Background

Canadian researchers have and are continuing to greatly contribute to the advances in Electronics, Computing, and Communications Technologies. Today, fields like Nanotechnology and Photonics as well as interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary subjects are gaining in importance in the development of new engineering ICT solutions. TELUS Communications Incorporated wishes to stimulate the interest of Canadian IEEE student members in these fields by sponsoring the annual IEEE Canada TELUS Innovation Award. The first such awards were presented in September 2005.

Purpose

The purpose of the IEEE Canada TELUS Innovation Award is to offer IEEE student members the opportunity to engage individually or as a team in a significant ICT project, such as their final year undergraduate project in an engineering or technology program, enter this project into the competition to have an opportunity to report, both, verbally and in writing on this project before a panel of industrial, academic and media experts. The project would have a strong design and/or research component with the emphasis on design that "embodies the spirit of innovation" and has strong application in industry in the foreseeable future.

The project would be carried out at an undergraduate institution (University or College) based in Canada (IEEE Region 7).

Prize

The team members of up to 9 selected teams will be hosted for the live competition at a location to be determined annually. Travel will be reimbursed for the selected students/teams of students funded by TELUS and administered by IEEE Canada SAC.

The following cash awards will be divided equally between team members.

• 1st award prize: CAD10, 000 cash honorarium and certificates for the student/student team
• 2nd award prize: CAD 5,000.00 cash honorarium and certificates for the student/student team
• 2nd award prize: CAD 2,000.00 cash honorarium and certificates for the student/student team
• Up to 6 runner-ups: CAD 500.00 cash honorarium and certificates for the student/student team

Schedule

This competition is a three-tiered event. The first level of competition is within each student branch. A local competition process, guided by your Student Branch Counselor, will determine the entry from your Student Branch. The winning entry from your branch is then nominated by your Branch Counsellor and Supervisor for the regional competition (R7). There are two rounds of judging at the regional level. In the first round the entries will be ranked based on the paper submission. Up to nine entries from across Canada are selected for the final competition, where the students will present their projects, in person, to a panel of judges.

Submission Deadline for the Regional Competition	Annually June 1st
Notification of Area Finalists	Annually in July/August
Final Competition	Annually in the Fall/September
Region 7 Executive Committee Approval of Results	Annually in the Fall
Presentation of Awards or Recipient(s) Notification	Annually in the Fall
Deadlines for the local competitions vary from school to school

Eligibility

1. The student(s) must receive academic credit for this project - exceptions may be granted upon request
2. The student team may not have more than 5 team members
3. The student(s) must be IEEE student members(s) (at the time of project submission thru to the competition award presentation ceremony)
4. Any student working toward a first degree in engineering or a technology program at a university or college in Region 7

Nomination Package

The application will contain at a minimum the following:

1. Submission of the project report or presentation required for your local competition
   
2. Nomination letter from a faculty member involved with the project (most likely the project supervisor)
3. Nomination letter from the Branch Counsellor or Department Chair Person (must be submitted for the regional competition nomination)
4. Proof of academic credit for this project (may also be verified by your Branch Counsellor in the letter of nomination)
   
5. Proof of IEEE student membership for the student/all team members – students must be IEEE members at the time of project submission thru to the competition award presentation ceremony.

Basis for Judging

1. The extent to which the solution of the engineering problem demonstrates
   1. Creativity and innovation
   2. The practical application of engineering fundamentals and engineering judgment
   3. Relevancy, usefulness and applicability in industry in the foreseeable future
2. The quality of the written report presentation.
3. The quality of the verbal report presentation (local competition and final competition only)

Judges Panel (composition may vary with availability)

• Two judges from TELUS
• Two judges from IEEE Canada
• Two judges from technology media
• Region 7 Regional Student Representative
• Chair: Region 7 Student Activities Coordinator

Submit Nominations for the Canada wide (R7) Regional Level Competition

Student Branch nomination packages should be directed to the IEEE Canada Administrator by the Student Branch Counsellor (or pre-approved designate) on or before June 1. Only one project nomination submission per Student Branch will be accepted. EMail submissions to:

Cathie Lowell
PO box 63005, University Postal Outlet
SDM #742, 102 Plaza Drive
Dundas, ON, L9H 4H0
c.lowell@ieee.org