In today’s world, there is not always time to create innovations within a company. Moreover, corporations may have capital and resources, but they often lack the agility, prototyping culture or knowledge of the latest trends that are necessary to create innovation. The solution is open innovation, which is an effective way of acquiring new ideas and partners. This is because successes are achieved primarily by those companies that cooperate with others, while establishing valuable long-term relationships. However, the problem is often to reach the best innovators. That is why the digital innovation platform was created.
We facilitate
the cooperation
and innovation
An open innovation platform that connects innovators and startups with the largest corporations in the CEE region. The best place for hackathons, challenges and competitions.
Available initiatives
Take part in the most interesting innovative initiatives in the CEE region
52
Days
UPC Think BIG: Think Digital
UPC Think Big is a program that aims to support innovative entrepreneurs and social innovators who, based on new technologies, create solutions to support companies, communities and individuals.
Type
Programme
Prize
Various kinds
Status
Ongoing
Project duration
from 27.07.2020
till 19.11.2020
-19
Days
Start-up Challenge 2020
Are you developing your business, have an innovative idea or maybe you want to attract an investor or investment funds? Introduce yourself to the business world and pitch your idea to potential partners.
Type
Accelerators, Scale-ups
Prize
Financial award
Status
Ongoing
Project duration
from 24.01.2020
till 09.09.2020
9
Days
The Great Pitch
This is a competition for startups participating in the Wolves Summit. During each edition we select 40-50 technology startups that pitched their ideas, solutions and companies in front of investors, corporations and other conference participants.
Type
Pitch contest
Prize
Financial award
Status
Ongoing
Project duration
from 01.07.2020
till 07.10.2020
-22
Days
Hack Kosice
One of the biggest hackathons in Europe. Its main goal is to develop innovative solutions with students. The official Major League HAcking (MLH) event.
Type
Hackathon
Prize
Financial award
Status
Upcoming
Project duration
from 05.09.2020
till 06.09.2020
44
Days
Central European Startup Awards 2020
Join one of the largest independent startup competitions to not only be recognized around the world, but also to access a global network of contacts, connect with investors and incubation programs from around the world.
Type
Prize contest
Prize
Financial award
Status
Ongoing
Project duration
from 15.04.2020
till 11.11.2020
2
Days
infoshare startup contest
Are you representing a startup in early stage of development? Do you want 20,000 euros in cash? You do not have to go to Gdansk this year. This year the competition is fully online!
Type
Prize contest
Prize
Financial award
Status
Ongoing
Project duration
from 01.06.2020
till 30.09.2020
Cooperation
accelerates innovation!
One platform
for all innovative projects
Effective way
to reach the best innovators and corporations
Facilitating
the establishment of business relationships in CEE region
Free of charge
and available to everyone
Submit your initiatives
and contribute to the innovation ecosystem in the CEE region
Startup challenge
Announce the challenge or problem to be solved. Engage the best startups and technologies to solve them.
Hackathon
Find new ideas and prototypes that you can implement. Recruit the best students.
Pitch Contest
Invite the best innovators to present their ideas.
Prize contest
Reward and promote the best, establish lasting relationships.
Accelerators, scale-up
Increase the scale of your business or open up to implementation.
Programme
Comprehensive approach to innovation - from competition, through mentoring, to pilot implementation.
It's worth to cooperate
Only together can we achieve success in the CEE region.
They have already put their trust in cooperation and open innovation.
They have already put their trust in cooperation and open innovation.
We must start to combine forces and develop an ecosystem of digital innovation in the region along the lines of those in Silicon Valley, London and Shanghai. Only coordinated cooperation between companies, state institutions and the academic world gives hope for success. So far, this is not our strength.
Aleksander Kutela
Vicepresident, Ringier Axel Springer Polska
At UPC, we believe that one of the effective ways to meet new challenges is the rapid development of the gigabit Internet and the adaptation of new technologies. The motto of this year's edition of Think Big is "Think Digital". Our goal is to recognize entrepreneurs and social innovators who create digital solutions for companies, communities and citizens, allowing them to join the digital world thanks to open innovation and collaboration in CEE region.
Robert Redeleanu
CEO for CEE region, UPC
In Polpharma we are guided by a motto Peope helpig People. And here startups help corporations and vice versa, corporations give opportunities to startups. This collaboration is not always smoot and easy that’s why we want to help by being catalyst in this process.
Katarzyna Wasilewska
Vicepresident, Digital Poland Foundation and Director of Treasury, ZF Polpharma
Digitisation is the foundation for progress today. To understand it well and take advantage of the opportunities it gives us, we need to invest in open innovation and create favourable conditions for business development in our region.
Piotr Ciski
CEO, SAGE in Poland
It is now more important than ever for those involved in digital innovation to work together. Only fully digital processes are sufficiently cost-effective, fast, transparent and ergonomic for their participants. Therefore, in cooperation with a network of financial institutions, technology companies and local partners, Visa wants to support the process of modernization of small businesses, accelerate their digitalization and help them to respond to consumer needs.
Jakub Kiwior
General Manager for CEE region, VISA
Digitalisation is an irreversible process, as the pandemic experience proves. I dream about an optimal combination of heart and mind, so that the solutions include a broad social context that solves today's pressing problems, for example in health care sector. This requires cooperation and open innovation.
Ewa Wiejas-Lipiecka
Board member, Ströer in Poland
Poland has a potential to become a digital heart of Europe and the technology hub for the region. Our commitment is to empower the country, citizens and businesses to be a digital players at global scale. The innovation, startups and developers are now even more important succeeding across the borders. We need to collaborate more to jump-start innovation in CEE region.
Mark Loughran
General Manager, Microsoft in Poland
The new-tech revolution is upon us, as the COVID-19 pandemic has sped up the transition from an analogue to a digital world. Those who will miss out on this transformation, will be left behind. In these circumstances open innovations are of even greater importance. Together we are stronger, more creative and the economies of scale give us further advantage. Hand in hand collaboration between different entities will boost the polish and regional markets’ growth.
Maciej Gozdowski
Managing Director, player.pl (TVN Digital)
Our company is an example of how cooperation and open innovation play a huge role in the digitisation process. We have succeeded in creating an innovative operating system for our buildings through the involvement of a number of smaller and larger companies. We do not keep these technologies to ourselves - we share them with our partners and tenants. We want to support digitisation in the CEE region.
Jeroen van der Toolen
Managing Director for CEE region, Ghelamco
The entire innovation ecosystem must be complementary and work as effectively as possible – starting with the support of state administration and international cooperation, with the participation of large technology companies such as T-Mobile, universities and investment funds, to startups where the most revolutionary ideas often arise. I would like the digitalinnovationCEE platform to become a hub, that makes it possible for the smallest startups from the region to have a chance to cooperate on joint projects with the largest organizations in the innovation sector.
Andreas Maierhofer
CEO, T-Mobile in Poland
The companies and institutions
that make it possible
Organiser
Strategic Partners
Partners
