CALLING ENTEPRENEURS: WIN FROM A TOTAL $50,000 IN CASH PRIZES
University of Marylands business school seeking Leaders for the Digital Economy to enter the 2006 China Business Plan Competition

Beijing, China March 23, 2006 The University of Marylands Robert H. Smith School of Business is seeking leaders for the digital economy. The Smith School today announced the launch of the second annual China Business Plan Competition a contest that offers aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to present a business idea focused on information, communication or technology to compete for a $25,000 grand prize, $15,000 second prize or $10,000 third prize.

Entries are now being accepted online at www.rhsmith-umd.cn/bplan2006 until May 22. Entrants are asked to submit an executive summary outlining their business idea and selected finalists will participate in a final round competition at the China World Hotel in Beijing, on Sept. 13, where their ideas will be heard before a panel of venture capitalist judges.

It is hard to say which was more valuable the experience of going through the competition and hearing feedback from real venture capitalists, or the opportunity to win significant start up funds, said Renjin Tu, winner of last years competition and the president of the ShenZhen QianRenRen Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd. I would strongly encourage other entrepreneurs to enter the ultimate payoff is the difference between dreaming a dream and having the ability to make it come true.

ING Investment Management is delighted to be associated with the Smith School in the search for leaders in the digital economy, stated Chris Ryan, CEO of ING Investment Management Asia/Pacific, a Platinum Sponsor of the contest. ING Investment Management, through its joint venture, China Merchants Fund Management, has partially achieved its position of leadership in the Chinese investment industry through an innovative e-commerce strategy. This strategy can only continue to yield results if academia and business cooperate to develop that talent.

The Smith Schools China Business Plan Competition is more than a contest, as it also gives entrepreneurs a chance to gain additional confidence, resources and knowledge as they hone their business plans with real VC feedback and insight, said Asher Esptein, managing director of the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, which is hosting the competition. We will also host a vibrant post-competition networking event so VCs and entrepreneurs have further opportunities to discuss business ideas and investment opportunities.

Entrepreneurship, globalization and the integration of business and technology are key areas of focus for the Smith School, which offers its leading Executive MBA programs in Beijing and Shanghai. The China Business Plan Competition, like Smiths program in China, is built around the theme: Building Leaders for the Digital Economy.

The Smith School is committed to annually sponsoring the China Business Plan Competition as a means of showcasing and encouraging the development of entrepreneurship and world-class business ideas, said Howard Frank, dean of the Robert H. Smith School of Business. The Smith School looks forward to contributing to Chinas future as a leading source of business ideas and innovation as the school continues to build its presence and programs there.

The 2006 China Business Plan Competition is open to teams of two to four individuals, with a business model that includes employees based in China, and products or services to be sold in the China marketplace. Second-round notifications will be delivered in June 2006 after which semi-finalists must submit a 15 to 25-page business plan. The semi-finalists will then be narrowed to a total of five finalists who will go on to participate in the final-round presentations. Throughout all stages of the competition entrants will be judged on criteria that include their business plan feasibility, clarity, conciseness, value proposition and competitive positioning.

Sponsors for the Smith Schools 2006 China Business Plan Competition include: ING Investment Management Asia/Pacific, Morgan Franklin, New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), The Hina Group, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, ChinaCast, Opus8, Zernike Group, ZERO2ipo, Dow Jones, Economic Observer, Discovering Value, Maryland Center China and Maryland China Business Council.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities call (0)10 6510 2600 or email Beijing@rhsmith.umd.edu.

About ING
ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering insurance, banking and asset management to over 60 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of over 115,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand.

The Smith School in China
The Smith School is partnered with the University of International Business and Economics to deliver its top-ranked programs in China. The school is helping China meet a critical need for MBA graduates and world-class business leadership by delivering its leading Executive MBA programs in Beijing and Shanghai, as well as through its successful custom Executive programs. For more information about the Smith Schools China programs, visit: http://www.rhsmith-umd.cn. 

About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research for the digital economy. One of 13 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and part-time MBA, executive MBA, PhD, and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in four continents including North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. More information about the Robert H. Smith School of Business can be found at www.rhsmith.umd.edu.

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For more information: Robert H. Smith School of Business PR Manager University of Maryland Angela Toda ( 301.405.8062 atoda@rhsmith.umd.edu