Bright Sparks 2015 Sponsorship Proposal

S P O N S O R S H I P P R O P O S A L

Our Story

The Bright Sparks Awards were created by The Skills Organisation in 2000 to encourage young people to experience electronics directly through a project-based approach.

Now, 15 years on, more than 1,200 brilliant young people from throughout New Zealand have created a range of innovative projects in a bid to win.

Historically, entrants have started with an idea for an invention in the electronics and software fields. They develop a prototype and enter it into the competition. Many inventions are the solutions to everyday challenges the students encounter in their lives.

The success of the Bright Sparks approach is due the countless hours of coaching, mentoring and support provided to, and by, teachers, parents and other students, to bring projects to fruition.

At the heart of this approach is The Skills Organisation’s Skills Choice team, a cohort of enthusiasts selected for their ability and dedication to coaching this young talent to success.

As a result and almost without fail, Bright Sparks winners have gone on to represent New Zealand in the international arena. Many Bright Sparks winners achieve acclaim through other notable New Zealand competitions too.

2014

In 2014, Bright Sparks Supreme Winner Callum Riddington received AMP New Zealand’s $10,000 Study Start scholarship for his Kiwi Drones project. The scholarship will enable Callum to pursue his dream of becoming New Zealand’s first Unmanned Aerial System engineer.

Bright Spark Finalist and 3rd place getter in the 15-16 year category, Nathan James, won the US Ambassador’s Outstanding Award, entitling Nathan to an all-expenses paid trip to the INTEL Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 2015.

2013

Bright Sparks Supreme Winner Sohail Abdulla, who developed a window cleaning robot, won the US Ambassador’s Award, which included an all-expenses paid trip to the INTEL Science Fair in Phoenix, Arizona. Sohail placed third. The exposure and success has enabled Sohail to make international contacts early in his career.

2012

Bright Sparks Supreme Winner James Watson placed second in the Computer Engineering category of the Taiwan International Science

and Engineering fair for his project, a Rubik’s Cube-solving robot. James has also created a machine that dispenses pharmaceuticals in remote unmanned locations, an invention that has attracted commercial interest.

Bright Sparks Forum

At the core of the programme is the Bright Sparks online forum.

The forum at brightsparks.org.nz, is a community of technology-minded individuals and inventors, through which students throughout New Zealand gain confidence in their creative ability.

More than 2,500 members are active on the forum. Membership has grown by about 1,500 students in the past five years. Students share their growing knowledge in electronics and technology and recieve points for contributing to the discussion. They can trade these points for discounts on electronics components. Discussions are moderated and cover a wide variety of topics.

Bright Sparks is New Zealand’s premier showcase for brilliant young minds, offering

the youth of New Zealand the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in technology,electronics and software programming.

How Bright Sparks works in the community

The Bright Sparks forum and programme is run by three enthusiastic technology educators, supported by The Skills Organisation’s wider team and other Bright Sparks alumni. Often the alumni, those now working in industry or studying at university, will offer online advice and encouragement to those still in school or just starting out.

Bright Sparks visits about 200 technology teachers nationwide and works with 900 career and transition educators. A sample of 1,000 forum members tells us the forum membership is predominantly male, 95%, with the majority of students aged 13-18 (about 56%).

About 36% identify as Pakeha/European and 4% Maori. Geographically, our Bright Sparks are spread right across New Zealand, 20% in Auckland, 6% Wellington and 7% Christchurch. This tells us we have excellent regional reach too.

We’ve profiled a typical Bright Spark

• Highly computer literate - often programmers, web developers.

• They have access to good internet services – ultra-fast broadband at school, home or computer clubhouse.

• Interested in reverse engineering (taking apart a device to see how it works).

• Able to very clearly articulate their creative ability or invention.

• Can put together basic electronic circuitry almost with their eyes closed.

• Spend large amounts of their time refining ideas and inventions.

The Competition & Awards in 2015

During the past 15 years, the world of electrotechnology has evolved. The rapid and widespread convergence of information technology across a number of industries has added a new dimension to the projects we see developed for the Bright Sparks Awards.

The constant factor in any Bright Sparks entry is creativity.

