State idea contest "Inspired"
We are looking for the most innovative minds.
In the annual "Inspired" idea contest, creative minds from all over MV compete with each other for the favor of the top-class jury. The most original ideas and most innovative research results from across the state are awarded prizes. Extensive coaching is provided in the run-up to the contest in order to present one's own idea in the best possible light. Often, the concepts take another big leap forward. In addition to fame and honor, there are attractive prizes to be won.
Inspired idea contest wants to track down original ideas and innovative technologies in Mecklenburg Western Pomerania. These are to be supported with financial means as well as with valuable contacts, intensive coaching and important experiences.
Everybody interested in founding a company can participate – internationals welcome! Individual participants and teams of up to three people can apply.
Before the statewide competition takes place, a local competition is first held at each participating educational institution. The Robert Schmidt Institute (RSI) organizes this internal elimination at Wismar University.
The RSI selects the best ideas submitted. The teams refine their concepts with the support of the RSI before presenting them to the jury. Ten minutes are set for each presentation. Afterwards, the jury takes five minutes for questions. The jury is a panel of up to six people from business and research. It selects three winning teams and awards the prizes.
The winning teams are then sent to the statewide contest. For this, they are again intensively coached so that they can optimally present their concepts to the top-class jury from business, science and politics. The winners are honored at a public award ceremony at the state level.
When submitting the idea sketch, the teams are divided into one of the two categories "Students" and "Graduates & Researchers". This ensures fairness and equal opportunities in the contest. The teams and their ideas will be evaluated according to the following aspects:
- Innovation level: How original is the project and what progress does the idea promise?
- Customer benefit: How much will a customer benefit from the new product or service?
- Market potential: How well can the idea be sold on the market after implementation and how high is the expected return?
- Probability of realization: How realistic is the actual implementation of the project?
- Founding team: How well are the necessary competencies covered by the team and how high is their motivation to implement the idea?
Cash and non-cash prizes will be awarded at both the local and state finals.
The contest is a joint project of the Universities of Rostock and Greifswald, the Universities of Applied Sciences Neubrandenburg, Stralsund and Wismar as well as the University of Applied Sciences Rostock/Schwerin and is funded by the Ministry of Economics, Labor and Health of the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Stories of success
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Please note: Once you watch the video, data will be transmitted to Youtube/Google. For more information, see Google Privacy.
Please note: Once you watch the video, data will be transmitted to Youtube/Google. For more information, see Google Privacy.
Please note: Once you watch the video, data will be transmitted to Youtube/Google. For more information, see Google Privacy.
Please note: Once you watch the video, data will be transmitted to Youtube/Google. For more information, see Google Privacy.
Please note: Once you watch the video, data will be transmitted to Youtube/Google. For more information, see Google Privacy.
Winners 2023
Statewide contest
Local contest
Category "Students"
1st place: Selbstversorger – 3D-printed ceramic aeroponic tower
Many people are interested in healthy vegetables with a clear designation of origin. Why not simply produce these vegetables yourself – even if space is limited? Esther Weiße, Master's degree Interior Design, has come up with the "Selbstversorger" – which already exists as a working prototype and can be made using a ceramic 3D printer.
2nd place: Kofix – the mobile backpack kitchen
You get hungry at the seaside – but there's simply no cooking facilities in sight. Nic Hoffmann, Mateja Bakovic and Benedikt Henke – all on the Bachelor's degree programme in Business Administration – have come up with a backpack kitchen that is both cooking and cooling unit and is powered by a solar module.
3rd place: Beanbag – bags made from coffee leather
Every year, 20 million tonnes of coffee grounds are produced worldwide. As well do 1.4 billion animals die – among other things for leather production. Harika Lehman, Diploma Programme Product Design, processes coffee grounds into a leather alternative to make new products (bags).
Category "Researchers / Graduates / Start-up-Wannabes"
1st place: ALVIE – the app against depression
It often takes years before people with depressive symptoms seek help. Even general practitioners often don't know what to do, and specialists are few. ALVIE by Dr Doris Krüger, chief physician and psychiatrist, is a digital health app that solves this problem and takes sufferers by the hand.
