Mar 20, 2026 – Apr 9, 2026
CHARM-EU Ideathon
The CHARM-EU Ideathon is a dynamic, cross-university innovation challenge launching on March 20, delivered in collaboration with Entrepreneurship at Portal and Open Incubator. Theprogramme brings together students from across the CHARM-EU alliance to co-createinclusive, creative, and sustainable solutions to real-world societal challenges.
SDGs
Problem Statements
This year’s innovation challenges are based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the United Nations. Participants are invited to innovate around the following SDGs.
Cash Prizes
500
Winner
Badge Prizes
All participants will receive an CHARM-EU Ideathon Participant Badge, recognising their contribution to collaborative innovation and systems change.
Judges
To be announced.
Desirability
◦ Does the project clearly respond to a meaningful social or environmental need?
◦ Judges will evaluate how well the idea connects with real user or community pain points.
◦ Judges will evaluate how well the idea connects with real user or community pain points.
Feasibility
◦ Can the idea be realistically implemented within existing constraints (time, team, resources)?
◦ The judges will assess how well the team has scoped the project and whether they have the right capabilities to move it forward.
◦ The judges will assess how well the team has scoped the project and whether they have the right capabilities to move it forward.
Impact
◦ What is the potential positive effect of the idea on people or the planet?
◦ Impact includes depth, inclusivity, and alignment with values such as equity, accessibility, or sustainability.
◦ Impact includes depth, inclusivity, and alignment with values such as equity, accessibility, or sustainability.
Viability
◦ Is the idea sustainable in the long term, either as a solution, initiative, or platform for further development?
◦ Viability includes both practical implementation and future potential.
◦ Viability includes both practical implementation and future potential.
Presentation
◦ How clearly and convincingly did the team communicate their idea?
◦ Judges will consider storytelling, use of visuals, teamwork, and how well the solution was explained during the pitch.
◦ Judges will consider storytelling, use of visuals, teamwork, and how well the solution was explained during the pitch.
FAQ
The CHARM-EU Ideathon is a cross-university innovation challenge launching on March 20, 2026, delivered in collaboration with Entrepreneurship at Portal and Open Incubator.The programme brings together students from across the CHARM-EU Alliance to co-create inclusive, creative, and sustainable solutions addressing real-world societal challenges aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Participants must be currently enrolled students at one of the following CHARM-EU partner universities:
◦ University of Barcelona
◦ Trinity College Dublin
◦ Utrecht University
◦ University of Montpellier
◦ Eötvös Loránd University
◦ Åbo Akademi University
◦ University of Würzburg
◦ Hochschule Ruhr West
◦ University of Bergen
No technical background or specific expertise is required. Students from all academic disciplines are welcome.
◦ University of Barcelona
◦ Trinity College Dublin
◦ Utrecht University
◦ University of Montpellier
◦ Eötvös Loránd University
◦ Åbo Akademi University
◦ University of Würzburg
◦ Hochschule Ruhr West
◦ University of Bergen
No technical background or specific expertise is required. Students from all academic disciplines are welcome.
Yes. Students may:
◦ Participate individually
◦ Join an existing team
◦ Form a team during the ideathon
◦ Submit an existing idea or develop a new one during the programme
◦ Participate individually
◦ Join an existing team
◦ Form a team during the ideathon
◦ Submit an existing idea or develop a new one during the programme
Teams must consist of 3–5 students before submitting their final idea. Team formation will take place during the Kick-off Event on March 20 at 6 PM.
Idea Submission Deadline: April 1, 2026 – 5:00 PM (GMT+1). Ideas must be submitted in the form of a pitch deck presentation.
The final submission should include 10–15 slides maximum, covering:
◦ Title
◦ Problem
◦ Solution
◦ Prototype / Mock-up
◦ Traction / Customer Interview Insights
◦ Market Size
◦ Competition / Alternatives
◦ Go-To-Market Strategy
◦ Business Model
◦ Team
Slides must clearly address the four core evaluation criteria:
◦ Desirability
◦ Feasibility
◦ Viability
◦ Impact
Workshop 3 (Pitching) will guide participants in building a strong pitch deck.
The final submission should include 10–15 slides maximum, covering:
◦ Title
◦ Problem
◦ Solution
◦ Prototype / Mock-up
◦ Traction / Customer Interview Insights
◦ Market Size
◦ Competition / Alternatives
◦ Go-To-Market Strategy
◦ Business Model
◦ Team
Slides must clearly address the four core evaluation criteria:
◦ Desirability
◦ Feasibility
◦ Viability
◦ Impact
Workshop 3 (Pitching) will guide participants in building a strong pitch deck.
No.
This is an ideathon, not a hackathon. Participants are not expected to fully build or technically develop their solution.
However, early-stage prototypes are strongly encouraged, including:
◦ Mock-ups
◦ AI-generated demos
◦ Simple sketches included in the presentation
The key objective is to move from:
“I have no idea / just an idea” to “I have a clear concept supported by a structured pitch deck explaining why it is desirable, feasible, viable, and impactful.”
This is an ideathon, not a hackathon. Participants are not expected to fully build or technically develop their solution.
However, early-stage prototypes are strongly encouraged, including:
◦ Mock-ups
◦ AI-generated demos
◦ Simple sketches included in the presentation
The key objective is to move from:
“I have no idea / just an idea” to “I have a clear concept supported by a structured pitch deck explaining why it is desirable, feasible, viable, and impactful.”
Organiser
Organiser
Organiser
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