PRESS RELEASE: MinGenTec Ideas Competition 'Lausitz Goes International'

Lausitz Goes International: Ideas competition for entry into foreign business for companies in Lausitz
The Lausitz network MinGenTec ("Mining and Generation Technology") calls on small and medium-sized enterprises in the network to participate in a competition: There are three prize amounts of 15,000 euros for 1st place, 10,000 euros for 2nd place, and 5,000 euros for 3rd place.

MinGenTec supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Lausitz in their realignment, which often face significant challenges in accessing new markets due to the exit from lignite. To overcome these hurdles and facilitate the step into international markets, MinGenTec is announcing a competition with a total prize pool of 30,000 euros: 15,000 euros for 1st place, 10,000 euros for 2nd place, and 5,000 euros for 3rd place. "Lausitz Goes International" specifically targets SMEs that have not yet engaged abroad or wish to expand their existing foreign trade activities.

New opportunities for companies: Less risk, more success
Similar to innovation research, market entry projects can also be risky. However, the ideas competition "Lausitz Goes International" aims to provide a strong incentive to engage in the exploration and development of new markets. The prize money is intended to enable the analysis of markets, the establishment of networks, the building of contacts, the acquisition of new knowledge, the generation of business ideas, and an intensive engagement with specific target markets, as well as covering travel and consulting costs, among other things.

The ideas competition takes place in three steps:

1. Submission of a brief concept idea: Companies describe their individual market entry idea in a concise application form: the goals, the targeted contacts, planned activities, as well as the marketability of the products or services and the demand in the target country.
2. Evaluation by the jury: A jury of experts and multipliers evaluates the submitted concept ideas according to established criteria. Marketability and demand in the target country are the focus. The winners will be announced after the evaluation at the MinGenTec network meeting on November 28 in Cottbus.
3. Implementation of market exploration: The awarded companies implement their concepts. After completion, the SMEs will briefly report on the results achieved.