Implementation
Overview of the Process
The Innovation Competition follows a clear and simplified process. All interested students or teams submit their idea through the competition portal. Once their application is submitted, they are immediately eligible to take part in the mentoring phase. There is no pre-selection before mentoring.
The aim is to provide a low-threshold, inclusive structure that gives equal opportunity to all participants, regardless of background or country.
Step 1: Application
Students (individually or in teams of up to five) submit a short application form through the competition portal. The form includes basic details such as school name, grade, team composition, and a short description of the idea. Each application must be supervised by a teacher from the participating school.
Participation is free of charge, and all eligible submissions receive a certificate.
Step 2: Mentoring Sessions
All applicants are invited to join five thematic online mentoring sessions delivered in English. These sessions are open to all countries and are designed to introduce participants to key topics such as accessibility, universal design, and innovation.
Unlike traditional mentoring, these sessions are not coaching or team-specific meetings. They are led by invited speakers who share knowledge, examples, and real-world experiences to support students in developing their ideas. Students are free to attend the sessions they find most useful.
Step 3: Proposal Submission
After the mentoring phase, each team or student submits a final proposal. This includes a short-written document (1–3 pages) and optionally a video (up to 5 minutes). The proposal should explain the idea, how it addresses a real-world accessibility challenge, and what makes it innovative or useful.
Proposals must be submitted through the competition portal by the given deadline and follow the guidelines provided.
Step 4: Finalist Selection
A transnational Committee of Judges, made up of experts in accessibility, education, and design, will review all valid submissions. Based on criteria such as relevance, creativity, feasibility, clarity, and impact, the panel will select five finalists.
There is no national pre-selection. All entries are evaluated equally at the European level.
Step 5: Final Online Event
The five finalists will present their work in a public online event. This includes a short live presentation followed by optional feedback or questions from the jury. The event is open to the public and streamed through the competition platform.
All finalists will receive visibility for their ideas and may be offered additional mentoring or networking opportunities to support further development of their concept.