6 most successful ideas to get up to 5,000 EUR each

Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) invites innovators from the Western Balkans to apply for the 4th edition of the Regional Butterfly Innovation Award, celebrating impactful, scalable, market-based solutions from the region. The best solutions in each of the six categories are to receive a prize of up to 5,000 EUR.

You can apply for up to two out of six categories: 
-    Industry Innovation (automotive, metal-processing, creative industries, agrifood, green and circular economy, tourism, and fintech, edtech, biotech, healthtech and similar fields)
-    Green Innovation (climate action, sustainable energy, mobility and agriculture, pollution, nature and biodiversity protection)
-    STEM Innovation (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)
-    Youth Innovation (recognising undergraduate university students or high school students)
-    University Innovation (recognising entrepreneurial culture at universities)
-    Women Innovation (recognising women innovators and entrepreneurs)

Eligible to apply are young individuals or teams from the Western Balkans. Entries must fit within one of the official award categories, and innovative solutions must demonstrate a tangible impact within the Western Balkans.

CHECK OUT THE RULES AND APPLY

We invite all individuals and teams meeting the criteria listed to apply and take part in this competition.

Applications are now open and will be accepted until 8 October 2025 at midnight. The Butterfly Innovation Award winners will be announced in November 2025.

Launched in 2022, the Butterfly Innovation Award has become a regional platform for celebrating creativity and progress. This year’s edition continues to drive the economic development of the Western Balkans by embracing digital transformation, fostering environmental sustainability, and promoting a culture of innovation. By showcasing the region’s most inspiring examples of innovation, collaboration, and ingenuity, the Award seeks to empower underrepresented groups, particularly youth and women. In its first three editions, the Butterfly Innovation Award recognised 18 innovative solutions from across the Western Balkans.

Learn more about the Butterfly Innovation Award
Check out the 2024 Winners of the Regional Butterfly Innovation Award

Regional Butterfly Innovation Award is funded by the European Union and implemented by the RCC, as part of the Common Regional Market Action Plan for the Western Balkans.