Balkathon 3.0 is on: RCC supports the best digital solutions in the Western Balkans

06 May 2022

Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) launched an online competition for the best digital ideas and solutions from the Western Balkans - Balkathon 3.0 (Design: RCC/Samir Dedic)

Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) launched an online competition for the best digital ideas and solutions from the Western Balkans - Balkathon 3.0 (Design: RCC/Samir Dedic)

Apply by 16 June and get a chance to win mentoring and one of six awards from the 60.000 EUR award pool

Sarajevo – For the third time in a row, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is launching an online competition for the best digital ideas and solutions from the Western Balkans - Balkathon 3.0. Applications are open until 16 June. 


This year, we are looking for fresh, innovative and unique ideas in five categories:


1.    eCommerce (virtual promotion tools, video and influence marketing)
2.    Agriculture, Food-Tech & Rural Development
3.    Renewable/sustainable Energy (solar, wind energy, hydro energy, tidal energy, geothermal, biomass energy)
4.    Transportation & Logistics 
5.    Miscellaneous (medtech/biotech/healthtech, blockchain and cybersecurity, entertainment and gaming, clean and green technologies)


With the novelty of being able to choose your own topic to smarten-up the Western Balkans’ future, encourage regional collaboration and help the region, its businesses and citizens are invited to submit an innovative solution as a response to the challenges of our day-to-day life.


The Balkathon 3.0 short-listed teams will have the opportunity to get a two-day mentoring programme with experienced experts, chance to implement their solution in the Western Balkans region and win one of the six awards from the 60.000 EUR award pool. We will award six winning ideas – four in the each of the main categories and two winning ideas from Miscellaneous category  with 10.000 EUR.


Last year, the RCC awarded six out of 90 teams from Western Balkan economies with 54.000 EUR for their best innovative solutions in Smart Cities, E-Health, Green Cites and E-entrepreneur that have used the financial support given to fully develop their digital solutions.


Last year’s winners


Who can apply?
Balkathon 3.0 is open for teams composed of participants coming from Western Balkan economies. Teams are encouraged to include amongst their members qualified individuals, ICT companies, students, non-governmental organisations, educational institutions, start-up companies, etc.


When?
Applications are open starting from today 6 May to 16 June 2022, by 12:00 (CET+1).


Timeline
Shortlisted teams will start the competition and work on developing their solutions with experienced mentors on 20-21 June 2022.


The Official Awards Ceremony will be organised as a hybrid event on 5 July 2022, and will be livestreamed at RCC social media profiles.


•    You can APPLY HERE
•    Find more information in Balkathon Guidelines.
•    All you need to know about Balkathon is available at  Balkathon (rcc.int)


The European Union finances this project.