REGULATIONS
on the Competition of Innovative Startup Projects "Sikorsky Challenge 2023"
1. GENERALITIES
1.1. The Regulations on the Competition of Innovative Startup Projects Sikorsky Challenge 2023 (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations) determine the procedure and terms of the Innovative Startup Projects Competition “Sikorsky Challenge 2023” (hereinafter referred to as the Competition), the functions, rights, duties and responsibilities of the Organizers and Competition Participants.
1.2. The Competition is one of the events of the International Festival of Innovation Projects “Sikorsky Challenge 2023”.
1.3. Basic terms used in the Regulations:
Applicant is an individual or a group of individuals (project team) who has submitted an application for participation in the Competition.
Participant is an individual or a group of individuals (project team), whose application for participation in the Competition has been accepted by the Organizing Committee.
Competition organizers are National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute" (hereinafter referred to as "KPI"), Science Park "Kyivskyi Polytechnic" Corporation (hereinafter referred to as the Science Park), Innovation Holding “Sikorsky Challenge” (hereinafter referred to as the Innovation Holding), Startup School “Sikorsky Challenge“ (hereinafter referred to as the Startup School).
Competition Organizing Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Organizing Committee) is the leading body of the Competition, which provides organizational support for the Competition and events, determines the selection methodology and ensures the selection of competitive innovation projects for the Competition.
Expert Council of the Competition (hereinafter referred to as the Expert Council) is a group of Ukrainian and foreign experts who carries out professional evaluation of the Applications and determines the Participants whom it recommends for participation in the Final of the Competition. The procedure for the creation and work of the Expert Council is available at the link >>>.
International Jury of the Competition is a group of people, which includes Ukrainian and foreign scientists, experts, investors and mentors that carries out the final evaluation of the projects previously selected by the Expert Council and determines the winners of the Competition in the predetermined nominations.
Format of the Competition is mixed – in-person and synchronous on-line mode. The format of the competition may be changed depending on the epidemiological and military situation in Ukraine.
Awards are prizes awarded to the winners and prize-winners of the Competition.
Sponsors and partners (of different status) are Ukrainian and foreign state and public organizations, institutions and enterprises of all forms of ownership, mass media that provide material, informational or organizational support to the Competition.
1.4. The purpose and tasks of the Competition correspond to the purpose and tasks of the International Festival of Innovation Projects “Sikorsky Challenge 2023”, namely: identifying the best innovation projects of Ukrainian and foreign youth (hereinafter referred to as youth), scientific and business community. Stimulation of innovative entrepreneurship for the rapid and effective implementation of advanced technologies and developments in all areas of security, defense and economy of the country, which contributes to the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine and its integration into the global high-tech space.
1.5. Applications for participation in the Competition can be submitted by students, post-graduate students, aspirants, scientists and employees of higher educational institutions and research institutions, as well as other natural persons from different regions of Ukraine and foreign countries.
1.6. The Regulations are available to all interested persons applying for participation in the Competition. The Regulations are openly published on the website of the Competition. The participants have the right to demand from the Organizing Committee an explanation of the points of the Regulations.
1.7. The general management of the preparation and holding of the Competition is carried out by the Organizing Committee.
The procedure for the creation and work of the Organizing Committee is available at the link www.sikorskychallenge.com/appindix-1
1.8. Review and selection of Applications are carried out by the Expert Council in accordance with the procedure and the requirements stipulated in these Regulations. The procedure for creation and work of the Expert Council is available at the link www.sikorskychallenge.com/appendix-2
1.9. The Applicants have the right to:
- receive information about the rules and procedure of the Competition;
- apply to the Organizing Committee for clarification of the clauses of this Regulation;
- send their applications for registration of participation in the Competition in the manner prescribed by these Regulations;
- withdraw their previously submitted application for participation in the Competition by submitting an official notice to the Organizing Committee at least 10 calendar days before the deadline for submission;
- participate in all events organized for Applicants in the framework of preparation for the Competition and in the Finals of the Competition.
1.10. The Applicants are obliged to:
- before submitting an application for participation in the Competition, familiarize themselves with these Regulations, the requirements for applications and the procedure for conducting the Competition;
- timely submit applications in accordance with the requirements of these Regulations;
- comply with the requirements of these Regulations.
