A Preview of the Challenges

Presenting Seven Innovation Efforts

  1. Wong Fong Academy Pte Ltd + Play2Lead + EON Reality – An authentic and immersive environment for a training curriculum relating to workplace safety and health for learners to practice making real-time decisions and develop the right mind-set for safety;
  2. Bootstrap Pte Ltd + Playware Studio + ThreeLearning Online – Shift of blended learning approach from 70-20-10 to 20-20-60 (proportion of learning via [on-the-job] : [informal/social]: [formal] approaches) as a more effective, efficient, sustainable and scalable model, whilst ascertaining returns on learning to be on par, if not, better for the retail industry;
  3. ZALORA SEA Pte Ltd + Parenthesis – A Learning & Development Programme for a largely millennial workforce across different work locations, in which behavioural & technical skills are taught in engaging, bite-sized modules;
  4. Salad Stop Pte Ltd + The Flame Center + Traineum – Ensure retention of training in our local and overseas workforce, and exchange of knowledge and up-to-date training materials between the owner and overseas franchisees;
  5. The 1872 Clipper Tea Co. + Rockmoon – Centralised training that overcome inconsistencies, accommodate the different learning abilities of staff, and calculate the ROI for new training approaches.;
  6. Goh IGS & Automation Pte Ltd + IO-Resources + GNOWBE.com – Developing and implementing an effective, accessible learning system to codify, capture and store both explicit knowledge and tacit skills involving work equipment and use/repair; and
  7. Wing Tai Retail Management Pte Ltd + Play2Lead + EON Reality – Motivating and encouraging young, less committed and uninterested staff to attend service related training programmes and develop skills needed for delivering excellent customer service.

InnovPlus Challenge 26 Apr Programme

Subjected to changes, the gist of the programme on 26 April 2016 is as follows:

Timing Activity
8.30 – 9.00 Registration and Welcome
9.00 to 11.00 Panellists to visit 4 Challenge Teams’ (CTs) booth  ( about half hour each CT)
11.00 – 11.15 Tea Break
11.15 – 12.45 Panellists to visit 3 Challenge Teams’ booth (about half hour each CT)
12.45 to 2.00 Lunch
2.00 – 2.30 Presentations: What’s IN by iN.LAB Showcase Partners
2.30 – 3.00 CET Landscape Research Sharing by Dr Chen Zan
3.00 – 3.30 MOU Signing
Announcement of Results and Award Presentation

  • Comments by  Chair of the judging panel
  • Presentation of awards by Mr Ng Cher Pong, Chief Executive, Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA)
3.30 – 4.00 Refreshments and Networking
4.00 End of Event

InnovPLUS – Challenge Teams for the Finals on 26 April 2016

This is to announce the selection by the Challenge Owners.

Competition Name & Company Selected Solution Partners

(Final Challenge Team)

Challenge Team Code
Coy01: JCK Play2Lead & Team

CT01
Coy 2: 60-20-20 M-Learning Pte Ltd 1. Playware Studio – Gamification

2. ThreeLearning Online – LMS

 

CT02
Coy03: Company G Parenthesis

CT03
Coy04: C4 1.       The flame center

2.       Traineum

CT04
Coy05: ABC ORG RockMoon

CT05
Coy06: ShipDoctor I-O Resources & Team

CT06
Coy07: WTRM Play2Lead & Team (updated 14 Apr 2016 at 8:42am)

CT07

 

InnovPlus Presentation Schedule on 5 & 8 April 2016

NOTE: Here is the tentative presentation schedule.  Please email to me at mak_wai_keong@ial.edu.sg if there are concerns or changes to be made by 3pm, 4th April.

The final schedule will be uploaded by 4pm, 4th April 2016. Please check here again after 4 pm today for the final schedule.

