The Institut Arts et Métiers Laval and Laval Mayenne Technopole are jointly organizing the 7th edition of the MayAM (Mayenne Arts et Métiers) Skills Challenge, a program for Arts et Métiers students Arts et Métiers develop innovation in Mayenne-based companies. The winners of the 2017 MayAM competition will be announced on December 5 at 4:45 p.m. at the Laval Virtual Center!
Concrete projects serving businesses in Mayenne
The Institut Arts et Métiers Lavaloffers a Master's degree program in Research 1 and 2 entitled "Management of Interactive 3D Technologies, " which aims to train students to become experts in the design of interfaces for interaction with virtual 3D environments. As part of this program,the Institut Arts et Métiers Laval, in partnership with Laval Mayenne Technopole, is organizing for the seventh time a challenge between Arts et Métiers students Arts et Métiers develop innovation in Mayenne-based companies: the MayAM (Mayenne Arts et Métiers) Skills Challenge.
The 50 students enrolled in the MTI 3D Master's program atthe Institut Arts et Métiers Lavalhave one week to come up with concrete solutions for 10 companies in the Mayenne region (Extha P.P.I., Semeo, VandB concept, Technology Everywhere, SARL Monnier, Daniel Moquet Signe Vos Allées, CPIE Mayenne Bas-Maine, Europlastiques, Feljas et Masson, Crédit Agricole Maine Anjou) on topics related to innovative technologies (Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Connected Objects, 3D printing, etc.).
"The aim of this competition is to showcase projects that can be directly applied within the company and to bring innovative ideas to the fore," explains Simon Richir, head ofthe Arts et Métiers Institute Arts et Métiers Laval.
Our students are directly confronted with the issues faced by participating companies and must respond to their needs. This is an opportunity for them to test ideas and use the skills they have acquired during their studies; it is a real step into the business world.
A win-win challenge
After visiting the companies and learning about their innovation needs, the 10 competing teams will have five days to propose three concrete ideas under the watchful eye of their "company" and "school" coaches. Throughout the challenge, students will have access to the technical resources of the LAMPA research team at Arts et Métiers, Laval Mayenne Technopole, and its partners.
For Christian Travier, director of Laval Mayenne Technopole, "MAYAM is a simple and inexpensive way to initiate innovation in an SME. It gives them access to skills that are not available in-house and allows them to gather new ideas. It's a win-win challenge."
From idea to actual project
On December 5, the students' work will be made public and a jury will award the MAYAM 2017 Skills Challenge prizes to the best projects. Two juries composed of Arts et Métiers engineering graduates Arts et Métiers professionals specializing in innovation and new technologies will evaluate the 10 teams in competition. At the end of the competition, up to 53% of the students' ideas will be turned into real projects in companies!
