Press release -
Over 300 ideas from 25 EU countries: EIT ICT Labs Idea Challenge celebrates remarkable interest
More than 600 early stage startups and innovators from all over Europe registered for the first wave of the Idea Challenge, and 311 proposals were finally submitted to the EU-wide idea contest organised by the pan-European education and research-based innovation organisation EIT ICT Labs. Teams and individuals with the drive to found a business were called to submit ideas that revolutionise the information and communication technologies of tomorrow in order to drive economic growth and quality of live in Europe. The second submission wave starts on the 1st of September.
The innovators who have submitted their ideas are not only looking for a chance to win up to 40,000 Euro, office space and mentoring support from the EIT ICT Labs Business Development Accelerator but also for the invaluable opportunity to become part of a unique ecosystem that provides access to a network of investors, venture capitalists and worldwide leading companies. An expert jury consisting of industry experts, investors, entrepreneurs and business accelerators are currently reviewing the entries to select the most innovative ideas for the finals. Between eight and twelve teams per category will be invited to pitch their ideas either in Eindhoven (in May 2014), Helsinki, Munich, or Rennes (in June), where twelve winners will be selected in the end – three in each category.
Idea Challenge fuels innovation
In this first wave teams and individuals were asked to submit ideas to address one of the following tech trends: “Health & Wellbeing”, “Cyber Physical Systems”, “Smart Spaces” or “Future Cloud”.
“The Idea Challenge is very important to us because we try to find the right ideas in those areas where we are active to bring innovation to life” explained Willem Jonker, CEO of EIT ICT Labs. “The Idea Challenge is really about scouting technologies, ideas, opportunities and make sure they make it to the market” he added.
Second wave starts on the 1st of September
The Idea Challenge is divided into two waves. Ideas that address “Cyber Security and Privacy”, “Internet of Things”, “Urban Life and Mobility” and “Smart Energy Systems” can be submitted through www.ideachallenge.eitictlabs.eu from September 1st to September 30th. All rights to designs, new technologies and creations from the teams will remain with their developers, leaving them all flexibility for future business decisions and partnerships
For further information, please contact Johanna Gavefalk, Director Marketing & Communications EIT ICT Labs (johanna.gavefalk@eitictlabs.eu)
We are also available at
Website: www.ideachallenge.eitictlabs.eu
Facebook: www.facebook.com/eitictlabs.ideachallenge
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_ideachallenge
Google+: https://plus.google.com/113755338420101498076/posts
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ideachallenge
Related links
Topics
- Education
Categories
- start-ups
- innovation
- education
- research
- business
- entrepreneur
- entrepreneurship
- europe
- european eco-system
- eit ict labs
- eit ict labs idea challenge
- idea challenge
- future cloud
- smart spaces
- innovation area
- coaching
- mentoring
- partner network
- office space
- prize money
- revolutionise
- #ideachallenge
About EIT ICT Labs
EIT ICT Labs is a pan-European education and research-based innovation organisation founded on excellence. The mission of EIT ICT Labs is to drive European leadership in ICT innovation for economic growth and quality of life. EIT ICT Labs is a Knowledge and Innovation Community of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. By linking education, research and business, EIT ICT Labs empowers ICT top talents for the future and brings ICT innovations to life.
The ecosystem is characterised by an open and collaborative way of working with partners representing global companies, leading research centres, and top ranked universities in the field of ICT. Since 2010, EIT ICT Labs is consistently mobilising talents, ideas, technologies, investments as well as business across Europe and beyond.
