- Entrepreneurial Vetmed /
- For Scientists /
- VetIdeas Challenge 2026
-
Matthias Berger & David Wurm
E-Mail: innovation@vetwidi.com
Turn your research into real-world impact
Do you have a research result or an innovative idea that could make a difference for animals, people – or both?
The VetIdeas Challenge supports promising ideas from the Vetmeduni community in moving beyond the research environment and towards real-world application and impact.
Your idea might become a product, service, technology or another practical application.
You do not need to start with a finished business plan or a fully developed commercial concept. What matters is a promising idea with the potential to create practical impact – and the willingness to explore how it could be implemented sustainably.
During the Challenge, participants will therefore look not only at the scientific and societal value of their idea, but also at its implementation, economic viability and commercial potential.
The VetIdeas Challenge is open to scientists and students of Vetmeduni Vienna.
Applications can be submitted individually or as a team.
For team applications, at least one member of the submitting team must be a Vetmeduni scientist or student. External collaborators can therefore also participate as members of a team.
Research can create impact in many different ways.
An idea may lead to a new product or technology, improve an existing process, become a new service or enable another form of practical application.
During the VetIdeas Challenge, you will develop your idea further and address questions such as:
- What problem or unmet need does your idea address?
- Who benefits from it?
- What could the practical application look like?
- What advantages does your approach offer compared with existing solutions?
- Who are potential users, customers or partners?
- What further development steps are required?
- Which technological, regulatory, financial or other hurdles need to be addressed?
- What could a sustainable implementation or commercialisation pathway look like?
The goal is to develop a clearer path from research to application – and from an interesting idea to real-world impact.
Participants take part in two mandatory workshops, organised in cooperation with accent and tecnet.
Participation in both workshops is mandatory.
28 September 2026, 13:00–16:00
The first workshop focuses on the practical implementation of your idea.
Together with innovation and technology-transfer experts, you will explore topics such as the underlying need, target groups, potential applications, customer and user benefits, market considerations and development risks.
22 October 2026, 13:00–16:00
The second workshop focuses on sharpening your concept and preparing it for presentation to the jury.
You will further develop your implementation strategy and prepare a clear and convincing project poster and pitch.
Please send your application by 17 September 2026 to:
Your application should include:
- Project title
- Short summary of your idea or project – 100 to 500 words
- Names of all team members
At this stage, a short and understandable description is sufficient. You do not need to submit a finished business plan.
Please avoid including confidential or unpublished information that could compromise future intellectual property protection.
17 September 2026
Application deadline
28 September 2026, 13:00–16:00
Workshop I – mandatory
22 October 2026, 13:00–16:00
Workshop II – mandatory
26 October 2026
Deadline for submission of the digital project poster to
innovation@vetwidi.com
28 October 2026, 14:00–17:00
Final Pitch & Jury
Each participating project prepares a digital project poster designed in the style and format of a classic scientific A0 poster.
The poster will be displayed digitally during the final presentation. No printed poster is required.
The poster should provide a concise overview of the following aspects:
1. Your research project, result or invention
What is the underlying research or idea? What have you achieved so far?
2. The problem and potential impact
Which problem or unmet need does your idea address? Who could benefit from it?
3. Your proposed application
What could the resulting product, service, technology or other practical application look like?
4. Added value
What makes your approach different or better than existing solutions?
5. Users, customers and implementation
Who could use, adopt or benefit from the solution? Who are potential customers, partners or other relevant stakeholders?
6. Economic and commercial potential
How could the idea be implemented sustainably? What could an appropriate business, financing or commercialisation pathway look like?
7. Next steps and challenges
What still needs to happen to move the idea forward? Which technological, regulatory, financial or other hurdles need to be addressed?
Please submit your final digital poster by 26 October 2026 to innovation@vetwidi.com.
On 28 October 2026, all participating projects will present their idea to an expert jury.
The jury brings together expertise from:
science, industry, public funding and venture capital.
Participants will briefly present their project and poster, followed by questions and feedback from the jury.
The jury will assess both the potential impact of the idea and the participants' structured approach to its practical and economic implementation.
The three highest-ranked projects will receive:
1st prize – €3,000
2nd prize – €1,500
3rd prize – €750
Total prize money: €5,250
The VetIdeas Challenge is supported by accent and tecnet.
A minimum of six participating projects is required for the VetIdeas Challenge to take place.
If fewer than six projects register, the Challenge will be cancelled.
Your idea may contain results or information that have not yet been published and may be relevant for future intellectual property protection.
Please therefore do not disclose confidential or unpublished information in your application, poster or presentation if doing so could compromise future IP protection.
If you are unsure what you can disclose, please contact Matthias Berger and David Wurm at innovation@vetwidi.com before submitting your materials.
Not sure whether your idea is suitable for the VetIdeas Challenge?
We would be happy to discuss it with you.