What is the BIOEAST Student Challenge?
The BIOEAST Student Challenge is a dedicated innovation competition for students across the BIOEAST macro-region, developed in collaboration with the Bioregions Facility. It is a unique platform designed to unlock the next generation of bioeconomy thinkers and doers, turning classroom knowledge and fresh perspectives into real solutions for real problems.
How does it work?
The BIOEAST HUBs – national collaborative platforms that gather key bioeconomy stakeholders – have identified key problems and opportunities for a sustainable bioeconomy in Central and Eastern Europe. These have been grouped into eight priority themes.
Students are invited to submit their ideas or early-stage solutions addressing one or more of these themes. Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of experts from the Boost4Bioeast project.
Selected finalists will be invited to pitch their solutions at two flagship events:
- The Bioeconomy Austria Summit, organised by the Bioregions Facility
- The BOOST4BIOEAST Student Pitching Session, held as part of the BOOST4BIOEAST Final Conference
Why participate?
Successful applicants will have the opportunity to:
- Pitch their solutions in front of bioeconomy experts, industry partners and university representatives at the Bioeconomy Austria Summit
- Attend the BOOST4BIOEAST Final Conference, a flagship event bringing together leading bioeconomy stakeholders from across the macro-region and beyond
- Meet national BIOEAST HUB representatives and explore collaboration opportunities
- Engage with like-minded peers, researchers, and professionals across 11 countries
- Expand your professional network across Central and Eastern Europe
- Gain recognition from a pan-European bioeconomy community
- Access additional prizes offered by the BIOEAST UNI-NET
The BIOEAST Student Challenge welcomes ideas or solutions that address partially or totally one or more of the following challenges of 8 key priority themes.
Theme 1:
Resilient small and medium-sized farms
Improving the adaptive capacity and resilience to climate and social change of small/medium-sized farms and forest ownerships.
Theme 2:
Biomass logistics
Improving biomass and biofuel logistics as a basis for increasing economic viability and scalability of biomass production, collection, and transformation.
Theme 3:
Biowaste reduction and valorization
Reducing and transforming biowaste into high-value biobased products to support a circular bioeconomy and reduce environmental impact.
Theme 4:
Sustainable bioenergy
Accelerating the bioenergy transition by boosting innovation and facilitating accessibility and adoption.
Theme 5:
Innovative wood technologies
Theme 6:
Monitoring agri-food and forestry systems
Innovative tools, improved data access and more harmonized monitoring approaches for sustainable agriculture, food, and forestry systems.
Theme 7:
Stakeholder engagement and collaboration
Stakeholder engagement and cross-sectoral collaboration to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative bioeconomy solutions, strengthening national and regional bioeconomy innovation ecosystems.
Theme 8:
Raising awareness of the circular bioeconomy
Boosting public awareness and education on the circular bioeconomy through innovative communication, learning tools, behavioural change strategies, and collaboration.
Submit your proposal by 10 August 2026 at 23:59 CET.
Type of solutions we are looking for
We welcome student ideas and solutions at any stage, from a rough concept sketched in a notebook to a working prototype or research-backed proposal.
Solutions can be technological, organisational, social, or policy-oriented – as long as they address a challenge within one of the eight themes.
Who can apply?
Nationals and residents of Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia who are currently enrolled in – or have recently graduated from (within 12 months) – a higher education institution are welcome to apply. We accept applications from:
- Undergraduate students, individually or in teams
- Master’s students, individually or in teams
- PhD students and early-stage researchers, individually or in teams
- Student associations or clubs acting as a group
Prizes
Selected participants will be invited, with travel support provided, to:
- The BIOEAST Final Conference in Brussels on 25 November, 2026, with the opportunity to showcase their solution to policymakers, industry representatives, and researchers from across Europe
- The Bioeconomy Austria Summit, organised by the EFI Bioregions Facility on 5 October 2026, with the opportunity to pitch their solution to the Bioregions bioeconomy network
The Summit brings together key stakeholders from industry, research, and policy to exchange on current developments in the bioeconomy. It offers a platform for showcasing innovative solutions, discussing challenges and opportunities in transitioning towards a sustainable bioeconomy, and fostering collaboration across sectors, making it an ideal stage for students to present their work to a real, high-profile European audience.
Timeline
How to apply?
- Review the challenges description
- Read thoroughly the application guidelines for complete information about eligibility, application, and evaluation
- Submit your solution through this application form
Submit your proposal by 10 August 2026 at 23:59 CET.