Cover The five winning teams will join the Global Demo Event in Singapore later this year (Photo: Oppo)
The five winning teams will join the Global Demo Event in Singapore later this year (Photo: Oppo)
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Five teams will now advance to the Global Final Demo Event, where they will stand a chance to win a significant grant, partnership opportunities and incubation support to bring their innovations to life
Furthering its mission of “Technology for Mankind, Kindness for the World”, Oppo recently concluded the regional leg of its Inspiration Challenge 2023 in Bangkok. Launched earlier this year with global partners, Qualcomm Technologies, GSMA 5G IN, Amazon Web Services and LinkedIn, the initiative aims to bring new and innovative solutions to life by providing funding, support and partnership opportunities.
The challenge focuses on two categories namely, Inspiration for People and Inspiration for the Planet. Inspiration for People focuses on making technology universally accessible, particularly in digital health and technology for older people while Inspiration for the Planet centres on innovations in environmental protection and carbon neutrality for consumer electronics. A total of 15 qualified proposals from regional demo events will be selected as global finalists and top five winning proposals will be selected in the global final demo event, each being awarded a grant of USD $50,000, partnership prospects, and further support from Oppo as well as its collaborators, facilitating the realisation of their pioneering concepts.
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Above Oppo's Regional Demo Event was held at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok (Photo: Oppo)
Oppo's Regional Demo Event was held at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok (Photo: Oppo)
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This year, the event garnered remarkable attention, with 687 innovative proposals from 66 countries. Drawing from the triumphs of the 2022 challenge, which saw 18 top proposals materialise, Oppo continues its commitment to leveraging technology for societal advancement. The company has allocated a significant fund of US$ 440,000 to foster and incubate the cutting-edge solutions submitted.
The Bangkok Regional Demo Event was pivotal, with 15 select teams pitching their innovative concepts before a distinguished jury panel comprising representatives from Oppo, Amazon Web Services, Chulalongkorn University, and Deloitte. “We are thrilled to witness teams from around the world passionately presenting their innovative proposals for the 2023 Oppo Inspiration Challenge,” expressed Jason Liao, Head of Oppo Research Institute. “With such a plethora of captivating ideas, we eagerly anticipate jumpstarting transformative inventions that positively impact lives through virtuous innovation.”
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Above Backyard Creators Private Limited's Impulse from India giving their presentation to panel of judges and audience in attendance (Photo: Oppo)
Backyard Creators Private Limited's Impulse from India giving their presentation to panel of judges and audience in attendance (Photo: Oppo)
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The winning projects unveiled at the event underscored the depth of innovation nurtured by the Oppo Inspiration Challenge. Benew Tech’s ERTIGO from Thailand presented a mobile app for myofascial pain and chronic pain, offering interactive self-care animations and AI-assisted posture checks. Mila4AI Inc’s EZSpeech from Uzbekistan addresses speech disorders through remote treatment software. Backyard Creators Private Limited's Impulse from India offers a non-surgical hearing aid, while Mobio Interactive’s Precision Psychiatry at Scale from Singapore employs AI to enhance mental wellness. Lastly, Flint’s Paper Battery, also from Singapore, introduces sustainable and compostable energy storage solutions.
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Above Mila4AI Inc's EZSpeech from Uzbekistan addresses speech disorders (Photo: Oppo)
Mila4AI Inc's EZSpeech from Uzbekistan addresses speech disorders (Photo: Oppo)
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Professor Kaywalee Chatdarong, Vice President of Chulalongkorn University, thanked all participants, judges, and OPPO for contributing to the event's success. She highlighted the partnership's significance in providing real-world experiences for students and envisioning a future ripe with possibilities.
As the winning teams gear up for the Global Final Demo Event in Singapore, Oppo’s collaboration with partners like Qualcomm, GSMA 5G IN, Amazon Web Services, and LinkedIn remains strong. These partnerships ensure the resources necessary to transform these innovative ideas into reality, aligned with Oppo’s mission of utilising technology for the betterment of humanity and the environment.
Sim Wie Boon is the general manager of Tatler Malaysia. Previously the print and digital editor, Sim hails from the land of the hornbills, Sarawak. Sim is now based in Kuala Lumpur and brings more than a decade of experience in the media industry as a journalist and broadcast producer.
As a self-proclaimed geriatric millennial, he appreciates the finer things in life, from savouring a sip of single malt whisky to relishing in the deliciousness of char siew. While reminiscing about the indie-sleaze era, Sim now finds solace in the soothing tunes of ambient music, staying active through running and occasionally succumbing to the addictive world of doom scrolling.
Follow him on Instagram or Threads at @simwb
