Apply to Slush science pitching competition

The largest startup event in the Nordic countries gives science and research a chance to shine. Slush Science track is organised on 29 Nov–1 Dec 2016, consisting of an opening event in the Science Centre Heureka, the science pitching competition held on Slush’s pitching stage, and keynote speeches from scientists.

The main prize of the science pitching competition, the Skolar Award, is 100 000 euros and will go to a postdoctoral researcher or their group who presents the most interesting, novel research idea. The international competition is open to all branches of science.

Semi-finalists will receive training for creating their pitch presentations from Kaskas Media, an agency specialising in research communication. The Slush Science Track is made possible by seven Finnish foundations and associations: Duodecim, Tieteen tiedotus ry, the Foundation for Economic Education, the Paulo Foundation, the Runar Bäckström Foundation, the Walter Ahlström Foundation, and the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation. A jury appointed by the foundations will select the participants for the science competition.

Last year’s Science Pitching competition, organised as a trial, took virus researcher and competition participant Vincenzo Cerullo’s career in a surprising direction. His presentation on Slush’s stage lead to him being contacted by a financier, and now a company as well as a research team composed of the best experts in the field have formed around his idea.
“Scientists can’t discover things for the sake of discovery. If we want to change the world, we have to disseminate our findings. For me Slush was a way to do that”, he recalls.

The application period is open on 14 Oct–3 Nov 2016 at skolar.fi/skolaraward.

More information:
Slush Science Track: www.skolar.fi/skolaraward
Slush: http://www.slush.org/sciencetrack

Contact details:
Accountable Manager Annina Huhtala, annina@kaskasmedia.fi, tel. +358 40 827 6032
Project Manager Annina Lattu, annina.lattu@kaskasmedia.fi, tel. +358 50 345 4173