Statewide contest
Local contest
1st place: STUDDY
Niklas Huhs puts an end to high dropout rates and nasty surprises during exam time: His app STUDDY is a Students4Students platform that matches students with students from higher semesters who can help them pass a particular subject, based on a matching mechanism and a karma points system. This is not only good for karma, but also convinced the jury. Congratulations on the first place.
2nd place: UVAST
Clean drinking water is a matter close to their hearts: Rebecca and Paul build the first portable UV-C water filter for your pocket. Thanks to its unique design and the use of sustainable resources, UVAST (Purify your water fast) filters 99.99 percent of all bacteria and viruses – anywhere, anytime and completely free of chemicals or external energy sources. With their idea and vision, they also struck a chord with the jury: Silver for Rebecca Miriam Zube and Paul Winter!
3rd place: Laubwerk
Back to the roots ... or ... leaves! Liska Uhe and Vanessa Heins are making Christmas a sustainable tradition again with their idea "Laubwerk": Through an innovative process, they make Christmas ornaments from local foliage, which is 100 percent biodegradable. The new aesthetic and educational approach behind the idea impressed the jury and earned them third place in the idea contest. Merry Christmas!
4th place
4th place: PERGA
With their idea "PERGA" Vincent Marnitz and his team want to revolutionize the handling of data and documents: the app combines all important functions of private and professional data management with various features, such as a digital assistant and artificial intelligence. Vincent competed – out of contest – in the "Researchers & Graduates" category and will represent Wismar University at the grand statewide finals of the inspired idea contest in Rostock.
Local contest
In 2021, 16 student ideas competed digitally for the jury's favor at our university. The three first-placed teams were delighted to receive coaching vouchers worth 1,000 euros each. IBU Projekt GmbH and Schoeller Allibert also donated cash checks in the amount of 550 euros (1st place), 350 euros (2nd place) and 250 euros (3rd place). Fourth place was delighted to receive a special prize in the form of value vouchers (2 x 50 euros) from Druckhaus Menne.
1st place: Vendery
With their idea of a shopping livestream that runs on a central platform and is mediated by microinfluencers, Marten Reyser and his team of six people won both the local and the statewide contest. Congratulations!
2nd place: eat.platt.love
She streamed from Akureyri in Iceland and is on fire for the Low German language: Lisa Wrogemann secured second place with the online Low German course suitable for everyday use, including a community and marketplace. It already offers meditation units and flirting tips.
3rd place: Do it yourself
Jessica Rieke and Vanessa Hinck know how to defy boredom and social distancing during a pandemic: "Mach's dir selbst" is a DIY workshop platform for creative leisure activities in a do-it-yourself community. It won a bronze award.
4th place: MEDIGREIF rehab app
Sabine Sophie Pott and Lea Paulina Roßa won an additional special prize with their idea for a pilot app to standardize and digitize the application process for rehabilitation services.
Local contest
Due to the high quality of the presentations, not just three but six of a total of 19 ideas were awarded prizes in 2020. The first three winning teams were delighted to receive coaching vouchers worth €1,000 each. Brunel GmbH also donated a cash check for €150 for 1st place. Places four to six were delighted to receive non-cash prizes from the Robert Schmidt Institute.
1st place: Buddel Briesken
The first regional and 100 percent sustainable laundry detergent – with this idea, Julia Nass (left) and Francis Kordel (right) won this year's local competition and were delighted to receive an additional €150 in prize money.
2nd place: Lopero
Jasper Reimann (left) and Marten Reyser (right) were relegated by a razor-thin margin to second place with their idea for a digitization aid for local retailers.
3rd place: Send me a moose
Ove Andresen won bronze with his social concept that encourages donations.
4th place: TEAL
With her idea for a discount app for local retailers, Melisa Seyhun secured fourth place.
5th place: The Allergen Inspector
Jana Hackländer (left) and Melina Uhlhorn (right) convinced with their concept to free allergy sufferers from the stress of eating out.
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