We’ve summarized the most important questions about the challenge for you below. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us at any time!
General information about the Idea Challenge
The Idea Challenge is looking for innovative ideas and concepts for digital solutions that make sustainability in tourism visible, understandable and verifiable. The aim is to support travellers in making informed (sustainability) decisions and businesses and destinations in implementing the new requirements of the EU Directive Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (EmpCo)
With the Idea Challenge, Austria Tourism, together with Salzburg Research and the participating European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), aims to foster innovative solutions that support the tourism sector in meeting the new requirements for transparent sustainability communication. At the same time, the challenge provides a platform to showcase creative ideas, enable international networking and drive innovation in European tourism.
There are two tracks, which are set up as separate Idea Challenges on the IdeaSpace platform:
- Student Track: for students and school students – individually or in teams.
- Entrepreneur Track: for founders, start-ups, businesses and self-employed professionals.
By submitting an idea and agreeing to the respective Terms and Conditions, participants confirm that they belong to the relevant group. Minors confirm upon submission that they have the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
Yes, participation in the Idea Challenge is free of charge.
No, participation is open to everyone. Please note that some prizes may require a registered business address in an EU Member State (see section on Prizes).
The language of the Idea Challenge is English. Submissions in other languages are also possible and will be automatically translated into English on the IdeaSpace platform using a DeepL integration. The English translation will then be provided to the jury for evaluation.
Ideas & Content
We are looking for ideas, concepts or (early-stage) prototypes for digital solutions that make sustainability in tourism more transparent, understandable and credible. Solutions could include apps, AI applications, dashboards, platforms or other digital services. The solution does not need to be market-ready.
No. Only ideas, concepts or early-stage prototypes that are not yet market-ready can be submitted.
No. You do not need a finished project plan or a detailed concept. What matters is that your idea is described clearly and comprehensibly and that all submission questions are answered. Initial thoughts on each question are sufficient (1–3 sentences).
In the submission form, you will be guided step by step through a series of short questions. You do not need a finished project plan or a fully developed concept – a few clear thoughts are enough.
You will be asked to provide the following information:
Title
A short, concise title for your idea.
Short Description
Summarize your idea in 1–2 sentences.
Detailed Description
Here you have more space to explain your idea. Describe the context, your proposed solution and anything else that will help the jury better understand your idea.
Additional questions
1. Who is your idea for?
Please describe the target group for your solution, e.g. a tourism business, tourism association, region, or travellers/guests, who would benefit from your solution, and in which regions or geographical context it could be used (e.g. Europe, a country, a region).
2. What specific problem does your idea solve?
Please describe the problem behind your idea.
3. What inspired you to come up with this idea?
Why did you choose this particular approach? What sparked your idea? This could be a personal experience, an observation, a specific problem or even a technological opportunity.
4. What specific contribution does your idea make to credible sustainability communication?
Describe what your idea improves – e.g. greater transparency and clarity, better evidence, reduced greenwashing risks, or support for legally compliant communication.
5. How easily can your idea be integrated into the target group’s everyday activities?
Consider how practical your idea is: What requirements, resources or changes would be needed for the target users to use it?
6. Who could implement your idea?
Who could put your idea into practice – you, a company, tourism businesses, destinations, the public sector, or several partners working together?
7. What challenges (technical, legal, financial or organizational) do you see when it comes to implementation?
What technical, legal, financial or organizational challenges could arise? Please address all of these areas. You do not need to have solutions for them at this stage.
8. Do you know of any similar projects or concepts? (optional)
If so, feel free to provide some examples. We are particularly interested in what sets your idea apart from existing approaches. Extensive research is not required.
Yes. The idea should be feasible in principle, even if the details are worked out at a later stage. Feasibility is one of the criteria the jury will use to evaluate the submitted ideas.
Yes, there is no limit to the number of ideas you can submit.
Yes. Team submissions are possible. Please use the “Team Members” function on the platform to add your team members.
The idea can be updated, edited or withdrawn at any time until the end of the submission period.
