Hey postdoc, want to learn to pitch like a pro and win €100K for research? Stay in a beautiful villa and get unique science communication training during Slush week in Helsinki?

Application period for the 2019 Research Pitching Competition by Slush and Skolar is now open. The application period ends on Sept 18.

Research Pitching Competition is meant for postdocs with bold ideas from all fields of research and from all around the world. All eight finalists will get a free science communication bootcamp and present their pitches in front of an academic jury at Slush.

One finalist wins the €100K Skolar Award that she/he may freely use to advance the proposed research idea. The prize is jointly funded by nine Finnish research foundations: Foundation for Economic Education, Helsingin Sanomat Foundation, Magnus Ehrnrooth Foundation, The Paulo Foundation, Runar Bäckström Foundation, Saastamoinen Foundation, Society for scientific information, Tiina and Antti Herlin Foundation and Walter Ahlström Foundation.

What is Research Pitching Competition all about this year?

Wild, out-of-the-box research ideas.

This competition is not about playing it safe. Instead, we encourage ideas that might seem a bit wild and risky. What matters is that you believe in the idea and its potential to create impact in the world. The wilder the better.

ALL research ideas should be pitched – that goes for the arts as well.

Last year we saw an increase in applications coming from the humanities and arts. This year we wish to see artist-researchers take the stage too. This competition is open to ideas from all fields of research as well as interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary ideas. So whether you are an engineer, life scientist, language researcher, artist-researcher, social scientist, agricultural scientist, mathematician or so interdisciplinary that you cannot be defined – do apply!

Skolar alumni help you get to the finals.

This year our pre-jury will include finalists from the previous years of the competition. This means that people who have been a part of the Skolar experience will be deciding (together with six other academics) which applications proceed to the final jury. They really know what is expected of you and are brave enough to think big.

Even more training for the 8 finalists joining us in Helsinki. 

We do not expect our applicants to have any pitching experience when attending. Instead, our expert coaches teach you how to do it. One of the main features of the competition is the 4-day bootcamp prior to the finals, hosted at Skolar House, a beautiful villa in seaside Helsinki. At this training house, our finalists will receive all they need for the finals on Nov 22. This means four days of intense training with science communications pros to further develop your skills on pitching, performing, media and social media – and (new!) entrepreneurship skills.

Experince out of the ordinary. 

Having a good time is one of Skolar values and that applies to Research Pitching Competition and all actions around it. Get to know brilliant other postdocs, create lifelong friendships and see yourself shine on stage like never before. This training will teach you how to persuade just about anyone with your research idea. And how to have fun while doing it!

Who can apply?

The competition is open for all fields of research and can be applied by postdoctoral researchers, meaning researchers who have received their doctoral degree by the end of the application period, Sept 18, 2019. Also, there should not be more than five years from the date you received your PhD, meaning Sept 18 2014.

An individual researcher or research team can apply for the competition. However, only the applicant will appear on stage. The ideas submitted to the competition can be basic and applied research. Research Pitching Competition is not meant for commercialization or testing existing products or services. Read more about the criteria here.

Craft your idea now and apply here. The application period ends on Sept 18.