This year’s edition of the JA European Enterprise Challenge gathered 19 startups from 15 countries in Helsinki. University students who took part in the ‘Start Up Programme’ were competing and presenting their start-ups to a selected jury.
The main award was presented to the Maltese student team from Saint Martin’s Institute of Higher Education. They impressed the jury with their Intact system, a technology enhancing safety for motorcyclists. Impact sensors installed in the rider’s helmet are connected to a smartphone app which automatically alerts emergency services and relatives, providing the location once a collision is detected.
“Winning the award is overwhelming. From the beginning, we wanted to have a positive impact on society and our focus was to improve safety for motorcyclists on the road. Participating was a practical experience of our studies in entrepreneurship. We learned team work, how real business works and how to present our company. We’re going to keep on working on our system for more success,” said Intact member Katryna Briffa.
Every year, the programme engages over 14,000 students from 300 centres of higher learning, giving them the opportunity to experience running a business from top to bottom. Supporting goals of improving youth employability and the start-up ecosystem, the programme fosters key competences to ensure that students are prepared for success. They gain key understanding in self-employment, business creation, risk-taking and coping with adversity.
“The strong passion, determination and creativity shown by our young and motivated team members have truly left an impact on this year’s jury members,” said JAYE Malta CEO Julian Azzopardi
Hans Daems, head of public affairs at Hitachi Europe, who chaired this year’s jury, in a tweet said: “#INTACT is very deserved winner of #jaEEC17. Great talent and very strong business plan. Well done to the youth of #Malta.”
Intact was also awarded the Roschier Client in Focus Award, which recognises any JA startup company that excels at creating value for their clients, listening to them and walking in their shoes to understand their world, anticipating and serving their changing needs.
The Intact team, composed of Katryna Briffa, Nicole Marie Cassar, Stephen Mintoff and Sam Hoiles, was accompanied in Helsinki by Mr Azzopardi and programme coordinator Sophie Back, as well as Saint Martin’s Institute principal Charles Theuma.
JAYE Malta chairman Karl Briffa said: “JAYE Malta has only been running the Start-Up Programme in Malta for the past three years. It is an accomplishment to have managed to clinch this award for the first time in such a short time. This award will find its place together with several other European achievements and recognitions which our teams have managed to achieve over the past 30 years of JAYE Malta’s existence. I cannot but thank all those who have helped achieve this success, including our dedicated staff, mentors, volunteers and supporters, and not least the HSBC Malta Foundation and all other corporate and programme partners who help provide for all our financial and logistical needs.”
Interested students or institutions who wish to participate in the next edition are requested to contact JAYE Malta by e-mail on info@jayemalta.org or by calling 2124 5054.