The Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board
is pleased to announce its
2022 Soy Innovation Challenge
hosted in conjunction with
Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research
at the University of Louisville.
About
Soybeans and their components are an incredibly versatile material, used in hundreds if not thousands of industrial and commercial applications daily. The renewable, sustainable nature of soy is highly desirable for consumers, retailers, and product manufacturers alike.
Student groups from UofL, Bellarmine, Sullivan, and JCTC, under the direction of Conn Center and UofL faculty mentors, will formulate and present concepts to the Soybean Board by mid-September via Zoom. Four to five (4-5) selected concepts will be awarded $2,000-$3,000 seed money to develop those concepts over the course of the following 2-3 months.
Those proposals will be presented to the Board for final review at the end of the Fall 2022 semester, date TBD.
The first-place team will receive $10,000, second-place team will receive $5,000.
The Soy Innovation Challenge is open to all currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Louisville, Bellarmine University, Sullivan University, and Jefferson Community & Technical College.
Preliminary Proposal Submissions
Preliminary concepts are due by September 15 at 11:59 pm. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Submit all required materials as a single PDF by email to Jagannadh Satyavolu.
Title document as “TEAM NAME_Soy Innovation Challenge_Prelim.pdf”
All preliminary proposals shall include the following:
Team name:
Proposal title:
Student member name 1:
Contact phone & email:
Student member name 2:
Contact phone & email:
Student member name 3:
Contact phone & email:
Student member name 4:
Contact phone & email:
Faculty advisor name 1:
Contact phone & email:
Faculty advisor name 2:
Contact phone & email:
Narrative. 1500-word concept idea, including address of Preliminary Business Assessment points, below, and potential soybean market volume impact.
Schematic. Illustration or diagram to visualize idea concept and processing flow (1-page max)
Preliminary Business Assessment
-
Product concept/idea
-
IP/Patent search
-
Marketing/Economics
Invited Full Proposal Development and Presentations
After the preliminary submission in September, select teams will be invited to develop full proposals for in-person finalist presentations at the end of the semester, with exact date, time, and location TBA.
Fully developed concept proposals are due by December 12 at 11:59 pm. Late submissions will not be accepted. Failure to submit on time will disqualify teams from in-person presentations.
Submit all required materials as a single PDF by email to Jagannadh Satyavolu.
Title document as “TEAM NAME_Soy Innovation Challenge_FINAL.pdf”
All proposals shall include the following:
Executive Summary. (250 words max)
Narrative. 5000-word proposal, including address of Technical Feasibility Assessment and Final Product Assessment points, below.
Schematic. Illustration or diagram to visualize idea concept and processing flow (2 pages max)
References cited.
Team member biosketches. (1 page each).
Technical Feasibility Assessment
-
Literature review
-
Budget/vendor information
-
Establish product specifications
-
Create product prototypes
-
Measure product properties to meet specifications
-
Competitive product
Final product Assessment
-
IP strategy documented and completed
-
Revise/update marketing/economic assessment
-
Produce final report
Required Project Components (In-person presentations)
In addition to full proposal materials, all in-person presentations shall include the following:
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Thorough Research Notebook
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Product Idea/Bibliography
-
Timeline
-
Patent Search/Literature Review
-
Market Analysis
-
Budget/Vendor Table
-
Technical Process Summary
-
Packaging
-
Final Report
-
Team Presentation
Project Goals & Concept
Project goals:
-
Recruit students with a diverse set of skills and skill levels to compete.
-
Educate and mentor students on soy products, applications and economics.
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Deliver diverse, high-quality product prototypes and preliminary marketing to KSPB.
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Enhance public awareness of student innovation and soybean use in new products.
Stage gate steps
Preliminary Business Assessment
Product concept/idea
IP/Patent search
Marketing/Economics Technical Feasibility Assessment
Literature review
Budget/vendor information
Establish product specifications
Create product prototypes
Measure product properties to meet specifications
Competitive product
The competition seeks to inspire development of new industrial applications, products, or processing involving soybeans or their components through their application to replace existing products and processes or the development of new uses. These should highlight technical and environmental benefits as well as economic and technical feasibility. All products must be novel, not currently commercialized, or in development.
Competition Rules
1. All preliminary concepts selected for full proposal development, including products, works, or ideas, become sole property of University of Louisville. Commercialization of a project or projects will result in the Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board retaining a percentage of the IP rights and/or royalties.
2. Each product team must be composed of at least two and no more than four full-time students enrolled at the University of Louisville, Bellarmine University, Sullivan University, and/or Jefferson Community & Technical College and two faculty advisors. Seniors on track to graduate and in their last semester will be allowed to participate in part-time status. A team of up to four people may include two graduate students. One advisor must have technical expertise. Faculty may mentor more than one team.
3. Individuals may not participate simultaneously on different teams.
4. All products must be novel, not currently commercialized, or in development.
5. All work must be the original work of the team.
6. Advisors must verify all team members have current Lab Safety Training before the performance of any lab work.
7. No testing of products/prototypes on human or animal subjects in any way.
8. For teams to be eligible to present their product at the awards ceremony, the team must have been able to produce a product prototype.
9. Judge’s decisions on the awards are final.
More Information
Dr. Jagannadh Satyavolu
Theme Leader, Biofuels & Biomass Conversion
Endowed Chair in Renewable Energy Research
Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research
University of Louisville
Jagannadh.satyavolu@louisville.edu
502-852-3923