Are you ready for the second edition of the EELISA Prototype Contest? The Research & Innovation dimension of EELISA, EELISA InnoCORE, pursues the ambitious goal to transform EELISA into the first European University that offers test spaces for prototypes to its startups, researchers, and innovators. To promote this goal, EELISA InnoCORE calls for participation in the second EELISA Prototype Contest. The winning prototype will get an EELISA test space (worth 15,000 €) at JOSEPHS – The Open Innovation Lab in Nuremberg, Germany. Additionally, applicants with the best prototypes (or prototype ideas) from each EELISA partner will win an EELISA co-creation workshop for up to 20 participants with JOSEPHS’ open innovation experts. Both, the EELISA test space and the EELISA co-creation workshop will greatly help the selected winners of the contest to create more successful ideas, products, and services.

Proposals can be submitted until 27 October 2023 so that the EELISA test space for the winning prototype can be opened at JOSEPHS in December 2023 and the EELISA co-creation workshop for the applicants with the best prototypes (or prototype ideas) from each EELISA partner can take place from 8 to 9 December 2023. For more information about the first EELISA test space at JOSEPHS, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq08TYa-A_I.

Target group

The call is open to startups, researchers, and innovators from all EELISA institutions (including startups founded in the last five years by alumni of EELISA institutions and startups from the following incubators connected to EELISA institutions: actúaupm (UPM), BME U[S]³ (BME), Chimie Paris Innov (PSL), Incubateur Descartes (ENPC), Incubateur Paris-Dauphine (PSL), Innovation Labs (UPB), ITU Cekirdek (ITU), ITU Ginova (ITU), PC Up (PSL), Polo Tecnologico (SNS), Station F (ENPC), ZOLLHOF Tech Incubator (FAU)). Applicants should have a clear intention to develop their prototype (or prototype idea) into a high-quality product ready for successful market entry in Europe. Applications from all disciplines are welcome, with a preferred relation to innovation, technical solutions, and the Sustainable Development Goals. (Note: Winners of the first EELISA prototype contest are not eligible to apply again, in order to give other startups, researchers, and innovators the opportunity to benefit from the contest.)

Eligible prototypes

Eligible prototypes must fulfill the following criteria:

– Prototypes can be consumer goods, tangible ideas, concepts, or even apps. These prototypes may be physical, digital, or hybrid.

– Prototypes should be of interest to the general public, i.e., to potential customers accessible via Nuremberg’s shopping mile. (Note: A prototype whose target group consists exclusively of a very limited group, such as for example business owners, hospital directors, or people with very rare skills or needs, etc., is not eligible.)

– The prototype must be suitable to be tested in English or German.

– The winning prototype must be suitable to be sent to JOSEPHS by mail or by other means. (Note: The winner of the second EELISA prototype contest has to take the responsibility and costs for shipping the winning prototype to JOSEPHS. Shipping costs of up to 250 € can be reimbursed. After the test space period, the prototype will be sent back to the winners by JOSEPHS if it is not heavier than 30 kg and its package dimensions do not exceed 120 x 60 x 60 cm. Otherwise, the winner of the second EELISA prototype contest has to take the responsibility and costs for shipping the winning prototype from JOSEPHS back home. Shipping costs of up to 250 € can be reimbursed.)

– Prototypes should not be heavier than 100 kg, not need more than approximately four square meters of test space, and not be higher than 2 meters.

– Prototypes must be easy and safe to assemble by non-experts without special technical training.

– The setup of prototypes should not require special expertise.

– Prototypes should be operational with regular technical infrastructure (Wi-Fi, electricity, etc.).

– Hazardous goods are not eligible.

Timeline

–  Submission deadline: Friday, 27 October 2023

– Feedback on the winning prototypes: No later than Friday, 10 November 2023

– Period of the EELISA test space at JOSEPHS: December 2023 until at least January 2024

– Co-Creation Workshop at JOSEPHS: 8 and 9 December 2023

What can you win?

– The winner of the second EELISA prototype contest will get an EELISA test space at JOSEPHS (worth 15,000 €). This will include efficient onboarding and custom fit research design, all-round care by JOSEPHS’ innovation specialists, a minimum of one month of actual testing with at least 100 potential customers for 20 minutes each, interim results and adjustments if necessary, a detailed final report with results and impulses for action, honest feedback of your potential customers, an unbiased view from the outside (JOSEPHS as a neutral entity), well-founded facts for internal decision making, access to a long-standing expertise in open innovation and co-creation, and the possibility of white label tests.

– Applicants with the best prototypes (or prototype ideas) from each EELISA partner will win an EELISA co-creation workshop for up to 20 participants with JOSEPHS’ open innovation experts. The workshop will be an open innovation and co-creation methods coaching at JOSEPHS (online participation will also be possible) that will take place from 8 to 9 December 2023. The EELISA co-creation workshop will help you to take the next steps towards successful market entry with your prototype and to create more successful ideas, products, and services.

– Note: If your EELISA institution can provide the costs for travel and subsistence, the EELISA test space and the EELISA co-creation workshop at JOSEPHS may be supplemented by an EELISA mobility.

Application process and key documents

Please use this application form for the second EELISA Prototype contest to apply for the call and send the completed document as one PDF to david.schkade@fau.de (and isabel.salgueiro@upm.es in copy) no later than 27 October 2023.

Click here to find the complete information for the Call for the Second EELISA Prototype Contest. The document includes detailed information about the evaluation process and the evaluation criteria. Applicants must carefully read the call before submitting the proposal!