Liberec Ideathon 2025

Welcome to Liberec Ideathon 2025 – a 24-hour marathon of ideas, creativity, and collaboration!

The event is organized by the Regional Development Agency in cooperation with CzechInvest. Our partners include the Liberec Region, Statutory City of Liberec, and the Technical University of Liberec.

Get ready for a challenge that actually matters.

Choose one of four topics – all based on real-world problems from companies and organizations in the Liberec Region. You'll also get access to real data to jump straight into problem-solving.

Your ideas won’t just sit in a drawer. If they make sense, we’ll help you bring them to life. You’ve got a real chance to make an impact on how people live in our region. For real!

And what’s in it for you? We’re awarding a total of CZK 120,000 across two categories:

➡️ Main prize: CZK 45,000 for the best project
➡️ Jury prize: CZK 15,000 for originality and project quality

P.S. There are two competition categories: 1) high school teams, 2) teams from the Technical University of Liberec.

How will the Ideathon unfold?

Thursday, April 10

12:00 | Doors open at KC Vratislavice 101010 – arrival of participants

12:30 | Intro session – schedule and rules overview

13:00 | Let’s go! Challenge briefing

13:30 | Time to breathe, think and dive in

14:00 | Round tables with challenge partners – choose your topic and discuss ideas

15:00 | Deep work begins – mentors are here to help

17:00 | Two short workshops: how to manage your project and how to create a successful pitch

20:00 | Pizza time – fuel up for the night ahead (order by 18:00)

21:45 | Move to the night zone at IGI Community Center (just across the street)

Friday, April 11

7:30 | Breakfast

8:00 | Back to work – sprint to the finish line

11:30 | Lunch

12:30 | Final touches – upload your project sheet and presentation to the cloud

13:00 | Present your project to the jury (you’ll be called in when it’s your turn)

14:30 | Presentations end – the jury goes off to deliberate

15:30 | Announcement of winners

16:00 | End of Ideathon

Need help?

Give us a call – we’re somewhere nearby.

Alena (ARR): 776 030 013

Adam (ARR): 725 449 621

Lukáš (ARR): 723 936 617

Martina (ARR): 604 773 309

Tereza (CzechInvest): 601 575 756

Honza (CzechInvest): 771 517 206

Overnight at IGI:

Slávka (ARR): 777 273 565

Honza (CzechInvest): 771 517 206

Pizza time!

By 18:00 let us know what kind of pizza we should order for Thursday night!

Seven principles of the Ideathon

1. Play fair

You’ll compete in teams – high school vs. high school, university vs. university. The challenges are broad on purpose, so feel free to think outside the box. The key is that your ideas should come mainly from these 24 hours – and from your own head, not the internet.

2. What you take away in your head matters more than what you take home in your wallet

Sure, prize money is great. But what you learn and experience here can take you much further – to your next project, job, or even your own startup. And remember: you’ll get out of this exactly what you put in.

3. Everything here is ready for you to use

The Vratislavice 101010 Cultural Centre offers space to work, wi-fi, power outlets, and all the data for the challenges. If you need anything extra, just reach out to the organizing team – we’ve got your back.

4. Mentors will give you valuable advice

Challenge owners will help you understand the problem, mentors will help you solve it. Their time is valuable, so come prepared and make the most of it.

5. Respect others

Everyone here wants to create something cool – and that takes focus. Be considerate, so you and everyone else can work in peace. You’ve got access to the main hall, the foyer, the balcony... find the spot that works best for you.

6. Energy matters

Snacks are provided throughout, and there’ll be pizza in the evening (don’t forget to order yours in time!). You can sleep in the designated area at IGI Vratislavice, head home for the night – or not sleep at all, it’s up to you. Just please keep the space tidy and respect the rules.

7. Not sure what to do? Just ask.

Don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help – seriously, anytime.

What will decide the winner?

The jury – a group of experts in the challenge topics – will meet on Friday afternoon. They’ll carefully listen to all presentations and ask themselves four simple questions for each project:

1. Is it a fresh idea?
➡️ We’ll be looking for originality and something that brings a new perspective.

2. Can it actually work?
➡️ We’ll evaluate if your idea makes sense and has the potential to be implemented in real life.

