Initiated by the Entrepreneurship Center Vienna in partnership with emersense, the “Social Impact Award” marks the first idea competition on social entrepreneurship particularly tailored to the needs and intentions of youth. Along with providing financial stipends and memberships in The Hub to the most promising initiatives, the award is especially defined by the supportive community environment it creates for all participants: creative workshops to crystallize and define ideas, support and meeting points throughout the application period, and a virtual space to connect and learn.

Started as a prototype in 2009, the first edition already received 59 applications from almost 200 students, and built a community of more than 300 members over just a few weeks time. Especially the winning projects “Project-E”, “Hunza Dynamo” and “Kunterbunt Foundation” impressed with their innovative and sustainable approach to tackling pressing social, environmental or cultural challenges.