csbic-2022

 

Turn your idea into reality

People’s Choice Vote

Come back between 27th June - 10th July 2022 to meet the CSBIC 2022 competition finalists and vote for your favourite ideas!
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What is it?

Creative Spark Big Idea Challenge is the British Council’s 60-second video pitching competition designed to teach the basics of entrepreneurship and how to develop an idea from concept to reality.

Who is it for?

This competition is for young people aged between 18 and 35, citizen of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine or Uzbekistan and associated with a Creative Spark partner institutions. It is for individuals as well as teams of up to four members, for those who already have a big idea or want to learn how to come up with one!

How can I take part?

Get involved in the workshops, bootcamps and other activities run by your partner institution in March and April to prepare you to apply for the competition.

WHY ENTER?

You, your team and your idea will have the chance to be featured on a global platform during our People’s Choice public vote which collects votes from all over the world. Your pitch will also compete with hundreds of other international ideas to win business support and grant funding. Our prizes for 2022’s best ideas include:

Personalised Mentoring Support

Access to thousands of £ worth of credit with software partners

Participation in the Launchpad Bootcamp 

Up to £2,000 Grant Funding

COMPETITION STAGES

1. GET INVOLVED IN MARCH OR APRIL

1. GET INVOLVED IN MARCH OR APRIL

You’ll need to be 18-35, a citizen of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine or Uzbekistan, to have taken part in a British Council Creative Spark activity and be a member of one of these institutions. For your chance to win amazing prizes, you’ll also need to record a 60-second video pitch, complete an application form and submit it to your university or institution in March, April!

2. SHORTLISTING AND PEOPLE'S CHOICE VOTE

2. SHORTLISTING AND PEOPLE'S CHOICE VOTE

The teams behind the top ideas will be shortlisted for a country final judged by national panels of business experts. The teams from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan will also enter a people’s choice vote for the most popular ideas. Country finalists will be announced from 20th June.

3. INTERNATIONAL FINALS

3. INTERNATIONAL FINALS

Following national finals in July,  one team per country will get the chance to become Country Champion. These winners will walk away with prizes including business mentoring to turn their idea into a reality – as well as a share of £17,000 of grant funding to get their business off the ground. The Country Champion teams will also win a spot in an exclusive remote Launchpad programme, where, in the end, an overall Grand Champion will be chosen and awarded additional £1,000 grant money.

COMPETITION CATEGORIES

SOCIAL IMPACT

SOCIAL IMPACT

Ideas that tackle social inclusion and gender equality or target under-represented communities and the world beyond. This could be any ideas that aim to help those most in need.

CREATIVE

CREATIVE

Do you have an idea for a new product, an exhibition or a way to make your cultural environment more vibrant? Perhaps you have an idea that will help creative people reach new audiences and become more successful.

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

Ideas that are based on innovative uses of technology and involve the development and application of new software or hardware.

Available Support

Scroll over the boxes below to watch our support sessions videos released between March and April

Session 1. Ideation
Understanding what makes a “good idea” and learning techniques for generating new business ideas.
Session 2. Problem & Solution
The importance of problem solving! Discussing ideas (solutions) in the context of problems.
Session 3. From Good to Great
From good to great – how to make your entry shine (evidence, action, tangible progress, experience, traction).
Session 4. Pitch like a Pro
Learning the structure of a good pitch and tips on how to best deliver it.

GLOBAL PLATFORM

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD

 An award is made in each of the seven countries for the team that gains the largest number of public votes. One public vote winning team will be chosen as the International People’s Choice Winner.

Participating institutions

Armenia

American University of Armenia • Armenian National Engineering Laboratories • Brusov State University • Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST) • National Polytechnic University of Armenia (NPUA) • Simonian Educational Foundation (TUMO) • Yerevan State University

Azerbaijan

ADA University • Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts • Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) • Azerbaijan Tourism and Management University • Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction (AzUAC) • Baku Engineering University BEU • Baku Music Academy • Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication • Khazar University

Georgia

Business Technology University • Creative Georgia (LEPL under the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia) • Creative Solutions • Georgian National University SEU • Georgian Technical University • Ilia State University (ISU) • Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University • Tbilisi State Academy of Arts (LEPL) • Tsereteli State University (ATSU) • V.Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatoire

Kazakhstan

Almaty Management University • Astana IT University • Baishev University (Aktobe, Kazakhstan) • Creative and Innovation Institute • Higher Trade and Economic College of Kaxpotrebsoyuz • Impact Hub Pilot Almaty • Kazakh-American Free University • Kazakh-British Technical University (KBTU) • Kazakh-Russian International University • Kentau Multidisciplinary college • Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory (KKNC) • L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University – ENU • MSOPE Alamty College of Fashion and Design • Narxoz University (NARXOZ) • PI Nazarbayev University Research and Innovation System (NURIS) • T. Zhurgenov Kazakh National Academy of Arts • The National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan “Atameken” (NCE)

Kyrgyzstan

Enactus Kyrgyzstan • Kyrgyz National University named after J. Balasagyn • Resource Centre in Kyrgyzstan of Central Asian Crafts Support Association – CACSARC • Technical School of Innovation of American University of Central Asia AUCA TSI

Ukraine

Adult Education Centre of Poltava Region • Agency of European Innovations • BioUkraine • Bureau of Research, Information and Technologies UA • Co-Impact • Donetsk National Technical University (DonNTU) • Higher Educational Establishment of Ukoopspilka “Poltava University of Economics and Trade” • Ivano-Frankivsk Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI) • Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas (IFNTUOG) • Ivano-Frankivsk Women’s Business Accelerator (IFWBA) • Kharkiv Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education (KhMAPE) • Kyiv National Economic University • Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design (KNUTD) • Lviv National Academy of Arts • Lviv Polytechnic National University • National Pharmaceutical University • NGO “Innovation Generation” • NGO Tech Start-up School (of Lviv Polytechnic National University) • Odessa National Maritime University • PPV Knowledge Network Ltd • Pro-capital Investment Group • Simon Kuznets Kharkiv National University of Economics (KhNUE) • Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (TSNUK) • Ukrainian Engineering Pedagogics Academy (UEPA) • V.N. Karazin National University •

Uzbekistan

Arts and Culture Development Foundation • Bonum Factum Gallery • Institute of Fine Art and Design • IT Park • National Institute of Fine Art and Design named after Kamoliddin Bekhzod • New Silk Road International Tourism University • Practical Center for the implementation of Innovative Developments (Ministry of Innovation) • Tashkent Institute of Textile & Light Industry • Tashkent State Technical University named after Islam Karimov • Tashkent State University of Economics • Tashkent University of Information Technologies (TUIT) • The Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan • Uzbekistan State Institute of Art and Culture

About Creative Spark

The Big Idea Challenge video pitch competition is a key part of the British Council’s Creative Spark: Higher Education Enterprise programme. This five-year initiative supports international university and institutional partnerships to develop enterprise skills and creative economy across seven countries in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan), South Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia) and Ukraine through UK support. 

The programme has been developed in response to an underdeveloped creative sector and a demand for entrepreneurship training in the programme countries, supporting wealth and job creation.

Learn more about Creative Spark here.