You are invited to take part in the IX Competition of Startups and present your innovative project on one of the most important annual events in the field of innovation in Ukraine.

The purpose of this event is to identify the most interesting and up-to-date projects in various fields of technology, and to provide the authors of the best of them with assistance in commercialization, creation of successful start-up companies, and bringing innovative products to the national and international markets.

The competition of startups is one of the most important annual events in the field of innovation in Ukraine. It usually involves project developers in many fields of science and technology as well as representatives of large investment business

The competition will be held from 3 to 13 November 2020

Benefits of the Competition

The peculiarity of this year's Competition is that for the first time it will be held online. First-ever, the selection of finalists, preparation for the Competition, presentations, evaluation and determination of winners will take place asynchronously online. The International Jury will not evaluate the "live" presentations of the finalists, but their video presentations.

This year, the final date of acceptance of applications for participation is September 15, 2020.

Applications for participation in the Competition can be submitted by students, graduate students, entrepreneurs, scientists and employees of higher education institutions and research institutions, as well as other individuals from all regions of Ukraine.

Preference is given to engineering projects in the following areas:

• High-tech engineering
• Medical engineering
• Energy
• Effective nature management
• Information and telecommunication technologies
• Aviation and space technology
• Robotics
• Creation of new substances and materials, nanotechnology
• Agricultural sector

During the time of acceptance of the applications, the International Expert Council promptly reviews the submitted applications and selects projects that will reach the final of the Competition.

The International Expert Council includes specialists and mentors of the Innovation Holding “Sikorsky Challenge”, experts of the Igor Sikorsky KPI and investment funds, experts from Israel and the USA.

On September 20, the International Expert Council will determine the finalists of the Competition, and instructional guidelines on the preparation of video presentations will be sent to them.

From September 28 to 30, 2020, the finalists will be trained online to prepare video presentations of their projects. They have to send their video presentations to the Organizing Committee by October 20.

Until November 1, 2020, all video presentations of the finalists' projects will be posted on the website for online evaluation, and from November 3 to 13, members of the International Jury will have the possibility to ask questions, evaluate projects and select winners in the nominations:

• The best project idea
• The best technological solution
• The best solution to the problems of potential customers
• The best business model

The teams of these projects will receive money awards from the Innovation Holding “Sikorsky Challenge” and its partners.

Representatives of investment companies will choose interesting projects and will sign Protocols of Intent to invest in future startups with projects teams.

One of the main partners and sponsors of the Sikorsky Challenge Competition from 2018 is the Chinese company "Zhejiang Golden Egg Science and Technology" (hereinafter Golden Egg).

The projects selected by Golden Egg will have the opportunity to take part in a Chinese competition of startups, and after the quarantine, to travel to China and open joint Ukrainian-Chinese companies.

We invite you to become a Sponsor or a Partner of the Start-up Competition Sikorsky Challenge - 2020