Looking for innovative minds! Pitch contest in Marburg becomes a competition of ideas

Looking for innovative minds! Pitch contest in Marburg becomes a competition of ideas

On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, the “INNOVATIVE MINDS Pitch Contest” will take place in the Lokschuppen in Marburg. This event is organized by the Mittelhessen Research Campus (FCMH) and the University of Marburg (UMR). It aims to bring researchers from the universities in Giessen and Marburg together to present creative and interdisciplinary ideas.

The event offers a platform for a total of ten researchers or research teams to present their ideas to an expert jury. The best concepts can be supported with financial resources of up to 5,000 euros. The competition promises an interesting opportunity for exchange and networking among the participants.

Process and structured program points

The day begins at 1:30 p.m. with registration of participants. The welcome and the first pitch round will take place at 1:45 p.m., in which each performance is limited to a maximum of five minutes. From 3:00 p.m., participants can network over a coffee break before continuing with in-depth discussions in breakout sessions at 3:30 p.m.

Another highlight is the pitching of project ideas, which begins at 4:45 p.m. Participants have three minutes here, followed by a two-minute question and answer session. The evening will conclude with a reception and jury judging at 6:00 p.m. before the awards ceremony at 6:30 p.m. The jury consists of scientists from the FCMH universities, including the Technical University of Central Hesse, the Justus Liebig University of Giessen and the University of Marburg.

Funding opportunities and training

The event also offers two important funding lines: the “experimental spaces” for researchers from postdoc level and the “Creative Space funding” for doctoral students and postdocs at the UMR. The aim of these funding lines is to support innovative projects in research, transfer and science communication.

Before the pitch contest, professional pitch training will take place for all participants on March 10, 2025 in order to optimally prepare them for the presentation of their ideas. Registrations are required and had to be submitted by February 24, 2025 at the latest. Registration is also required for spectators to support the project teams.

Science communication as an integrative component

In a broader context, the importance of science communication is becoming increasingly clear. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has adjusted funding practice so that science communication is now an integral part of all funding guidelines. The aim is to promote dialogue between research and society and to integrate social impulses into scientific work.

The new guidelines require that concepts for science communication be submitted as part of applications. A comprehensive (self-)evaluation of these measures is necessary to ensure the quality and effectiveness of science communication.

For further information about registration and the event, visit the FCMH website at www.fcmh.de/pitchcontest be visited. It is important for anyone interested to respect the deadlines to take part in this innovative competition.