The IBDC (International Bicycle Design Competition) is held annually, and is in its 8th year.  What's new for the 2003-2004 season?

Thanks to computer science and the Internet, we have launched an ECS (Electric Competition System)!  This system includes three elements: Information Database, On-line Registration and E-Judging Program.  The Website of the IBDC (http://design.runride.com) was rebuilt with database capabilities in 2003.  The four famous philosophers on the banner of the
homepage emphasize innovation.  We are holding the IBDC in the hope of incubating designers.  The site also has a search function, enabled through the top pull-down menu.  Participants get to view the past winning entries before they start to work on their designs to prevent duplication, and the bicycle industry can easily locate talented designers, as well as good designs.  The database system records the history of IBDC.

Since the 5th IBDC, the participants have been able to register themselves efficiently using the Internet.  And with the 8th year, the IBDC started to receive electric files for the first round of judging.  Thus the participants do not need to print graphics and submit them by mail anymore; they are sent over the Internet - saving money and time!

The IBDC staff developed a computerized-judging program and first put it to use on August 26, 2003.  Each international jury viewed and selected entries with a laptop computer, instead of walking around to view the drawings as in the past.  The computerized judging program compiled statistics immediately; and at the last stage of judging, the jury viewed the projector screen together and conferred as a group to determine the top twenty-four entries. The judging process was unique and highly efficient, thanks to the custom software.

Finally, the top 24 works were determined ¡V 4 from China, 4 from Taiwan, 3 from South Korea, 2 from Japan, 2 from Hong Kong, and the others from Peru, Lithuania, Indonesia, Spain, Malaysia, USA, Singapore, Argentina and Poland. The Grand Prize winner will be awarded of NT$500,000 (approximately USD 14,300).  Guess Who Wins NT$500,000?  The grand award ceremony will be held on Wednesday, March 10 ¡V the first day of 2004 Taipei International Cycle Show.  Your attendance will be our special honor!

Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Location: Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall (2F, 5 Hsin-Yi Rd., Sec. 5, Taipei, Taiwan 110)
Entrance Fee: No purchase is required for attendance.
Agenda:
10:20 Guests' Registration & Winning Entries Exhibition
10:50 Opening Ceremony
10:55 Speeches
11:20 Awarding Prizes
11:50 Introduction of 2004's New Bicycles
12:00 Closing Ceremony & Banquet (free of charge)

[Contact]
Address: Cycling & Health Tech Indusry R&D Center (#17, 37th Rd., Taichung Industry Park, 407, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.)
Tel: 886-4-23501100 ext. 315        Fax: 886-4-23502737