Yes. Additional materials can be uploaded to the platform.
Jury & Evaluation
The final evaluation will be carried out in two evaluation rounds by an international expert jury with expertise in tourism, digitalization, sustainability and innovation. You can find the jury members here.
The ideas will be evaluated based on the following criteria and their respective weightings:
- Value of the Idea (30%): What specific value does the idea create for the target group, and how does it contribute to credible sustainability communication?
- Feasibility (20%): Is the idea feasible? Legal, technical, organizational and financial aspects, as well as its overall feasibility, will be taken into account.
- Practicality (20%): How well can the idea be integrated into practice and into the target group’s existing processes? Particular consideration will be given to the effort and resources required.
- Scalability & Reach (20%): To what extent can the idea be applied to other businesses, destinations, target groups or regions, and what potential does it have to reach a larger number of users?
- Level of Innovation (10%): How new and original is the idea compared to existing approaches, and to what extent does it offer an innovative way of addressing the challenge?
No. The jury’s decisions are final.
If there is a very high number of submissions, AI may be used as a supporting tool for an initial pre-selection. The final decision will be made exclusively by the expert jury.
Community-Voting
During the community voting, the IdeaSpace community helps decide which ideas stand out and advance to the final jury round. All published ideas are eligible for voting. Votes (likes) submitted during the submission period will also count. In addition, anyone interested can like the ideas during the community voting phase. The five ideas that receive the most likes over the entire period will automatically advance to the final evaluation round by the expert jury.
All users registered on IdeaSpace can vote.
Yes. You can support more than one idea. However, you can only give one like per idea.
The five submissions with the most likes will automatically qualify for the final evaluation round by the expert jury.
The community voting runs until 26 November 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Yes. Ideas that receive a high score in the first evaluation round by the expert jury will also advance to the final evaluation round.
Prizes & Awards
One award will be presented in each track. The winning idea in the Student Track will receive the “Proof, Not Promises Student Award”, while the winning idea in the Entrepreneur Track will receive the “Proof, Not Promises Excellence Award”.
The winners will gain visibility across Europe and have the opportunity to present their idea to an international network of businesses, destinations and experts. They will also receive support in implementing their idea, if they wish.
The winners will be notified in writing after the jury phase has been completed. The awards will be presented at events organized by Austria Tourism or Change Tourism Austria (CTA)
Intellectual Property & Use
The copyright remains with you.
Yes. By submitting your idea, you agree to its free publication and use for communication and documentation purposes related to the Idea Challenge.
Yes, your username will be credited as the author unless you explicitly object.
Yes. You can opt out of being credited outside of IdeaSpace. In this case, please send an email to info@ideaspace.cc. Your username will still be displayed alongside your idea on IdeaSpace.
Yes, of course. Your idea remains yours, and you can continue to use and develop it at any time.
Privacy & Legal Information
Only the data required to run the Idea Challenge will be stored. For more information, please see the platform’s Privacy Policy.
A valid email address is the only information required for registration. All other information is optional.
Exclusively for the organization, implementation and communication of the Idea Challenge.
No, unless this is necessary for running the Idea Challenge or required by law.
Yes. You can request the deletion of your personal data.
Submissions that are identical or very similar in content may be excluded from the Idea Challenge. In such cases, the submission received first will take precedence. The Idea Challenge’s expert moderators will decide whether ideas are considered identical in content.
Through feedback, additions and discussions, ideas can be developed further together – reflecting the collaborative nature of open innovation.
Netiquette & Respectful Communication
Yes. The Idea Challenge is built around open and respectful exchange. Comments, contributions and discussions should be factual, constructive and respectful. Offensive, insulting, discriminatory or otherwise inappropriate content will be removed. The client and Salzburg Research reserve the right to exclude users from the platform in the event of repeated or serious violations.
Other Information
Questions about the content of the Idea Challenge:
Katrin Erben
E: Katrin.Erben@austria.info
Organizational and technical questions about the Idea Challenge:
Dr. Birgit Kolb, LLM.oec.
E: info@ideaspace.cc