“100 inspired entrepreneurs could turn this country around. 100 individuals could earn us $40bn in exports and get our prosperity up.” Sir Paul Callaghan famously said. (StrategyNZ, Mapping our Future, March 2011)

At its very core, the Bright Sparks Awards celebrate the creativity of young New Zealanders. At the Finalists Forum in 2014, guest speaker Sir Ray Avery said

“Great things must start with that first ecological niche of observation.”

“Fostering and recognising the technology talent that exists in New Zealand is vital to our nation’s future.’

The Skills Organisation recognises the need to grow our Bright Sparks programme to reflect this creativity across a number of sectors influenced by technology.

“100 inspired entrepreneurs could turn this country around. 100 individuals could earn us $40bn in exports and get our prosperity up”

Sir Paul Callaghan

Dan Collins

Forum

Fostering the talent that exists in New Zealand is vital to our nation’s future.

Sir Ray Avery

Fostering the talent that exists in New Zealand is vital to our nation’s future.

Objectives 2015

Inspired by Sir Paul Callaghan’s vision for a prosperous New Zealand, we are enhancing the Bright Sparks competition in 2015 and have set ourselves lofty goals.

• Broaden categories to recognise technological impact across fields of importance to New Zealand’s growth

• Create the opportunity, through broader categories, to encourage more participation from female students and under-represented sectors of the New Zealand community

• Direct and nurture students to Awards entry via dedicated development workshops; teacher and student focused

New categories

In 2015 students will enter a relevant age category. Students demonstrating outstanding potential in each age group will be invited, as finalists, to attend the Bright Sparks Awards evening on Thursday, October 29.

In 2015 awards will be given in overall categories, and each category has a technological theme.

Overall categories

People’s Choice Voted

Best Concept Junior and senior

Science Junior and senior

Engineering Junior and senior

Software Junior and senior

Environment Junior and senior

Best overall Female Judged

Best overall Male Judged

Age group classification

12-years-and-under to 14 years Junior

14 years to 17+ years Senior

Nanogirl

MC and Ambassador

Michelle Dickinson, aka Nanogirl, is a Bright Sparks 2015 ambassador.

Michelle, a passionate researcher and teacher with a love of technology and science, is a senior lecturer in Engineering at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

In 2014, she was the winner of the Prime Minister’s Science Media Communication Prize and the New Zealand Association of Scientists Science Communicators Award for 2014.

During her career, she has combined her interests in Biomedical and Materials Engineering to develop a unique insight into how nature and technology can learn from each other for future scientific developments.

This is the third year she has been involved in Bright Sparks and in 2015 will again MC the Awards ceremony in October.

“Bright Sparks is an incredibly

important part of New Zealand’s innovation landscape,” Michelle says.

“I’m excited to be involved with this exceptional programme, helping share the exciting work of young clever Kiwis with the wider community.

“It truly is great celebration of this country’s brilliant young minds.”

Michelle is an advocate for everyone having access to learning about science, technology and how things work, regardless of what your education level is.

“Technology and science should be open, transparent and a topic of conversation over the dinner table, not just the lab bench,” she says.

She is also a firm believer that you can achieve anything you set your mind to, some people call that liking a challenge, but to her it is a way of life.

Whether it’s her favourite sports of kitesurfing, rock climbing and mountain biking, or working towards

finding a solution for a science-related question, Michelle is always looking for ways to challenge herself.

“In the fascinating world of science and technology, we are living in a continually evolving world and by continuously asking questions and constantly seeking answers, each day we learn something new and progress further into a life filled with discovery,” she says.

Nanogirl

Dr Michelle Dickinson

Leili Baghaei Rad had her interest in technology piqued as a third-former at Riccarton High School. Now she works at Google as a product manager.

She credits Bright Sparks as a big stepping stone in her career.

She won a Bright Sparks scholarship in 2003, which allowed her to follow her interest and eventually secure work experience at Tait Electronics.

“It was great to get that level of support to have Bright Sparks support and encourage me to continue my education,” Stanford-educated Leili says.

“I think it is very important to get approval and recognition from organisations in order to stay

focused and develop your learning.”

Leili encourages young Kiwi women to get involved in technology wherever they can, and points to the number of successful females in Silicon Valley.

