Incredible Green Contest

Climate change is among the most serious international environmental protection issues humanity faces in this era, posing ineluctable challenges which the global society must confront together. Energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and working towards a sustainable planet will be the focal point of major industries in the near future. In the digital era, one can deploy panoply of ICT solutions to achieve energy efficiency, reduce carbon and efficaciously accelerate productivity.

In order to promote Taiwan’s integration with the global green movement, Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy (TAISE) and Acer Foundation are jointly sponsoring the Incredible Green Contest, an international competition focusing on ‘green, innovative, ICT solutions’. The contest aims to advance environmental protection across the planet, promote green lifestyles, and enhance awareness of green environmental protection issues. Students from across the globe are invited to join and draw on their youthful creativity to innovate new ICT applications that change our lifestyles.

The Incredible Green Contest global launch ceremony held today was attended by Stan Shih, Founder of the Acer Group, and Dr. Eugene Chien, Chairman of Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy, who spun the event logo Green Thinking Cap to inaugurate this worldwide competition. Among the many invited guests in attendance are the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) Minister, Shih-hung Shen, along with a coterie of distinguished government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives from the British Trade & Cultural Office, New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office, Trade Office of Swiss Industries, Singapore Representative Office in Taipei, Spanish Chamber of Commerce, German Institute Taipei, Netherlands Trade and Investment Office, and the Korean Mission in Taipei, evincing the importance they place on lending their practical support to this international competition. Additionally, numerous leading university presidents, faculty and students expressed their enthusiasm for the contest, adding extra fervor to the event. Acer Foundation and TAISE expect this unique competition which harnesses diverse leadership demands from the fields of diplomacy, environmental protection, academic interchange, and industry will not only enhance global status and international competitiveness, promote international exchanges, but also help create a new milieu for fostering green environmental protection, therefore the whole world can see the green innovation action of Taiwan.

Acer Group Founder Stan Shih commented, “Energy saving and carbon reduction will remain challenges for humans in the future; therefore, we should continue to pursue effective solutions. This contest encourages people to brainstorm and provides a platform for finding solutions. Participants will also learn through this process and it will help to raise their awareness of these issues."

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and the first Taiwan EPA Director, current Chairman of the Taiwan Institute of Sustainable Energy, Dr. Eugene Chien said, “In this digital era, we can deploy ICT solutions to more effectively enhance energy efficiency and achieve carbon reduction, so we hope to unite and invigorate the initiative of students around the world to achieve the tailor-made ‘green, innovative, ICT solutions’ essential to our desired future.”

J.T. Wang, chairman and CEO of Acer Inc., further added, “I hope this contest draws the participation of students from around the world who are interested in environmental protection, and I hope it promotes the next generation of 'green life'. We also look forward to seeing innovative ideas for boosting sustainable environmental protection.”

Incredible Green Contest registration begins June 29th through October 31st, 2012. All students across the globe are welcome to join, without limitation to age, nationality, or gender, as individual or team contestants. The first prize is an impressive US$60,000. Entries will be selected in three rounds of competition: preliminary, first and final rounds. Entry proposals are to be written in English, followed by presentations including digital audiovisuals, demonstrations, models or simulations. The entries will be judged by a panel of respected international academics and representatives from leading global enterprises, who will select winners (or winning teams) based on the criteria of green environmental protection contributions, feasibility, and innovation. Acer Foundation hopes this competition will reveal many diamonds in the rough, stimulating participants’ inspiration and ingenuity, in international innovation beyond borders or barriers, integrating green environmental protection issues into ICT applications, and to shape the green future everyone desire.

Please visit official competition website at
http://greencontest.acerfoundation.org.tw/