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Project Superfibers 2012 launched for science and technical students today

Sponsored by DuPont, KATZ and PwC Academy – project will develop students’ technical and commercial education.

29 March 2012, Prague - The project “Supervlákna 2012”, backed by DuPont, KATZ and PwC Academy, started officially today. The project will – in the form of a competition – challenge students' creativity while providing them with a range of practical experience in how to succeed with their ideas in the commercial sector.

The project, which runs from 19 February and will culminate in the announcement of winners on 28 September, is opened to students of all universities, but it is aimed especially at students of technical disciplines. The theme of the first year of the project is the practical application of innovative materials, Kevlar® and Nomex®.

"We have been on the Czech market for 20 years and we perceive the Czech Republic as a country with huge innovative potential. Together with our partners we want to show the students of technical sciences that successful research and advanced technology are built on good ideas and the skills necessary to translate those ideas into commerciality reality," says Soňa Krausová, director of DuPont Czech Republic.

Registration on www.supervlakna.cz is open until 30 April. After registration, students will gain an access to the background materials and at the same time they will get the opportunity to apply for other activities within the project, such as practical trainings of presentation skills or workshops on effective innovation in the business sector. A mentoring program which connects the project participants with students and graduates of MBA programs will be opened as well. In the course of the project a community site on Facebook at www.facebook.com/supervlakna will be available for general discussions.

In addition to experience, which all the participants may accumulate during the project, 100,000 crowns will be shared among the best of them in the form of prize money. The winner will also have the opportunity to visit the DuPont Innovation Center in Geneva, Switzerland.

"The scientific and technical qualifications of students is high, but what is often missing, is a well-rounded education giving graduates an understanding of the commercial application of their ideas and innovations. By participating in project Superfibers 2012, we want to contribute to the development of young talent at an early stage of their professional careers," says Jonathan Appleton, Director of The Academy at PwC Czech Republic. "We want to help key employers in the Czech Republic affect the capabilities of newly recruited employees from among university graduates. Besides, providing quality training in business and finance is our passion and working with young talent is always fun!" says Jonathan Appleton.

"In Katz we have built our Executive MBA program around one basic idea. Neither the business sector nor its leaders should ever cease to innovate. In a world where everything standard will once be copied, outsourced or automated, the only competitive advantage is the capacity to innovate and successfully place these innovations to market," Said Ivana Goossen, Director of Executive MBA Worldwide Europe, Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh. "We are excited about this chance to give, together with our partners, talented students the opportunity to try out in practice the innovation and business value creation. We consider this an investment to our successful future, whether from the perspective of workers, companies, or the whole nation."

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Project Superfibers 2012 is a student competition to encourage young talent not only in technical fields in the Czech Republic. The project is opened for all university students and organized by DuPont, KATZ and PWC Academy. More information, including complete terms, schedule and registration options can be found at www.supervlakna.cz.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802.  The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment.  For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com. For more information on DuPont’s activities in the Czech Republic, visit www.dupont.cz.

Katz Executive MBA (EMBA) is a global program that offers the University of Pittsburgh and in Central and Eastern Europe it has been running for more than two decades. AACSB accredited program has more than 40 years of experience as one of the top EMBA programs. It is number 1 in Central and Eastern Europe and number 15 in the United States (Financial Times EMBA rankings 2011).

Katz MBA is a worldwide program that prepares students for leadership on a global scale. The program is offered in three cities: Prague, Pittsburgh and Sao Paulo. Students will travel to each of these cities and network themselves with colleagues from around the world. The innovative program is aimed at managers and leaders. The curriculum sharpens strategic thinking and developing a broad view which is required by managers.

PwC Academy is a specialized project of PwC Czech Republic, which is focused on training and professional development of PwC clients and employees. This unique concept, which originated in the Czech Republic in 2008, was successfully joined by other PwC's offices in over 50 countries in Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Currently, the project involves about 8,000 participants from among PwC clients and employees.