Guidelines

  1. Each presentation is 30 mins (including Q&A by the Challenge Owners (COs).  Please adhere strictly to the time frame;
  2. There is no fixed format of presentation – the tip is to convince the COs with your proposal, the team’s strength and offerings (expertise and experience);
  3. A room will be allocated for presentation – a projector will be provided.  Please bring your own presentation laptop/devices (including the VGA/HDMI adaptor – VGA preferred);
  4. Please be on time for your presentation; early if possible;
  5. The venue is at iN.LAB –Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI)11 Eunos Road 8, Level 5 (#05-03)Singapore 408601(You may use Lift Lobby B)In the event if LLI carpark is full, you may park at Paya Lebar Square, which is just situated next to LLI.  You may contact me at 6513 2452 when you arrive at iN.LAB as we do not have a reception counter.  Please look out for information signages.
  6. Your presentation may be video-record for information purpose.

Download the schedule: InnovPlus_Team_Presentations_Schedule_Tentative_08 (Excel file – updated on 7th April 2016 5.19pm)

InnovPlus Challenge Information Session

InnovPlus_Header

You can sign up for the InnovPlus Challenge Information Session here.

For Meet Up at iN.LAB:  29 Mar 2016, 10am-11am.

For Online sessions:

Slides: Download InnovPlus_Presentation_Info_Session_For_Dissemination.

 

 

InnovPlus Programme Flow

Please read the commitment required for participation in the InnovPlus Challenge

Important Dates
To participate in the InnovPlus Challenge, there are four important dates for solutionists to take note:

  • Attend the 29 Mar InnovPlus Information Sharing Session at iN.LAB, 10 am where you will find out more on the processes and guidelines to participate in the InnovPlus Challenge
  • Join online forum to seek clarification on the problem statements put forth by the enterprises (Challenge Owners [COs]) on 29 Mar form 10.00am via the InnovPlus Discussion Forum (InnovPlus Problem Statement Discussion section).  Only registered participants at this site will be able to reply/post questions to the enterprises (COs).
  • Pitch your innovative solutions on 5 April from 9am onwards to the enterprises and forge collaborative  partnership to work on the solutions further for the next 3 weeks.
  • Pitch your final innovative solutions on  26 April to the Evaluation Panel for the awards

 

Date/Time  

Item

 Challenge Owner

(CO)

 Solution Partner

(SP)
24 Mar (Thu) Challenge Submission

Yes
29 Mar (Tue) Information Session (F2F and Webinar sessions)

Yes
·          29 Mar – 5 Apr

(1 week)

 Solution Partners will

1.        Clarify Challenge statements with COs via the online discussion forum;

2.         Form Team with other SPs; and

3.        Develop solutions;

Yes

Item 1 only

Yes
5 April (Mon)

 

 Teams to present to PSO

PSO chooses team solution

·          Team + CO = consortium

 

Yes

Yes
·          5 – 26 Apr

(3 weeks)

 Consortium to develop a sample of the proposed solution

Yes

Yes
26 Apr (Tue)

Finals

 At InnovPlus,

Consortium presents proposed solution and sample to Panel of Judges:

Prize: 4 x $5000 and 2 x $200k

Yes

Yes

Proto-type Development
The prototype development will take no longer than 6 months to complete and the final solution will have a chance to showcase at iN.LAB and at the various iN.LAB’s activities for another 3 to 6 months.

 

About InnovPlus
Innovation Plus (InnovPlus) Challenge is an initiative by WDA where real issues / challenges are brought forth to solutionists to develop innovative and impactful concepts to address them in a collaborative approach.  To reward the efforts and creativity, WDA is offering $5,000 cash awards for winning concepts and up to $200,000 development grant for prototype development. Exclusive Intellectual Property (IP) rights of the innovation arising from the prototype development will belong to the creator(s) and grant recipient(s).

 

InnovPLUS – FAQ

This page provides the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is InnovPLUS Challenge?

Innovation Plus (InnovPLUS) Challenge is an initiative by WDA where real issues / challenges are brought forth to solutionists to develop innovative and impactful concepts to address them in a collaborative approach.  To reward the efforts and creativity, WDA is offering $5,000 cash awards for winning concepts and up to $200,000 development grant for prototype development. Exclusive Intellectual Property (IP) rights of the innovation arising from the prototype development will belong to the creator(s) and grant recipient(s).

What are the important dates to take note?

