Students’ ideas are put to the test

CBS students on the winning team in a competition to change the world

An idea that can change the world. This was the headline when students from across Denmark participated in the Danfoss Venture competition for ideas. The winners have now been selected, and two CBS students are members of one of the winning teams that will receive help to realise its business ideas.

A portable instrument that is used to sterilise surgical instruments for operations is what put the students onto the winner’s podium. And the name of the idea is SteriAID.

Not only for the developing countries

- We want to take a closer look at the situation and not only focus on the developing countries. Our idea is relevant for many places where water and power supply is unstable or non-existing. For instance, this applies to South America, Alaska, and Eastern Europe where the instrument will be useful as a backup, says Katja Sløk, who is studying for her Social Science Degree in Business Economics and Management CBP at CBS.

The group has already been in touch with a number of humanitarian and military organisations to ensure that the idea is relevant to its target group. The next step for the nine students is to find out what ambitions they each have with the project.

- Everyone in the group wants to continue working on the project. We have learned how far we can go in a short period of time, and we have had many encouraging and positive comments along the way, says Katja Sløk.

From architects to engineers

The nine students come from very different educational institutions; for instance Copenhagen University College of Engineering, Aarhus School of Architecture, and the Technical University of Denmark.

Katja Sløk attests that their different backgrounds have been of great advantage with regards to the project.

- For instance, some group members knew a lot about the military and others about medical work. In this way, we have supplemented each other very well, says Katja Sløk.

The winners will now receive help to realise their ideas. This can range from a completely basic thing, such as buying a domain name, to conducting the relevant technical studies that are needed.

Winners

Apart from SteriAID, two other teams won:

• B*Sage; a pen that can test for bacteria.

• Life tents; lightweight tents that are easy to transport, and their solar panels on the canvas provide heating for the people inside the tent.