3. Is it well put together?
➡️ We’ll check how solid and complete your project is – from start to finish.

4. Can you sell it?
➡️ Your presentation matters too – how clearly and convincingly you deliver it to the jury.

Challenge #1

Design an effective connection between social enterprises and experts for efficient know-how sharing (or how to quickly and effectively provide support for employees)

Social enterprises give jobs to people who face tough challenges – whether it's due to health issues or difficult life situations. To do well at work, they often need extra support – like a psychologist, a coach, or a counselor who can help them deal with housing problems or debts.

But these companies usually don’t have the budget to hire experts. And even if they wanted to, they often don’t know where to look – or the experts are simply too busy.

Your task is to come up with a smart and efficient way to connect social enterprises with the right people. It can be quick, unconventional – whatever works. The goal is to make the whole thing easier, smarter, and more accessible.

Challenge partner: Liberec Region

Challenge #2:

Create an original chatbot – a smart, interactive assistant for visitors of the Statutory City of Liberec (SML) website

The City of Liberec wants to upgrade its website – and that’s why it’s planning to create an original chatbot to help visitors navigate the municipal site more easily.
Can you help make it happen?

We’re talking about an interactive assistant that not only answers questions, but also offers additional smart suggestions. The chatbot should have a creative name and a thoughtful design that fits the identity of the city.

Your task is to design a chatbot that’s not only helpful, but also original. One that people will remember – and actually enjoy talking to. The goal is to save time for both website visitors and city employees.

Challenge partner: City of Liberec

Challenge #3:

Make the Regional Scientific Library more appealing to high school students

The Regional Scientific Library in Liberec regularly organizes tours for first-year students from high schools and vocational schools. Its mission is not just about lending books – it also wants to show that the library can be a great place for inspiration, studying, or just relaxing.

But let’s be honest – not every student leaves the tour impressed. And that’s something the library would like to change. They want to create an interactive and engaging tour that grabs students’ attention and clearly shows what the library has to offer.

Your task is to come up with a way to turn a regular tour into an unforgettable experience. You can use any space or equipment the library has, plus social media, mobile apps, competitions, QR codes... anything that comes to mind.

The whole activity should take about 60 minutes and be easy to repeat. Bonus? If your idea really works, the library will start using it for the general public too.

As part of your proposal, you can come up with a brand-new service, improve what the library already offers, or suggest how to redesign the space and equipment to better suit young people.

Challenge partner: Regional Scientific Library in Liberec

Challenge #4:

Find a use for crystal glass in merchandising – or take your own unconventional path. Just keep sustainability and circularity in mind.

Crystal glass is beautiful – but not every piece makes it through quality control. But what if “rejected” didn’t mean the end… but the beginning of something new?

The goal of this challenge is to come up with a smart way to reuse imperfect crystal pieces from Preciosa Components production. Your task is to find a stylish – maybe even unconventional – way to bring them back into the game. Think design merch… or go completely off the beaten path. Creativity has no limits here.

We’re looking for ideas that combine originality, practicality, and a sustainable, circular approach.

Your concept can be a product, a design, or even a proposal for collaboration. What matters is that it makes sense – and helps make the world just a little bit shinier.

Challenge partner: Preciosa

Datasets for All Challenges

The Liberec Region Data Portal offers 325 charts and cartograms across 20 thematic areas, 34 open data sets, and 5 in-depth analyses (including one focused on social entrepreneurship).

We highly recommend using this data when developing your project – no matter which challenge you choose.

Want to dive into Liberec Region’s data with someone experienced? Book a consultation with mentors who specialize in working with data.

What do we expect from you?

Your team’s final output

At the end of the Ideathon, we’ll ask you to deliver two things:

➡️ Your project written up in a project sheet (PDF format)
➡️ A presentation you'll show to the jury (PPTX format)

Download the empty project sheet below.
There’s no template for the presentation – it's completely up to you. Be as creative as you like!

Please upload both files to the shared drive in electronic form.

Name your files like this:
team number_team name_project name
(for example: 01_Desítkáři_Eventhon)

Mentor Team at Your Service

We selected our mentors for their valuable knowledge and experience. Some are experts in specific Ideathon challenges, while others specialize in fields like project management, marketing, presentation, or innovation.

Use them as needed – and don’t hesitate to reach out.
They are here to help you move your idea forward.

Challenge #1

Radko Dražil, Družstvo TEXman – has extensive experience in social entrepreneurship; he can advise on launching a business, creating a business plan, and evaluating feasibility and long-term sustainability.

