An Innovative Collaboration of IHLs and Food Manufacturers

Wong Mong Hong, PresidentSingapore Food Manufacturers’ Association 2011

The term “IHLs” covers the 5 Polytechnics, National University of Singapore (NUS) and Institute of Technical Education (ITE).

There IHLs all conduct Food Courses. We consider product innovation and

development is a good form of productivity improvement because they add more value to the product relative to the inputs

IHLs Pool of trained and semi-

trained manpower Good facilities for food

development Unlimited imagination Needs for real life

practical training Satisfaction after creating

new commercial products/good supplement to academic training

Food Manufacturers Pool of knowledgeable

but time-wise fully occupied manpower.

Complete facilities for food production.

Practical know-how. Needs for new ideas for

product development. Enhancement of business

productivity and profitability after commercializing new, value-added products.There are many complementary roles which IHL and the food

manufacturers can work together and benefit each other!!!

1. Invitation from SFMA to Food manufacturers

2. The product concept3. Team Matching4. Manufacturers’ and students’ roles5. Working Period6. Manufacturer and student Interaction7. Product submission8. Independent panel of judges9. Judging Criteria*

A set of 8 criteria has been prepared for the judges to award scores in 2011 competition:Criteria %

Consumer Benefits and Appeal 10

Innovation and Originality 10

Nutrition and Health Considerations 10

Marketing and Sales Potential 10

Packaging Design and Presentation 10

Sensation and Palatability Appeal 10

Design Thinking 10

Overall Acceptance 10

TOTAL 80

10.Presentation and Scoring Audit11. Display at Asia Pacific Food Expo (APFE)12. SMS Contest for Public13. The Awards*14. Result Announcement and Award

Presentation15. SPRING Scheme of Financial Assistance for

further refinement and commercialization16. First Rights of Refusal for IP

Grand Winner 1st runner-up Most Innovative Award Best Nutrition-value Award Best Marketing Potential Award Best Packaging Award Best Design Thinking Award Most Popular Award

By Judging Panel

By Consumers

This competition had been held in 2007 (22 teams), 2008 (29 teams) and 2009 (26 teams)

A few products have been commercialized. Eg: Rainbow Rice

Is a meaningful event Assists to cement the relationship between

the industry and IHLs which will in turn help future employment of the student by the industry.

Helps the manufacturers to engage the unlimited creativity of the students to develop new and higher value-added food products

Helps the students to be exposed to an industrial environment

We would like to emphasize that the lecturers and the students are not required to spend extra time to participate in this competition because this competition is conducted within their academic curriculum.

ITE Students have received awards in the 2009 competition, which shows that creativity is somewhat independent of ages and academic training.