Young innovators from across the EUNICE alliance gathered at Poznan University of Technology to present bold start-up ideas addressing today’s social, technological and environmental challenges during the international final of the EUNICE Imagine Innovation Cup 2026.
On 23-24 April 2026, Poznan University of Technology hosted the international final of the EUNICE Imagine Innovation Cup – a start-up idea competition co-organised by PUT EUNICE office and the Academic Business Incubator. The event was held under the honorary patronage of the Marshal of the Wielkopolska Region, Mr Marek Woźniak.
The first day of the event focused on integration and education. Participants had the opportunity to discover the history and culture of Poznań and the Wielkopolska region during a tour on a historic tram. The programme also included entrepreneurship workshops, “Design Thinking – Increasing Creativity and Teamwork”, led by Dr Eng. Ewa Badzińska from the Faculty of Engineering Management, as well as folk dance workshops prepared by representatives of the Poligrodzianie ensemble.
On 24 April, students and PhD candidates from eight EUNICE partner universities (IPV, KAU, PUT, UC, UMONS, UNICT, UoP and UVA) presented their innovative business ideas before an international jury. The jury consisted of representatives of the partner universities: Efthalia Chatzigianni (UoP), Andrea Pérez Ruiz (UC), Patrik Bångerius (KAU), Carlos Alberto Lopes (IPV), John Seiplax (UVA), Mirko Tomasino (UNICT) and Arkadiusz Ptak (PUT). The business sector was represented by Wojciech Stramski, CEO of Beyond.pl, and Tomasz Grajek, CEO and co-founder of the spin-off company Mucha.
During the award ceremony, Poznan University of Technology was represented by Vice-Rector for Cooperation with Industry and Development, Prof. Arkadiusz Ptak, and Vice-Rector for International Relations, Prof. Mariusz Głąbowski. The EUNICE alliance was represented by AISBL Secretary General Magdalena Sikorska, while the Marshal Office of the Wielkopolska Region was represented by Magdalena Kaseja-Astriab, Deputy Director of the Department of Economy.
Competition winners
1st place – EUR 1000
PipeGuard Transport Solutions – Karlstad University
Hamzat Yosopov, Andreas Beijer, Simon Dahlén, Edward Lénberg
2nd place
Renpace – University of Vaasa
Sina Mahmoudi Kanesbi
Joint 3rd place
MemoCare – University of Mons
Martin Alexandre, Stanislav Bachynskyi, Petro Borys, Gabriel Vassilevsky, Nicolas Pruneau
TerraVision – Polytechnic Institute of Viseu
João Pedro Ribeiro Cardoso Paradela, Guilherme Marrafa Gomes de Carvalho Taveira, Dinis Chaves Pereira
A special award funded by Beyond.pl – a USD 5000 voucher for start-up development – was granted by the company’s CEO, Wojciech Stramski, to the project Rebel’D from University of Cantabria, represented by Andrea Carolina Díaz López and Belkys Anali Rodríguez Mora.