Her role models include Yahoo! CEO Marissa Meyer, Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg and YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki.

“All three are very successful women in technology, but have a great work-life balance,” she says.

“As a mother-to-be, balance is important to me, and working in technology offers me that.”

Leili says Bright Sparks, especially now in the digital age, is a great springboard to success for

motivated young New Zealanders.

“The sky’s the limit, reach out for whatever you want to do and education will give you the necessary tools to get there. “

From Bright Sparks to Microsoft, Google and beyond.

Leili Baghaei Rad

Refael Whyte joined Bright Sparks early on in high school in 2004.

Bright Sparks gave him an excellent start in the realm of electronics – an interest he pursued into tertiary education.

Refael proceeded to the University of Waikato and graduated with a first-class honours degree in electrical engineering.

His specialism is in Time of Flight (ToF) cameras, which create 3D images – effectively a 3D movie in real time.

As the focus of his studies Refael designed and built his own ToF camera. This included designing the PCB, constructing the circuitry, and programming the camera.

The year after graduation, he won a scholarship that gave him a 12 months internship with Microsoft in Silicon Valley, California. He worked on the 3D imaging capabilities of the Xbox One.

On returning to NZ, he proceeded to study for his PhD. As a consequence of his specialism and post graduate studies, he spent 10 months at MIT, Boston.

While continuing his PhD studies this year Refael has spent time in Brussels, and Cambridge UK (again with Microsoft) and has also attended conferences in Israel and Spain.

Blue sky thinking leads to success

Tauranga’s Callum Riddington won the Baldwins supreme award at Bright Sparks 2014 for his invention, Kiwi Drones.

The control system for a working drone includes GPS mission plotting, stability control and a super-friendly user interface. Callum designed it all from scratch.

The 17-year-old Otemotai College student hacked the code in an Xbox controller to use in Kiwi Drones, after deciding it was a more familiar, user-friendly device.

His inspiration came from a disatisfaction with current drone control systems.

“They were expensive and bulky. I didn’t like the functionality, so I created my own,” he said.

In the wake of his Bright Sparks triumph, Callum was awarded $10,000 as part of the AMP Study Start Scholarship. In 2015, he will study engineering, with a major in software engineering.

Callum was awarded his NCEA with merit in 2014, topping electronics and programming with straight excellence results.

His immediate aim is to gain boost New Zealand’s profile in the area of drone innovations.

“Bright Sparks was a great start,” he said. “I’d encourage all young inventors and innovators to get involved.”

Refael outside the Media Lab, MIT, with the ToF camera he designed and built.

Callum Riddington

The opportunity

Premier Sponsor(Limited to 1 sponsor)

• Full naming rights to the event e.g, ‘The xxx Bright Sparks Forum & Awards 2015’

• Ten complimentary tickets to the Finalist Forum for sponsor staff only.

• Ten complimentary tickets to the Awards Ceremony.

• Four client passes to the Finalist Forum and Awards Ceremony.

• The opening address at the Forum and Awards for a maximum of five minutes. This can include a video display.

• Sponsor’s logo displayed on Bright Sparks 2015 website, finalist and winner certificates and on audio/visual presentation during the Forum and Awards.

• Weblink from the Bright Sparks 2015 website to your website.

• Naming rights to peoples choice award category.

• Engraving and/or logo on award category trophy.

• Opportunity to present the award to the winner (non-speaking role).

• Photographic record of category winner accepting award from sponsor.

• Signage at the Forum and Awards up to 1.8m high x 2m wide.

• Sponsor recognition on social media and any media (TV/radio/print).

• Promotional materials/giveaways in finalists’ event bags.

• The opportunity to provide a prize/s. To be agreed upon between sponsor company and The Skills Organisation.

• Post-event recognition.

Investment $15,000 + GST

We would be delighted to welcome you on board as a Bright Sparks 2015 sponsor and are happy to discuss a customised sponsorship package that suits your marketing needs.

Award Category Sponsorship

(Limited to 7 sponsors)

• Naming rights to the respective award category, e.g. ‘The Bright Sparks Best Concept sponsored by xxx’

• Sponsor’s logo displayed on Bright Sparks 2015 website, finalist/winner certificates, and on audio/visual presentation during t he Awards Ceremony.