To participate in the InnovPLUS Challenge, there are four important dates for all participants to take note of:

  • Solution Partners (SPs) to attend the 29 Mar InnovPLUS Information Sharing Session at iN.LAB, 10 am or through online webinars (please register for one Face-to-Face session OR one online session here) where you will find out more on the processes and guidelines to participate in the InnovPLUS Challenge.
  • Join the online forum to seek clarification on the problem statements put forth by the enterprises (Challenge Owners [COs]) on 29 Mar from 11.00am onwards via the InnovPlus Challenge Discussion Forum (InnovPLUS Challenge Discussion section).  Only registered participants at this site will be able to reply/post questions to the enterprises (COs).
  • Pitch your innovative solutions on 5/8 April from 9am onwards to the enterprises and forge collaborative  partnership to work on the solutions further for the next 3 weeks.
  • Pitch your final innovative solutions on  26 April to the Evaluation Panel for the awards.

 

What is the InnovPLUS Grant (IPG) and what does it entail?

The grant for prototyping will be capped at $200,000 per project with a maximum timeline of 6 months for both development and trailing/pilot.  It is expected that successful applicants for InnovPLUS must co-fund 10% in cash or in kind.  In-kind contribution refers to contributions, other than monetary, that defray a portion of the project’s eligible costs. Additional costs incurred during the project duration will be fully borne by the applications.

  1. In general, the IPG will support the following items:
  • Salaries of experts engaged directly to support the project in the areas of technical and development work;
  • Supplies that are necessary for the overall operation of the project;
  • Equipment that have direct contribution to the overall operation of the project;
  • Software licensing and maintenance that are essential for the project;
  • Consultancy hired for purposes such as research or advice that are directly impacting on the project;
  • GST on expenses incurred for project by non-GST registered grant receiving organisations; and
  • Others – items not in the above list but necessary for the conduct and successful delivery of the project could be included in the funding request, subject to the approval of the evaluation and in accordance to WDA funding guidelines.

 

  1. The grant will not support cost items that do not contribute directly to prototype development such as marketing and publicity. It will also not support salary and honorarium costs of applicants and members of the project teams, capital equipment not essential to the project and overseas travel.

 

  1. The disbursement for IPG will follow the following disbursement schedule as shown in Table 3. For project that has duration of 4 months or less, the Grant Recipients will have 3 disbursements out of the typical 4.

 

Table 3: Disbursement Schedule and Deliverables

SN Milestones/ Deliverables Disbursement Project with <  5 months duration Project that are 5 to 6 months
1 Acceptance of Letter of Agreement Advance disbursement of 30% of the approved project grant

√

›√
2 Submission of mid-term report

 

[To participate in case studies/ research conducted by WDA/IAL]

 Reimbursement of 90% of the actual costs capped at 50% of the approved project grant and offsetting  previous disbursement

N.A.

›√
3 Development of prototype and submission of final report

 

[To participate in case studies/ research conducted by WDA/IAL]

 Reimbursement of 90% of the actual costs capped at 80% of the approved project grant and offsetting  previous disbursement

›√

›√
4 Fulfilment of all obligations in the Letter of Award

 

[To participate in case studies/ research conducted by WDA/IAL]

 Reimbursement of remaining balance of the actual costs capped at approved project grant and offsetting  previous disbursement

›√

›√
5 To profile prototype in iN.LAB professional development seminars and workshop, partner showcase for a period of 3 to 6 months and participate in WDA/IAL conferences

N.A.

›√

›√

 

  1. Grant recipients will need to submit original or certified true copies of receipts and payment vouchers and invoices as proof of expenditure for qualifying expenses.

 

How long is the prototype development phase after being awarded the $200,000 InnovPLUS Grant?
The prototype development will take no longer than 6 months to complete and the final solution will have a chance to showcase at iN.LAB and at the various iN.LAB’s activities for another 3 to 6 months.

