Smarten Up for the Future Balkathon® 4.0 Competition

Objective & Outcome

• Balkathon is a regional competition that invites interested young people, start-ups, entrepreneurs, students, digital innovation hubs, scientific parks, universities, SMEs, etc. from all Western Balkan economies to propose and develop innovative digital solutions as a response to the challenges of the day-to-day life. The six most innovative proposals will be awarded 10.000€ each. The awards will be given to digital solutions whose top priority is to support the region in maintaining sustainability of the communities, businesses, cities and individual lives of each community member.
• Once implemented, the proposals should provide a positive contribution to creating jobs, maintaining/enhancing operations, and facilitating digital transformation in different sectors.

Topics

Balkathon 2023 is looking for fresh, innovative and unique ideas and solutions from different digital areas that will mark this year’s competition. Consider these guidelines and the proposed topics as an inspiration and directions, not as limitations. At Balkathon 2023, they focus on:

• Sustainable Tourism
• Green Economy
• Entrepreneurship

Why Register?

• You get a two-day mentoring programme with experienced experts.
• Opportunity to win 10.000 euro for your idea.
• Opportunity to implement your idea in the Western Balkan region.
• Opportunity to present your solution at the high-level ICT event in the region “Western Balkan Digital Summit”.

Who can apply?

• Geographic limitations: Only applicants from WB economies (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia) can apply to Balkathon, while digital solutions should address a need or challenge in any WB economy within the context of a given topic.
• Time limitations: After the competition award ceremony, applicants need to develop, finalise and implement digital solutions within a six-month timeframe.
• Applicant limitations:
  • Digital solutions submitted and implemented by registered teams are eligible to participate in the Balkathon competition.
  • Eligible applicants:
    • Teams should be composed exclusively of the representatives of the WB economies ;
    • Teams are encouraged to be composed of members from two or more Western Balkan economies;
    • Teams are encouraged to be composed of qualified individuals; ICT companies, students, non-governmental organisations; educational institutions; start-up companies, etc.;
    • Proven experience in projects relevant to the priority areas of the competition will be taken as advantage.
  • Applicants will be disqualified from participating in Balkathon competition if they are in one of the following situations:
    • Working in the public and local administration/authorities of any Western Balkan economy, including institutions such as Statistics Offices, public agencies, etc.
    • They hold an active contract with RCC at the time of application;
    • Applicants will be disqualified at any time from the competition and/or from the final Award Ceremony if it is proved they tried to obtain confidential information, exert influence over RCC, judges or authorised contractual party during the proposal evaluation process.

When and Where?

• Registration process starts on 12 July 2023 and ends on 13 September 2023 at 12:00 (CET+1).
• The Award Ceremony will be held in hybrid form on 3 October 2023.

For more information, visit Regional Cooperation Council.