Tereza Dostálová, TESSEA ČR z.s. – leads a national network of social enterprises; she can help transform your idea into a viable project, support strategic planning, and sharpen your final presentation.

Adéla Heindorferová, Levandulovna – will share real-life experience with founding and running a social enterprise and supporting employees from disadvantaged groups.

Ivana Hujerová, Liberec Region – brings experience from business, NGOs, public administration, and the cultural sector; she knows how to navigate public systems and can help with community development.

Zuzana Rengerová, ARR (SELiK), mentoring in English – leads a project supporting the social economy; she understands the needs of local social enterprises and knows where to find the right resources and support.

Klára Zajícová, Liberec Region – serves as the regional mental health coordinator; she can advise on developing social services, building community partnerships, and connecting mental health care with social enterprise.

Challenge #2

Tereza Krbková, City of Liberec (SML) – experienced in managing projects in public administration; she can help structure your idea, steer it in the right direction, and fine-tune your presentation.

Zuzana Wünšová, City of Liberec (SML) – experienced in managing projects across both business and public sectors; she can help turn your idea into a real project and navigate potential obstacles.

Challenge #3

Marcela Freimuthová, Regional Scientific Library Liberec (KVKLI) – knows the library inside out; feel free to ask her anything about how it works.

Sabina Jůnová, KVKLI, mentoring in English – well-versed in current library services and public events; she’ll give you useful feedback on your ideas related to public programs and engagement.

Challenge #4

Simona Holubová, Preciosa, mentoring in English – her domain is product management and international business; she’ll also advise on marketing and managing a project in the glass industry.

Ester Mynářová, Preciosa, mentoring in English – specializes in quality management, gathers customer feedback, and handles complaints; she’ll help you see your idea from the customer’s perspective.

Cross-topic Mentors

Alan Fabik – expert in personal productivity and sustainable sales systems; also knows how to create a pitch that captures the jury’s attention.

Lukáš Jokl, ARR, mentoring in English – marketer with 18 years of experience; ready to listen and ask sharp questions to challenge the logic of your ideas, especially from a marketing perspective.

Daniel Nevařil, Hranipex – can help you plan your time effectively, prepare a project budget, and evaluate business potential.

Daniel Nýdrle, Grow, mentoring in English – web developer and multi-time Ideathon participant (with two awards!); offers constructive feedback and tips on prototyping, task prioritization, and presentation.

Marek Pšenička, ARR – administrator of the Liberec Data Portal; can advise on data-driven project planning and also has a good eye for web design.

Adam Soltan, ARR, mentoring in English – last year’s Ideathon winner; now focuses on cross-border cooperation, gamification, and immersive experiences via interaction design. He can also help with your final presentation.

Tereza Šípková, Parliamo – helps companies find and tell their story through effective marketing communication; she'll support your strategy and creative approach, ideally based on data.

Jana Vitvarová, Technical University of Liberec (TUL), mentoring in English – teaches at the Faculty of Mechatronics and Informatics; she can guide you in designing innovative solutions and shaping your app’s functionality.

Zuzana Švecová, ARR – Lipo.Ink – with experience from a startup incubator, she’ll help you assess whether your idea can work in the real world, how it could earn money, and what to clarify before presenting it.

High School Teams Jury:

• Assoc. Prof. Petra Rydvalová, Ph.D. – Deputy Head and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics, Technical University of Liberec

• PhDr. Dana Petrýdesová – Director of the Regional Scientific Library in Liberec

• Jan Kopic – Experienced Consultant at the IT company Profinit

• Mgr. Jana Havlíčková, LL.M. – HR Director at Preciosa, a.s.

• Tomáš Drašnar – Project Developer at the Regional Development Agency

University Teams Jury:

• Bc. Anna Provazníková – Liberec Region Councillor for the Department of Social Affairs

• PhDr. Kateřina Šidlofová – Staff Member at the Regional Scientific Library in Liberec

• Tereza Krbková – Professional background not publicly available

• Marek Kinazs – Quality Director at PRECIOSA Components

• Ing. Jitka Burešová, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Economics, Technical University of Liberec

Porota vysokoškolských týmů:​

Bc. Anna Provazníková – Radní pro sociální věci Libereckého kraje

PhDr. Kateřina Šidlofová – Pracovnice Krajské vědecké knihovny v Liberci

Tereza Krbková – Referentka odboru energetického managementu Statutárního města Liberec

Marek Kinazs – