2026 Jump Start Program
Think of AI Agents as intelligent helpers. They're computer programs that can learn from data, make choices, and take action to achieve specific goals, all without needing constant human guidance.
Example of an AI Agent: Imagine a Financial Multi-Agent that grabs data, pulls info from databases, and connects with other Agent Groups to create a super-smart system.
Example of a Non-AI Agent: A Chatbot that just spits out answers. Helpful, but not an Agent in our book.
Key Highlights
Global Participation
Open to our entire global workforce (including all RBUs). We strongly encourage cross-functional and cross-regional collaboration to drive innovation.
AI Agents & Business Impact
Your submission must feature AI Agents capable of autonomous decision-making and environment interaction. It is crucial to clearly define the business scenario and provide concrete, quantified value (ROI).
Schedule & Incentives
We will hold two evaluation waves in 2026 (1st and 2nd half). Top-tier (A+) teams will be awarded NT$ 300,000 (or equivalent stock options).
Six Domain Tracks
- Brand & Marketing
- Sales & Customer Success
- R&D Engineering
- SCM & Operation
- Smart Manufacturing
- General Management (CoE Function)
Global Participation
Open to our entire global workforce (including all RBUs). We strongly encourage cross-functional and cross-regional collaboration to drive innovation.
AI Agents & Business Impact
Your submission must feature AI Agents capable of autonomous decision-making and environment interaction. It is crucial to clearly define the business scenario and provide concrete, quantified value (ROI).
Schedule & Incentives
We will hold two evaluation waves in 2026 (1st and 2nd half). Top-tier (A+) teams will be awarded NT$ 300,000 (or equivalent stock options).
Six Domain Tracks
- Brand & Marketing
- Sales & Customer Success
- R&D Engineering
- SCM & Operation
- Smart Manufacturing
- General Management (CoE Function)
Example of a AI Agent:
Imagine a Financial Multi-Agent that can automatically generate SQL code to retrieve data from multiple databases, seamlessly integrating with other Agent Groups to form a super-smart system. This intelligent agent not only handles data extraction and analysis but also learns from how humans collaborate and communicate across departments—enabling more effective and adaptive financial analysis.
Example of a Non-AI Agent:
A chatbot that just replies to questions when asked. Sure, it’s useful—but it doesn’t think for itself, take initiative, or connect with other systems to get things done. That’s why it doesn’t count as an AI Agent in this competition.
So, What's an AI Agent?
Think of AI Agents as intelligent helpers. They're computer programs that can learn from data, make choices, and take action to achieve specific goals, all without needing constant human guidance.
So, What's an AI Agent?
AI Agents are intelligent helpers—they learn from data, make decisions, and act toward goals without constant human input.
To meet this competition’s definition, an AI Agent must:
- "Make proactive decisions" based on context, without waiting for user commands.
- "Interact with environments", connecting to systems or data sources to complete multi-step tasks.
2026 Jump Start Program Guidelines
Eligibility
- Open to all Advantech global employees. Participation is limited to teams of 3 to 6 members. We strongly encourage cross-functional and cross-team collaboration to co-create innovative AI Agent applications.
Theme & Objectives
- Core Task: Build practical AI Agents using any technology stack.
- Goal: Solve business pain points with measurable ROI (e.g., efficiency gains, cost savings).
- Requirement: Solution must be technically feasible and effective.
Submission Requirements
- Deliverables: A working Prototype or Demo Video (<10 mins) + Proposal Deck.
- Policy: Must be original work. Unselected entries from Wave 1 may be refined and resubmitted in Wave 2.
Selection Process
- Domain-Specific Panels: Each of the six domains has its own dedicated jury.
- Winner Selection: Judges will select A+ and A winners based on the scoring criteria. (See subsequent slides for details)
2026 Timeline
1st Half - Wave 1
Feb. – June
- Feb: Program Launch & MCE Announcement
- June 5: Submission Deadline
Wave 1 Review
Mid - June
- June 8 – 19: Jury Review
- June 26: Wave 1 Results Announcement
2st Half - Wave 2
July. – Oct.
- July 1: Submission Opens
- Oct 16: Submission Deadline
Wave 2 Review
Late - Oct.
- Feb: Oct 19 – 30: Jury Review Nov 6: Wave 2 Results AnnouncementProgram Launch & MCE Announcement
- June 5: Submission Deadline
2026 Timeline
1st Half - Wave 1
Feb. – June
- Feb: Program Launch & MCE Announcement
- June 5: Submission Deadline
Wave 1 Review
Mid - June
- June 8 – 19: Jury Review
- June 26: Wave 1 Results Announcement
2st Half - Wave 2
July. – Oct.
- July 1: Submission Opens
- Oct 16: Submission Deadline
Wave 2 Review
Late - Oct.
- Feb: Oct 19 – 30: Jury Review Nov 6: Wave 2 Results AnnouncementProgram Launch & MCE Announcement
- June 5: Submission Deadline
Scoring Criteria & Weights
2026 Focus: "Adoption & Scaling" It’s not just about building it; it’s about rolling it out. We are looking for AI Agent solutions that genuinely transform the way we work.
40%
Actual Application & Promotion
- Scalability: Is the architecture replicable across other teams or regions?
- User Feedback: What does the actual user data and feedback say?
- Expansion Potential: Can this be applied cross-departmentally?
35%
ROI & Value Definition
- Pain Point Clarity: Is the business problem clearly identified?
- Quantified Value: Are the results (e.g., cost savings) concrete and measurable?
- Productivity Gains: Is the efficiency improvement clear and significant?
25%
Technical Feasibility & Completeness
- Architecture Integrity: Is the AI Agent structure robust and complete?
- Autonomy: Does the solution demonstrate true autonomous decision-making?
- Readiness: Is the development progress and timeline on track?
Awards & Incentives
A+ Tier Award
- Prize: Team Bonus NT$ 300,000 (or equivalent stock options).
- Criteria: Exceptional implementation with significant business impact.
A Tier Award
- Prize: Team Bonus NT$ 100,000.
- Criteria: Proven ROI and solid technical execution.
Honorable Mention
- Prize: Team Bonus NT$ 50,000.
- Criteria:
Awarded to projects demonstrating high potential in specific niches or innovative applications, subject to judges' discretion.
This competition evaluates innovation and performance across six key functional areas: Brand & Marketing, Sales & Customer Success, R&D Engineering, SCM & Operation, Smart Manufacturing, and General Management (CoE Function). To ensure the highest level of professional integrity and forward-thinking insight, we have assembled a distinguished panel of industry experts:
- Brand & Marketing: Steve Chang, and other reviewers are being invited.
- Sales & Customer Success: Steve Chang, and other reviewers are being invited.
- R&D Engineering: Eric Liu, Wayne Kuei, Louis Lu.
- SCM & Operation: Linda Tsai, Jamie Lin, Frank Huang.
- Smart Manufacturing: Jamie Lin, Frank Huang, Jimmy Liou.
- General Management (CoE Function): Eric Chen, Wesley Liu, and other reviewers are being invited.
Awards Criteria: Awards are allocated based on the functional domains listed above. To uphold the prestige of the competition, the jury reserves the right to adjust the number of awards granted or leave a category vacant based on the caliber of the submissions.
Need Some Help?
If you have any questions regarding the competition, please feel free to contact us at GenAI.Center@advantech.com.
Okay, What are the
Rules?
Open to ALL Advantech employees
If you have any questions regarding the competition, please feel free to contact us at GenAI.Center@advantech.com.