12 Dual Degree Program in Technology and Management (T&M-DDP) students enrolled in TEMG4950 for a 3-credit course led by Prof. Betty Lin and advisor, Professor Chi Ming Chan, Co-director of T&M-DDP, joined with students from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (USA), University of Bayreuth (Germany), and University of Sao Paulo (Brazil) to participate in the International Technology & Management Business Plan Competition at Sao Carlos of Brazil on 3 - 14 January 2016.  This was the 11th competition with university partners from multiple continents, with 48 students and 8 faculties collaborating in this annual event.

Speakers from the industry and this year’s host, USP, delivered talks on the industrial applications and regulations of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.  Prof. Betty Lin conducted a Design Thinking workshop to jumpstart 8 teams of 6 multi-national and multi-disciplined student teams to create new solutions solving a variety of unmet needs using a combination of UAV and other advanced technologies.  Students worked long hours with daily mentor coaching and revision to put-on a grand show before a panel of experts from the field of UAV.

Besides working on the San Carlos University campus, students also visited Brazil’s innovation enterprises including: TAM MRO, an aircraft production and maintenance company; EMBRAPA, a R&D organization funded by the government to support Brazil’s world-leading agriculture, poultry and cattle industries; XMobots, a company specializes in the development and manufacture of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for professional applications.

After 7 days of hard working, students presented their startup business plans to the judges and competed for the winner.  The winning team, Games of Drones, proposed to establish a game hub with competition arenas for tech-interested people to combat on drones in obstacle runs, laser battles and treasure hunt.  Congratulations to dual-degree students in the winning team, Katelyn Wu and Randall Lee!

Except worked hard, they also PLAYED Hard!  Thrilling whitewater rafting at Brotas, visiting the astonishing Christ the Redeemer Statue, relaxing at beach at Rio de Janeiro, and learned Samba dance with children drummers in a Favela… these all gave students a taste of South American sunshine and Brazilian culture.