Creative and interesting ideas pay off in Bosch challenge.

University students who figured out a way to get around their campus’ unpredictable bus service emerged tops in the recent Innovation Around My Campus 2014 challenge hosted by technology and services company Bosch.

Students Ngan Eng Heng and Lim Tsiu Fhang (Team H&F, pic) came up with the idea for an application which allows users to track buses within the UKM campus, allowing them to plan their travelling time more effectively.

Their concept blueprint and sample user interface earned them a RM3,000 cash prize for their efforts.

Other interesting ideas that popped up in the course of the competition included a concept for a Small Wind Turbine Generator designed to harvest energy from the Universiti Teknologi Mara campus’ cooling tower, which won Team Power Teenager the first runner-up spot and RM2,000; and the Eco-Green Solar Powered Fan system, designed by UKM’s Team Mawar Hitam JKMB which won RM1,000.

The challenge was organised to encourage innovation and creativity among students nationwide; participants were required to develop innovations based on the company’s products and components.

Bosch Malaysia managing director Simon Song said Team H&F impressed the judges most. “They developed an idea which creatively integrated (our) existing components, such as a navigation antenna and GSM module, to develop an innovative solution ... with very meaningful and practical results for their student community.”