The HHU Ideas Competition 2025 is over and great weeks are behind us - with exciting ideas and committed teams!
Many thanks to everyone who participated and submitted their idea sketches! Many thanks to the jury, who read all the ideas and evaluated them to the best of their knowledge and belief, and many thanks to our presenters Isabell Nethke and Julia Riensche, who made the award ceremony a very special highlight!
The HHU Ideas Competition at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf raises awareness of the career options of self-employment and business startups and arouses curiosity about exciting alternatives to the typical working biography. The competition supports the goal of creating a creative startup culture and awakening and supporting entrepreneurial thinking and action among everyone at HHU at an early stage.
We are looking for ideas and solutions that you have come across in your studies, research or everyday life. This means that the idea can still be in its infancy and does not need to be ready for the market.
You have to answer the following questions in the entry form:
+ Additional question to qualify for the HCSD's special sustainability prize.
+ Additional question to qualify for the ‘60 years HHU’ anniversary prize.
We award prizes in two categories: Students and Researchers. And three prizes* will be awarded in each category:
*PLEASE NOTE: unfortunately we can not pay cash, but you submit us an invoice, we can settle it.
From the jury's point of view, how likely is it that the idea can be realised in principle? Your personal connection to the idea and corresponding expertise in the field can be helpful here. Also of interest are legal circumstances that support or oppose the project.
There should be a certain level of innovation. Accordingly, it is beneficial if the jury members have perhaps not yet heard of the submitted solution. Or it may be an existing solution that has been rethought and perhaps placed in a different context.
How big or severe is the identified problem actually? How many people or companies does this problem affect and how often do they face this problem. What difference does the submitted idea make?
Ideally, good startup ideas not only have the potential for economic success, but also contribute to the sustainable transformation of our society. This is why the Heine-Center for Sustainable Development (HCSD) is once again awarding the special "Sustainability" prize to all entrants this year.
The HCSD coordinates HHU's sustainability activities, networks those active in the areas of research, teaching and operations and advises the university management on all sustainability issues. The focus is on the three areas of diversity, environment and health.
Any questions? The CEDUS team will be happy to assist you at any time during the entire submission period. Just talk to us!
Our jury meets on June 17th, which means that you will find out the following day at the latest whether you have made it into the top 3 in your category.
The HCSD will also sit down at the end of June and let us know which idea was most convincing in terms of sustainability. With this nomination, you are also allowed to participate in the pitch training.
At the awards ceremony, the top 3 from both categories will present their ideas in front of an audience and have the opportunity to win the Audience Award. A full-day workshop on July 1st and exclusive 1o1 sessions on July 7th will provide the necessary preparation.
On July 10th, the time has finally come to pitch for the audience award. In addition, it will be announced who won this year's ideas competition and which idea was convincing in terms of sustainability.
Individuals or teams may participate. However, at least one person must be a member of HHU. HHU members include students, scientists, employees and alumni.
Sure, that's possible. Just fill out the form (link). We'll take care of the rest behind the scenes and sort your submission into the appropriate category based on the idea and your background.
The ideas submitted will not be passed on to third parties. During the evaluation by external jurors, all jurors agree to sign a confidentiality agreement. After the end of the ideas competition, all submitted ideas will be deleted. If you are considering patenting your idea, please contact us directly!
If at least one team member belongs to HHU or UKD, the (entire) team may participate in the competition.
Unfortunately not, because at the time of the idea submission the idea may not yet be commercially exploited. However, please contact us in this case and we will see what interesting opportunities or competitions there are for you outside of the ideas competition.
No, there are no costs associated with participating in the HHU Ideas Competition.
If your idea is among the TOP 3, you will be part of the award ceremony with your submission and present your idea to the audience. Maybe you can even secure the audience award with your pitch. But don't worry: On July 7th, there will be a free pitch training session especially for this purpose.
Yes, this page (and the forms) are even available in English.
Unfortunately, we can't just transfer it to you. But we can pay you the bill. E.g. for an IPad, consulting services etc. Just talk to us about it!
Category "Students"
Sustainability Award: The idea HHU BioSpark received the Heine-Center for Sustainable Development (HCSD) award for the most sustainable idea, along with a prize of 250 Euros.
Category "Researchers"
Audience Award: LifeShare also won the Audience Award and received an additional gift basket.
