Go for it!
Submit your idea… and win up to 1.000 Euro.

Ideas Competition @Uni Bonn

At the University of Bonn, we all have a broad spectrum of diverse, innovative and socially relevant knowledge from student theses, dissertations or research projects. But how can we turn this knowledge into creative and innovative ideas? The answer is up to you!

The Ideas Competition by the Transfer Center enaCom at the University of Bonn offers a great opportunity to turn your ideas into reality. Even seemingly small ideas can have a big impact and open up new horizons, no matter how modest they seem to you. Let's turn them into reality together!

The best ideas have the chance to win prizes of up to 1,000 euros. Go for it now!

Who can participate?

In our Ideas Competition, we welcome ideas from all development stages. All members of the University of Bonn (students, PhD students, staff, researchers and alumni (up to 3 years after graduation)), are invited to participate. You can apply as an individual or as a team (at least one team member must be a member of the University of Bonn).

Start-up ideas that have undergone formal business registration and initiated operations are ineligible for the competition. Additionally, ideas previously and currently supported by other funding sources (e.g., start-up grants or prototyping grants) are also excluded. However, ideas with potential future funding may apply, provided the funding begins after the application deadline.

Important: The idea must have been developed independently by you and must not infringe the rights of third parties. You may also submit several ideas. However, only one proposal per participant or team can be awarded a prize. Winners of previous Uni Bonn ideas competitions are not allowed to apply again with the same idea. Participants agree to present their idea at the final event and to participate in public relations.

What’s in for you?

In the finale of the Ideas Competition at the Digital Hub Bonn, the jury will award prizes to the best ideas and hand out several prizes worth 1,000 euros. In addition, the Digital Startup Prize will be awarded by DIGITALHUB.DE.

In addition to the prizes, there will be professional feedback by the jury members from science and business. Furthermore, we are happy to support you in the realization of your idea with our extensive range of consulting services following the ideas competition.

The legal recourse is excluded.

Prizes

Prizes of 1,000 euros each will be awarded. 

Digital Startup Prize

The special prize of the DIGITALHUB.DE consists of a founder package with the benefits of the ALPHA Accelerator.

This is how you participate!

You can easily participate by submitting a short idea sketch. Please use our template and upload it in the registration form. Please read our FAQ with useful tips before submitting. We are happy to advise you before submission (see contact below).

Your ideas are safe with us and the copyright and claim to your invention or idea remains with you, of course.

Application template

Please describe your idea in the idea sketch form. You can download the form here and fill it out. Please upload the document with your personal data in your registration.

How does the competition work?

Sketch your idea

Get feedback on the sketch by our startup consultants. You are still looking for inspiration? Take part in our workshops!

Workshops

enaCom offers a series of workshops where you can develop an idea that you can submit directly to the ideas competition.

12.10.2023: From Research to Startup: Turning Ideas into Impact
24.10.2023: Verändere mit Deiner Idee die Welt
26.10.2023: Getting serious with LEGO® - From bricks to breakthroughs

End of registration

The sketch must be uploaded by November 5, 2023 (23:59h). After that, the nomination for the final will be discussed. 10 ideas will be selected for the final.

Announcement of the nominees

Starting November 17, 2023, it's time to prepare for the finals. You have enough time to prepare your presentations.

Pitch coaching

At the pitch training on November 30, 2023 with the start-up consultancy, there will be helpful tips for the presentation. The perfect preparation!

Final & award ceremony

The highlight of the Ideas Competition. The finalists pitch on the big stage in front of the jury and the audience on December 6, 2023.

For more questions, please check our FAQ

The Ideas Competition of the University of Bonn is an annual competition that allows students, researchers, employees and alumni (up to 3 years after graduation) to present their innovative ideas and projects. The best ideas are awarded a prize.

The University of Bonn's Ideas Competition was launched in 2021. Information on previous years can be found here: 2022 and 2021

The competition is open to ideas from all fields, including technology, social innovation, sustainability and much more. We are looking for ideas that can have a positive impact on society.

Participation in the Ideas Competition requires submission of an idea outline according to the instructions on our website. Please note the participation guidelines and submission deadlines. We are happy to provide feedback on the application form.

To ensure speedy processing, please fill out the application form carefully and submit the idea outline according to the instructions. The italicized notes in the template are for explanatory purposes only and should be deleted before submission. Please save the document as a pdf under the following name: LastName_Ideascompetition_2023.pdf.

The winners of the ideas competition receive a financial prize of 1,000 euros. In addition, all participants receive individual support and advice from the start-up consultancy of the Transfer Center enaCom of the University of Bonn in order to put their ideas into practice.

Yes, the competition is open to ideas at various stages of development, from concepts to prototypes. We encourage ideas at all stages of development.

Yes, the Ideas Competition provides opportunities for networking and collaboration with other participants, experts, and mentors to further develop your idea.


Contact

Avatar Wille

Marcus Wille

Startup Coach
Avatar Küsshauer

Alexander Küsshauer

Startup Coach
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