checks for $5,000 for the first-place grand prize; $1,000 for second place; and $500 for third place.
Honorees included:
Product
First place: “Osteo-Fill” by Raquib Hasan, Abbey Wohlers and Meredith Schroeder, who are working on a moldable putty-like substance that works to cure infections.
Second place: Hanaa Mansour and Matthew Crouse, have created a 3D printed “flask holder” to increase efficiency in laboratories.
Third place: Babak Jahani is creating an antibacterial coating to reduce the spread of disease.
Service
First place: Shrinidh Joshi is developing “Ace2Stem,” designer stem cells that assist in repairing the body when struck by disease.
Second place: “T-Prime Therapeutics” is a project by Matt Confeld and Abigail Zikmund, who are developing a genetically unique vaccine for cancers in family generations.
Third Place: Babak Mamnoon and Chad Rehovsky created “3D Biotumoroids,” a 3D printed chamber that helps to grow and monitor drug treatments of breast cancer.
Social Impact
First place: “Songbird Creations” by Jesse Riley, Nikki Ellingson, Elsie McGuigan and Mackenzie Alexander, who created a way to help schools fundraise and increase interest in STEM fields while reconnecting students to nature.
Second place: “PlusOne” by Ted Zipoy, Ian Gilley and Michael and Timothy Straus, who are empowering students to donate extra dining center meals to persons in need.
Third place: by Shrindh Joshi and Divya Sharma’s “Breathe Smarter” project improves patient outcomes and increases efficiency through a cloud-based data platform for asthma patients.
During the awards luncheon, NDSU President Dean Bresciani and Provost Beth Ingram spoke about the inspiration students provide others as they work on their Innovation Challenge projects.
In addition, a panel of business people discussed their entrepreneurial journey and how they assist entrepreneurs launch businesses. Panelists included Eric Newell, founder and CEO of Stoneridge Software; John Schneider, co-founder of Fargo 3D Printing; and Jenni Huotari, partner and director of business outsourcing and strategy at Eide Bailly.
The Innovation Challenge will resume next year in January with Bison Brainstorming and Pitch Night. Persons or businesses looking to further the development of student entrepreneurs are encouraged to contact Emily Schubert at emily@ndsuresearchpark.com or 701-499-3604.
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