Applications Open for the 15th Edition of ARRISCA C​

The ARRISCA C Business Ideas Competition is back for its 15th edition, with applications open until December 18, 2026. Promoted within the INOVC+ innovation ecosystem, this initiative aims to foster science- and technology-based entrepreneurship by supporting innovative ideas with the potential to become new businesses and generate economic and social impact. Over the previous 14 editions, the competition received 1,416 projects and awarded 235 prizes, with a total value exceeding €1.17 million, establishing itself as a leading initiative in promoting entrepreneurship and the valorisation of knowledge.

The 2026/2027 edition maintains this commitment, seeking to identify and support high-potential business ideas in the categories of Innovation, Junior Innovation, Social Innovation, Sustainable Innovation, and Innovation in Culture, Tourism and Heritage. Selected projects may receive cash prizes of up to €2,500, depending on the category, as well as non-financial support, including incubation, mentoring, specialised consultancy, training, and guidance in developing business models and business plans.

The competition is open to students, graduates, lecturers, researchers, research fellows, and technical or non-teaching staff from Portuguese higher education institutions. In the Junior Innovation category, secondary school and Level IV vocational education students from across the country are also eligible to participate.

As a member of the INOVC+ consortium, BIKiNNOV supports the promotion of this initiative, recognising the importance of entrepreneurship and knowledge transfer in developing innovative solutions, particularly in the fields of sustainability, sustainable mobility, and technologies applied to industry.

INOVC+ is an innovation ecosystem dedicated to knowledge and technology transfer in Portugal’s Central Region, bringing together 23 partner organisations with the aim of enhancing the value of research, development and innovation results and facilitating their transfer to the business sector. The project is co-funded by CENTRO 2030, under Portugal 2030, and by the European Union.

Applications are open until 11:59 p.m. on December 18, 2026, with the semifinal scheduled for February 3, 2027, and the final event scheduled for February 24, 2027.

Further information, competition rules and applications: https://www.arriscac.pt/