Today’s societies and economies are facing unprecedented challenges, creating both threats and opportunities. Meeting these challenges requires innovative ideas developed collaboratively and across countries. The three leading European business schools EDHEC from France, ESMT Berlin from Germany, and Polimi Graduate School of Management from Italy have therefore launched the INNOVA Europe competition. Students and graduates of the three business schools are invited to develop and submit start-up ideas that address societal, economic, and environmental challenges based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

“The Student Challenge for Sustainable Development Impact is a great opportunity for students to use entrepreneurial thinking and innovative creativity to make a valuable contribution to sustainability. The competition offers students intensive and accompanying support in the early start-up phase and a network from which students can benefit in the long term beyond the competition,” says Baris Efe, manager and co-founder of Vali Berlin. 

On February 10, 2023, the three European business schools will select their respective national finalists. In the following months, the three teams will be supported by their business schools in the further development of their start-up ideas. The final event will take place in June in Milan, where a jury consisting of selection committees from the business schools, corporate representatives, and venture capitalists will announce the winners. The winning team will receive a cash prize of €5,000 and will be supported by the academic incubators of the three partner business schools EDHEC Entrepreneurs, PoliHub, and Vali Berlin to further develop its idea.   

More information about INNOVA Europe may be found here.