Guidelines

The competition will run every two years, starting in 2009.

Every UNICA Member University can nominate one participating team following its own University-wide or country-wide entrepreneurship competition. Each UNICA Member University is responsible for the eligibility of the team that will represent it in the International UNICA Entrepreneurship Competition.

The majority of the participating team consists of young researchers or students from UNICA universities.

The winners will be announced at the UNICA General Assembly and the awards will be accompanied by a commemorative plaque and a monetary prize as follows:

• First Prize €20,000  
• Second Prize €10,000  
• Third Prize €5,000 

At the initiation of each Competition the organizing committee will send an invitation, including time schedule, to all UNICA members to take part in the competition.  

UNICA Entrepreneurship Competition is a two stage competition.

• Each UNICA member University will nominate the winner of its competition.  
• Submissions are done on-line via the UNICA Entrepreneurship Competition website together with a letter signed by the Rector/President endorsing the participating team.
• The Competition Committee is responsible for forwarding the Business Plans to the Judges
• The Judges (Evaluation Committee) evaluate and rate the submitted Business Plans and select the semi-finalists (shortlist), also taking into account their merits in developing successful business projects in the market
• The Judge will evaluate the Business Plans according to the judging criteria (see point 4) 

• The finalists are invited to present and defend their Business Plans with an oral presentation (can be physical or through video conference) to the Jury established by the Competition Committee. Should the presentation be a physical one, the UNICA Member University that the team is representing is responsible for covering their travel and accommodation
  expenses.
• Should any specific circumstances occur, the Jury might accept
  presentation via video conference.
• The shortlisted Business Plans will be evaluated again by the Judges in order to determine the first and second place winners.  
• The Finalists are announced at the General Assembly and the Award Ceremony will be organized in the country that hosts the General Assembly.

Each UNICA Member University is responsible to assign a Mentor to its winning team. The mentors’ responsibilities are to assist and guide the team at all stages of the Competition as well as well as to provide them with access to relevant literature and tools.