Innovation Contest 2026
Be inspired!
Do you have an innovative idea that could address a global or local challenge? Would you like support to develop your idea into a potential start-up?
Take the chance to pitch your idea on an international stage!
Present your concept at the EU-CONEXUS Innovation Contest of Ideas 2026 in front of an international jury. Gain valuable feedback on developing your business idea and compete for prize money to help bring it to the next level.
The contest is open to students, PhD candidates, and researchers of the EU-CONEXUS universities. Multinational teams are welcome but optional.
Optional workshops will support participants in refining their ideas.
Selected teams will first pitch online. The top projects per category will be invited to the live pitch event in Rostock in June, where they can present their ideas on site.
While we encourage entries related to SmUCS (Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability), innovative ideas from all fields are welcome.
Explore the possibility of advancing your innovative idea into a start-up business with support and feedback from innovation experts:
- Gain pitching experience in front of a high-profile jury
- You are invited to join our innovation workshops* to build your expertise. Participation is voluntary.
*Topics may change depending on availability.- Business model canvas
- The Persona
- Social Entrepreneurship
- How to pitch your idea
- How to write a business plan
- Market-competition USPs
- Introduction to different business models
- Press-coaching for founders
- Connect with other future entrepreneurs from the universities of the EU-CONEXUS Alliance by networking with fellow contest participants
- Win prize money to push your idea forward
Participants can enter in one of two categories.
Project Ideas
While we encourage ideas related to SmUCS (Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability) topics, ideas from any innovative field can be submitted.
Two possibilities to participate:
1. Work on your own project idea.
2. Choose and address one of the challenges provided by companies from the Alliances regions.*
*Challenges from companies in the Alliances regions which the teams can work on will be provided on the EU-CONEXUS website.
Multinational teams (OPTIONAL)
Teams can include members from two or more different EU-CONEXUS universities, but this is optional. We strongly encourage and support multinational collaboration, as it can enrich the project experience.
Teams may also include members from universities that are not part of the EU-CONEXUS Alliance.
The team leader must be enrolled or employed at an EU-CONEXUS partner university.
If you are interested in taking part and would like support with forming a multinational team or choosing an idea, please don’t hesitate to contact us — we’ll be happy to help.
For support with matching members to teams please contact:
sabine.brueser@uni-rostock.de
If you need help with creating your team, please also let us know if you are looking for specific skills or competencies in your team member.
Important:
Your participation is confidential. The members of the jury sign a letter of confidentiality. Your personal information as well as the project ideas will be kept confidential and not handed over to unauthorized third persons.
Key competition dates and deadlines
Register your interest anytime @ sabine.brueser@uni-rostock.de
Application Phase
Step 1: Submit Initial Project Idea
Deadline: March 29, 2026
Participants are invited to submit a short description of their initial project idea.
Development Phase
Selected participants may choose to take part in interactive workshops to further develop and refine their concepts
Step 2: Submit Final Project Proposal
Deadline: April 19, 2026
After the workshops, participants must submit their completed project proposal.
Pitch Events
Online Pitch Event
Between May 11–15, 2026
- The five best projects in each category (Students & Researchers/PhD) will be selected.
- One representative per shortlisted team will be invited to present at the final on-site event
On-Site Pitch Event
Rostock, Germany
2-day pitch event in the week of June 15-19, 2026
Finalists will pitch their projects live in Rostock. There will be travel funding for one person per team.
All applications must be sent to sabine.brueser@uni-rostock.de
There will be a two-step selection process. In the first step, the jury selects up to 10 ideas for each category. If more than 10 proposals meet the criteria, the jury will make a pre-selection referring to the persuasiveness of the idea following equated criteria.
Win prize money to push your idea forward!
Student Category
1st Prize: €2,500
2nd Prize: €1,500
3rd Prize: €500
Researcher & PhD Category
1st Prize: €4,000
2nd Prize: €2,000
3rd Prize: €1,000
This activity is organised under the EU-funded Project EU-CONEXUS Plus (Project number 101089709) titled : “A significant step forward for the European University for Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability” .
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
