#learningwithoutboundaries

2020 Winter Technology & Management International Business Plan Competition (IBPC) was held at São Paulo, Sao Carlos and Brotas, Brazil from 5 to 14 January to explore how modern technologies help integrate people with disabilities into society.

12 Dual Degree Program in Technology & Management (T&M-DDP) students formed mixed teams with students from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign of USA, University of Bayreuth of Germany and University of Sao Paulo of Brazil.  Each team made up of students from 4 universities was required to create a business plan to help people with disabilities to integrate into the society within the 10-day competition under the guidance of professors and industry mentors.

Students visited Rehabilitation Center Lucy Montoro and Paralympic Training Center to understand the needs and difficulties faced by people with disabilities.  They also attended workshops on design thinking and innovation ecosystem of Brazil; and got insights from experts in the fields of rehabilitation and physiotherapy through sharing.  Teams prepared their proposals and presented to a group of judges consisted of professors and field experts at the final presentation and received constructive feedback to improve their pitching skills and business plans.