The Cross-border Contest, held on April 30, 2025 in Linz, received a great response: approximately 90 participants registered for the event and used the opportunity to network and exchange experiences.
The contest was co-organized by project partners tech2b and JVTP, with the active participation of all project partners, the Government of Upper Austria, and the Regional Authority of the South Bohemian Region. It supported innovative start-ups and project ideas from Upper Austria and South Bohemia. The aim was to strengthen cross-border cooperation and highlight solutions with potential for the future.
The event was opened by the Governor of Upper Austria, Mag. Thomas Stelzer, and the Governor of the South Bohemian Region, MUDr. Martin Kuba, who emphasized in their opening remarks the importance of cross-border cooperation, entrepreneurship, and innovation for regional development.
One of the highlights of the program was a keynote speech by entrepreneur Albert Ortig, who shared insights into his work in technology and business.
Eight finalists – four from each region – presented their projects to an international jury. The winners were:
🔹 Idea: MindEcho (Upper Austria) – Artificial intelligence for people with speech disorders
🔹 Start-up: Boxmaster (Czech Republic) – Modular refrigerated dispensing stations for regional food
🔹 Cross-border project: Diamens (Upper Austria) – Rapid test for endometriosis diagnosis in 30 minutes
The contest showed that innovation thrives where borders are overcome. CROSSBORDER STARTUP POINT creates the necessary structures and strengthens the innovation ecosystem in the border region for the long term.