What is my company’s commitment in terms of resources and time?  What do I have to do? [For the Challenge Owners (CETs/SMEs/ATOs)]

[A Webinar for Problem Definition on 23 Mar 2016, 1am-2am (SGT)]

  • investigate and decide area of learning and skill development that you need a solution in and develop the problem statement to submit as a challenge for InnovPlus;
  • Set aside 1-2 hours (from 29 Mar – 5 April 2016) to participate in the online discussion forum to answer queries from potential Solution Partners (SPs) on the submitted problem statement(s) to provide the necessary inputs for them to develop a solution –your company identity will be hidden and not made known to the SPs;
  • Set aside 2-3 hours (depending on the number of proposed solutions – 30 mins per proposed solution) to hear and evaluate proposed solutions from the SPs, and to select the one they deemed most appropriate to solve their problem;
  • Appoint an in-house team as the subject matter expert(s) to work with the selected SP(s) to develop a trial sample (module) of the selected solution;
  • Set aside half a day to present and explained how your developed solution with SPs is able to solve the problem statement you presented to the InnovPlus judging panel on 26 April 2016);
  • If your solution is awarded the InnovPLUS prototype development grant, your team will continue on to be involved with the SP(s) to develop and trial the prototype. Collectively, you and the SP(s) will bear 10% of the costs to develop the prototype.  ;
  • If your solution did not manage to win the InnovPLUS Challenge, your company could still continue to work with the SP(s) to develop the full solution and if funding is required, you can approach Spring Singapore to tap on its Capability Development Grant or ISprint from iDA; and
  • Work with iN.LAB to draft a report on its experiences in the whole project which will be developed into a case study for sharing with other companies keen to adopt a similar solution.

Can you provide a sample of the problem statement?

Here is a sample of the problem statement.  Please do not take this as the means to all, but as a reference only.  Your problem is unique to you only.

Company G has been in the ship repair industry for 23 years.  the CEO is committed to developing his workers and continuous improvement in his company.  He noticed that it takes rather long, about 9 months, for a new engineer to be proficient (through apprenticeship, shadowing of senior engineers, classroom sessions), and is also concern with the aging of his senior engineers.  There is also the nagging worry of the senior engineers being poached by competitors.

He embarked on a series of training re-organisation – creating videos on how to repair certain ship-board equipment, sharing sessions by senior engineers and documentation of the processes.  However, it still takes 9 months for a new engineer to be proficient.

How can you help this company overcome this learning challenge?  What partners should you bring in to collaborate on developing a solution for him?

(Please make explicit assumptions taken in developing your solution e.g. is there a competency model?)

Who owns the intellectual property rights to the final product?

To encourage participation, exclusive Intellectual Property (IP) rights of the innovation resulted from InnovPLUS will belong to the creator(s) and grant recipients.

 

What are the evaluation criteria for the proposed solution and the sample?

InnovPLUS award evaluation criteria covers 5 broad areas:

SN Description
1 Concept
1.1 The proposal has identified the challenge / opportunity clearly and justify why it is a real challenge to be solved.
1.2 The proposal has articulated clearly the objectives, goals and desired outcomes of the project.
1.3 The proposed solution is able to address the challenge(s) and / or exploit the opportunities they present.
2 Innovation
2.1 The proposed solution (e.g. product, services, processes, pedagogical approaches) clearly and meaningfully innovate beyond known / existing ones with (a) clear innovative value and (b) absolute valued added.
2.2 The proposed solution includes innovation in user / learning experiences for adult educators, training management personnel, learners or organisation as a whole.
2.3 The innovation takes into consideration sound and innovative pedagogical design to enhance effectiveness of learning or desired learning outcomes.
3 Impact and Scalability
3.1 The proposed solution demonstrates potential of implementation organisation wide or sizeable segments of its workforce.
3.2 The proposed solution has the potential to also help other enterprises facing similar challenges (i.e. broader application, adaptation and transferability).
4 Team Composition
4.1 ·         All stakeholders involved in the project have been clearly identified and buy-in secured to trial the prototype development.

·         All team members have relevant and necessary competencies and track records to ensure successful project delivery.

·         Presence of a dedicated project manager to oversee the implementation and manage the project, including the administration of operational processes such as progress reporting, fund disbursement and budget management, resource management, etc.

·         Commitment to develop the prototype as envisioned.
4.2 The proposed solution has a credible and realistic plan and schedule to complete project in specified duration (max of 6 months).
5 Sustainability
5.1 The proposed solution takes into consideration costs and sustainability of implementing the solution, including:

·         rolling out to rest of organisation

·         hidden / additional costs needed to update / maintain the solution, to ensure its continued relevance across time and border.

 

The End