Digital Innovation Challenge for Europe's SMEs and startups

Introduction

In the context of the Digital Single Market, and with the European Commission’s support, public administrations across the EU have adopted open and reusable solutions to create generic digital public administration components that make it possible for them to provide better services to citizens and businesses.

Recognising the importance of SMEs within the European economy, the European Commission is launching this Challenge to SMEs and startups across Europe — to the ones that are willing to innovate and grow their business by taking the lead towards making a digital Europe, the ones who think big, play smart and stand out.

Through this Challenge, the European Commission aims to experiment new ways to engage with SMEs and startups to re-imagine how open and reusable solutions are created and promoted, stimulate awareness and, ultimately, increase their adoption.

The winning SMEs and startups stand to win EUR 50 000 (first place), EUR 20 000 (second place) and EUR 10 000 (third place).

The Challenge

The Digital Innovation Challenge invites SMEs and startups, providers of digital services across Europe, to propose innovative services and solutions based on the European Commission’s open and reusable solutions. The Challenge is particularly targeted at Digital SMEs and startups that would like to accelerate their digitally-enabled growth and leverage on already existing components that provide basic capabilities to facilitate the delivery of digital, interoperable, cross-border and cross-domain services and solutions.

 As a participant, SMEs and startups will develop a concept of a service or solution that can:

• Reinforce their service offering by using standards-based solutions,
• Facilitate cross-border operations and tap into pan-European markets,
• Reach a higher level of security, interoperability and compliance of the services and solutions offered.

This Challenge invites participants to shape a concept for a service or solution that could be integrated in their company business offer. The proposed service or solution concept must be based on one or more of the open and reusable solutions provided by the European Commission.

The closing date for application is 28 February 2020, 12.00 pm Brussels time, following which applications are no longer possible.

Participants are requested to complete an application form via the Challenge website: https://ec.europa.eu/digital-building-blocks/sme

Communication resources and materials

This Challenge is only as good as those SMEs and startups that participate! Your help is needed in letting as many people know that they have this chance to THINK BIG, PLAY SMART, STAND OUT.

The below table presents an overview of the resources and materials that can be used to promote the Digital Innovation Challenge in different channels.