The Global Impact Competition CEE is your opportunity to take your exponential technology project from concept to reality—and earn a life-changing scholarship to Singularity University in Silicon Valley. We're searching for the brightest minds and boldest ideas across Central and Eastern Europe: innovators who see challenges where others see impossibilities, and who are ready to harness disruptive technologies to improve the lives of at least one million people.
If you're a student, young entrepreneur, or innovator with a project that combines cutting-edge technology with genuine global impact, we want to hear from you. This is not just a competition—it's a launchpad for solutions that can reshape our world.
Who Can Apply
The Global Impact Competition CEE welcomes applications from students and young entrepreneurs based in Central and Eastern Europe. We're looking for individuals and teams who demonstrate not only technical excellence but also the vision, passion, and commitment to create meaningful change on a global scale.
Whether you're currently enrolled in university, recently graduated, or building your startup, if you're developing an exponential technology solution with the potential to help millions, you belong in this competition. We value diverse backgrounds and interdisciplinary thinking—the most powerful innovations often emerge at the intersection of different fields and perspectives.
You may apply as an individual or as part of a team. We encourage collaboration, as the complexity of global challenges often demands complementary skills and varied expertise. What matters most is your project's potential and your dedication to bringing it to life.
What We're Looking For
At the heart of every strong application is a project that leverages exponential or disruptive technologies to address a significant global challenge. We're talking about artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, nanotechnology, digital fabrication, networks and computing systems, synthetic biology—technologies that don't improve linearly but exponentially, creating unprecedented opportunities for impact.
Your project should clearly identify a problem affecting large populations and present a solution that can realistically improve the lives of at least one million people. Think beyond incremental improvements. We're seeking ideas that fundamentally reimagine how we approach healthcare, education, energy, food security, environmental sustainability, or any other critical domain where exponential technologies can create breakthrough results.
The most compelling applications combine three essential elements: technological innovation, scalability, and measurable impact. Your solution should be technically sound, with a credible path from prototype to deployment. It should be designed to scale—because reaching one million people requires thinking beyond local implementation. And it should articulate clear metrics for success, demonstrating how you'll measure the lives changed and problems solved.
Crafting a Strong Application
A winning application tells a compelling story while addressing the practical realities of bringing your innovation to market. Begin by clearly defining the problem you're solving. Help us understand the scale and urgency of the challenge, who it affects, and why existing solutions fall short.
Next, articulate your solution with precision. Explain the technology you're using and why it's uniquely suited to this challenge. Show us you understand both the potential and the limitations of your chosen approach. Demonstrate awareness of the technical hurdles you'll face and your strategy for overcoming them.
Scalability is crucial. Outline how your solution can grow from initial deployment to reaching one million people or more. What resources will you need? What partnerships will be critical? What are the key milestones on your path to scale?
Strong applications also address the team behind the project. Who are you, and why are you the right people to execute this vision? Highlight relevant expertise, previous accomplishments, and the complementary skills you bring together. We're investing in people as much as ideas.
Finally, be specific about impact. Define clear, measurable outcomes. How will you know you've succeeded? What metrics will demonstrate that lives have been improved? Quantify your expected impact wherever possible.
The Selection Process
Our selection process is designed to identify the most promising projects and innovators across the region. Once you submit your application, our expert reviewers evaluate each proposal based on technological innovation, potential for global impact, scalability, and team capability.
From all applications received, we shortlist a select group of finalists who will be invited to present their projects at the live finals event. This is where the competition comes alive. You'll join an international gathering of innovators, investors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders from across Central and Eastern Europe and beyond.
At the finals, each team pitches their project before an international jury of experts in exponential technologies, venture capital, and global innovation. These judges bring decades of combined experience in evaluating breakthrough ideas and building successful ventures. They'll challenge you, question your assumptions, and push you to think even bigger about your project's potential.
The finalist experience itself is invaluable. You'll connect with like-minded innovators, receive feedback from world-class mentors, and gain exposure to investors and partners who can help accelerate your project. Regardless of the final outcome, you'll leave with expanded networks, refined ideas, and new perspectives on turning your vision into reality.
The Prize: Your Scholarship to Singularity University
The winner of the Global Impact Competition CEE receives a scholarship to attend Singularity University's flagship program in Silicon Valley. This is your gateway to an unparalleled educational experience at the epicenter of exponential thinking and technological innovation.
At Singularity University, you'll learn directly from the world's leading experts in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, robotics, and every other exponential technology shaping our future. You'll collaborate with innovators from across the globe, each bringing their own bold projects and unique perspectives. You'll be challenged to think bigger, move faster, and create solutions worthy of the world's most pressing challenges.
This scholarship represents more than education—it's an entry point into a global network of entrepreneurs, investors, corporate innovators, and change-makers who share your commitment to using technology for positive impact. The connections you make and the insights you gain will accelerate your project in ways impossible to achieve alone.
Your journey to Silicon Valley begins here, with an application that showcases not just what you've built, but what you're capable of building. We're ready to discover the next generation of innovators from Central and Eastern Europe. Are you ready to show us what's possible?