On 7 November 2019, the European Commission launched the Digital Innovation Challenge for Europe’s SMEs and startups at the Web Summit 2019 in Lisbon, Portugal.
At a packed opening ceremony, the Commission’s Director for Digital Services Emanuele Baldacci announced that the winning SMEs and startups stand to win EUR 50 000 (first place), EUR 20 000 (second place) and EUR 10 000 (third place).
The Digital Innovation Challenge invites SMEs and startups, providers of digital services across Europe, to propose innovative services and solutions based on the European Commission’s open and reusable solutions. The Challenge is particularly targeted at Digital SMEs and startups that would like to accelerate their digitally-enabled growth and leverage on already existing components that provide basic capabilities to facilitate the delivery of digital, interoperable, cross-border and cross-domain services and solutions.
This Challenge invites participants to shape a concept for a service or solution that could be integrated in their company business offer. The proposed service or solution concept must be based on one or more of the open and reusable solutions provided by the European Commission.
During the opening at the Web Summit, Dietmar Gattwinkel from the Commission’s eGovernment and Trust Unit introduced those SMEs who have already taken advantage of the reusable solutions provided by the Commission.
Recognising the importance of SMEs within the European economy, the European Commission is launching this Challenge to SMEs and startups across Europe — to the ones that are willing to innovate and grow their business by taking the lead towards making a digital Europe, the ones who think big, play smart and stand out.
Through this Challenge, the European Commission aims to experiment new ways to engage with SMEs and startups to re-imagine how open and reusable solutions are created and promoted, stimulate awareness and, ultimately, increase their adoption.
The closing date for application is 28 February 2020, 12.00 pm Brussels time, following which applications are no longer possible.
Interested? You can already register to the first Info Session for prospective participants, taking place on 25 November 2019. The second information session will take place on 30 January 2020.