1.11. The Participants have the right to:
- receive information about the rules and procedure of the Competition;
- apply to the Organizing Committee for clarification of the clauses of this Regulation;
- withdraw their previously submitted application for participation in the Competition by submitting an official notice to the Organizing Committee at least 10 calendar days before the deadline for submission;
- participate in all events organized for Participants in the framework of preparation for the Competition and in the Finals of the Competition.
1.12. Participants are obliged to:
- comply with the requirements of these Regulations;
- timely answer the questions of the members of the Jury regarding their project on the online platform of the competition;
- make a presentation of their project (in offline or online format) before the International Jury of the Competition and potential investors during the Final of the Competition;
- if a pandemic or war situation allows to hold the Competition offline and to present projects in the poster format, the Participant have to prepare at his own expense and to present during the finals of the Competition a full-color A0-size poster with brief information about the Participant's project, and a prototype/ layout of the project results (optional).
1.13. Applicants and Participants are responsible for:
- violation of requirements for the reliability of information provided in their application and/or project presentation;
- non-compliance with the requirements, procedures and terms established by these Regulations;
- copyright infringement by them, including when preparing materials for the Competition.
- For the specified violations, the Organizing Committee may deprive the Participant of the right to participate in the Competition.
The Organizing Committee sends a notification to the Participant about the deprivation of his right to participate in the Competition by e-mail.
1.14. Domestic and foreign individuals and legal entities may be involved in the preparation and conduct of the Competition, they may act as sponsors or partners of the Competition.
1.15. The Partners and Sponsors of the Competition can be as follows:
General Partner of the Startup School and the Festival of Innovation Projects “Sikorsky Challenge 2023” is an individual or legal entity that made the largest contribution to financing the preparation and holding of the Competition ($15,000).
Sponsor of the Innovation Ecosystem “Sikorsky Challenge Ukraine” is a natural or legal entity that contributed to the financing of the preparation and holding of the Competition ($5,000).
Sponsor of the Festival of Innovation Projects “Sikorsky Challenge 2023” is a natural or legal entity that provided prizes or rewards for Competition Participants ($3,000).
Information partner of the Innovative Startup Projects Competition “Sikorsky Challenge 2023” is a natural or legal entity that provides information coverage of the preparation and conduct of the Competition.
Partner of the Innovative Startup Projects Competition “Sikorsky Challenge 2023” is a natural or legal entity that took a significant part in the organization and holding of the Competition.
2. COMPETITION PROCEDURE
2.1. The competition is open to the wide public. Individuals aged 16 to 75 or groups of individuals (project teams) are invited to participate. When considering projects, preference is given to startups with teams.
2.2. Only finished and fully ready for commercialization projects are accepted for participation in the Competition (independently prepared scientific and research works that have applied value, can be implemented in production or applied in economic activity).
2.3. When considering applications, preference is given to engineering projects in the following areas:
- Defense and security: defense-industrial complex.
- Information technologies, cyber security.
- Industrial Hi-Tech. Aviation and space.
- Civil and military infrastructure.
- Environmental and energy security.
- Biomedical engineering and human health.
- Agricultural engineering and food security.
- Transport and logistics.
2.4. Projects that were submitted to the Competitions in previous years (2012-2022) are allowed to participate in the Competition if the startup team submits its project for the next round of investment or the startup is at the next stage of implementation, compared to the application submitted in previous years.
2.5. The Competition takes place in three stages:
Stage 1. Submission and acceptance of applications for participation in the Competition (November 1, 2022 - August 10, 2023).
Stage 2. Review of applications by the Expert Council and selection of finalists for participation in the Competition (July 15, 2023 - September 15, 2023).
Stage 3. Final of the Competition (October 2023).
2.6. Submission deadline
Applicants submit their applications for participation in the Competition by filling out the appropriate application form on the website of the All-Ukrainian Innovation Ecosystem “Sikorsky Challenge Ukraine”
at the link >>> until 23:59 on August 10, 2023 inclusive.
Applications received after the specified deadline will not be accepted for consideration and participation in the Competition.