The Social Impact Award is an idea competition for students that want to initiate change in a constructive way. Its mission is the promotion of Social Entrepreneurship among students in Austria, Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This term combines entrepreneurial action with social goals.
Since 2009 it took place in Austria – 4 editions, and in 2013 it will take place in Austria, Romania, Czech Republic and Slovakia. In each country a local organization implements the award: the HUB Vienna Incubation in Austria and in Romania, HUB Prague in the Czech Republic and Rozbehni sa! in Slovakia.
Under the slogan “Push the button, change the world!” the Social Impact Award addresses students that are willing to try to solve current social problems in an innovative way by founding projects, initiatives or organizations.
The projects can be rooted in different fields, like poverty reduction, health, education, environment, energy, technologies of information and communication, human rights, equal opportunities, care, and others.
Key dates of Competition
- March 6 – Kick Off SIA 2013 @ HUB Bucharest & Opening the applications
- March 11 – 18: 4 full day, free workshops in: Bucharest, Iasi, Cluj & Timisoara
- April 4 – Deadline for submissions of ideas
- April 22 to May 12 – Online Community Voting
- May 13 – Award Ceremony in HUB Bucharest
- June – Vision Workshop in Vienna, Austria for the winners from all 4 countries
- October – SIA Summit in Vienna, Austria for the winners from all 4 countries
Before the application deadline, 4 full-day Workshops open to the public and free of charge are offered. They give students the opportunity to gain insights about social entrepreneurship and experience different stages of project development from experts from the business or social field. The specific contents are adapted to local realities in each country. Each workshop will cover an introduction to Social Entrepreneurship, followed by a session designed to generate creative ideas. Then participants will learn basic business modelling and business planning concepts in a simulation.
Push the button, change the world!
What are you waiting for? Submit your idea here and you can win 2 prizes of 2000 euros or the 200 euros prize from online voting, plus support to implement your idea.