• A weblink from the Bright Sparks 2015 website to the category sponsor’s website.

• Engraving and/or logo on award category trophy/ies.

• Opportunity to present the award to the winner (non-speaking role).

• Four complimentary tickets to the Finalist Forum and Awards.

• Photographic record of category winner accepting award from sponsor.

• One free-standing, pull up banner at the Finalist Forum and Award Ceremony (up to 1m wide and venue permitting).

• Sponsor recognition on social media and any media (TV/radio/ print).



Keynote Speaker Sponsor


• Sponsor’s logo displayed on the Bright Sparks 2015 website, finalist/winner certificates, and on audio visual presentation during t he Finalist Forum.

• A link from Bright Sparks 2015 website to the category sponsor’s website.

• Two complimentary tickets to the Finalist Forum and Award Ceremony.



• Promotional materials in finalists’ event bags.

• Opportunity to introduce the keynote address (limited to two minutes)


Travel Sponsor


• Sponsor’s logo on displayed on Bright Sparks 2015 website, and on audio/visual presentation during the Finalist Forum and Awards Ceremony.

• A link from the Bright Sparks 2015 website to the category sponsor’s website.

• Two complimentary tickets to the Finalist Forum and Award Ceremony.




Investment

$5,000 + GST - Corporate$2,000 + GST - Independent

The opportunity

Bright Sparks 2015 – Sponsorship Agreement

To: Sophie Czurajewski-Sweeney

Fax: (09) 525 2591

Phone: (09) 583 1393

Mobile: 027 706 5043

Email: [email protected]

COMPANY NAME:

CONTACT NAME:

JOB TITLE:

POSTAL ADDRESS:

PHONE:

FAX:

EMAIL ADDRESS:

Involvement/Investment – Please circle your sponsorship choice below:

Sponsorship Level Sponsorship Rate

Premier Sponsorship $15,000 + GST

Award Category Sponsorship $3,000 + GST

Category name you wish to Sponsor

Keynote Speaker Sponsorship $2,000 + GST

Travel Sponsorship $5,000 + GST or $2,000 + GST

Authorised Signature DATE

Accepted by The Skills Organisation DATE

Payment terms: The Skills Organisation will issue an invoice to the sponsor for the sponsorship amount due. Payment is due to The Skills Organisation on the 20th of the month after acceptance of the sponsorship offer.

Reservation: The Skills Organisation reserves the right to alter, reschedule, postpone, or cancel the event at its sole discretion, that it deems to be in the best interests of the event or for any other reason.

Liability: The Skills Organisation shall not be liable for any loss, damage, expense, costs or claims, or any loss of profits or revenue, loss of contract or business or opportunity or reputation or goodwill directly or indirectly arising from an act, omission, or a failure to perform any term of this contract.

Force Majeure: If the event is altered, rescheduled, postponed, cancelled or rendered inadvisable, impracticable or impossible due to a fortuitous event or unforeseen occurrence The Skills Organisation shall not be liable for any loss, damage, expense, costs or claims, directly or indirectly arising from an act, omission, or a failure to perform any term of this contract. For the purposes of this clause a fortuitous event shall include an Act of God, fire, armed conflict, disaster, civil commotion, government restrictions and/or regulations, riots, terrorism or an act of terrorism; any emergency, curtailment, suspension and/or restriction on transportation facilities/means of transportation or any other cause beyond the reasonable control of The Skills Organisation. No refunds of any sponsorship funds will be made.

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The Skills Organisation is a multi-sector industry training organisation (ITO).

Our vision is to develop skills to improve workplace performance.

Our mission is to promote the skill needs of our industries in the education and training sector and to broker the delivery of high-quality industry training services to companies in our industries.

The Skills Organisation created Bright Sparks in 2000 and is proud to offer you the opportunity to be part of New Zealand’s premier showcase for brilliant young minds in 2015.

The Skills Organisation helps New Zealanders gain the skills needed to grow and succeed in the workplace.

Skills in schools with our ambassador, Blair Tuke

@brightsparks_nz

@brightsparksnz

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Bright Sparks 2015 Sponsorship Proposal