Apply by 5 July and get a chance to win one of the awards from the 50.000 EUR award pool

Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is launching its trademark online regional competition for the best digital ideas and solutions from the Western Balkans - Balkathon 5.0. Applications are open until 5 July 2024. 

Building on the experience and feedback from the past four editions, this year’s Balkathon aspires to be even more refined and competitor-friendly, introducing new exciting opportunities for the competitors.

The fifth edition of Balkathon focuses on fresh innovative digital ideas and solutions in different thematic areas that will mark this year’s competition, among which suggested are: technology of services, green and energy, transport, tourism, and agriculture, but it is also open to other themes too.

The Balkathon 5.0 shortlisted teams will get a two-day mentoring programme with skilled experts and a chance to win one of the six 7.000 EUR awards. The winners will also get an opportunity to present their ideas at this year’s Western Balkans Digital Summit, and implement their solution in the Western Balkans region.

To support innovative spirit of our youth from the early age, Balkathon 5.0 is introducing a new feature: two special recognition awards of €4.000 each for the best ranked high school teams.

Who can compete?
Balkathon 5.0 is open for teams of people up to 35 years of age coming from Western Balkan economies. Teams are encouraged to include amongst their members qualified individuals such as students; legal entities including start-ups; and non-governmental and educational institutions.

When?
Registration for competition is open starting from today 21 May until 5 July 2024. The final competition followed by announcement of the winners at the Award Ceremony will be held in September 2024.

Since July 2020 when RCC organised the first-ever regional competition in digital smart solutions, this initiative supported creation of 22 original Made in Western Balkans digital products. Last year, the RCC awarded seven solutions from the region in areas of sustainable tourism, green economy, and entrepreneurship. The provided financial support has enabled teams to further develop their digital solutions.

Last year’s winners

All you need to know about Balkathon is available at www.rcc.int/balkathon

This project is financed by the European Union.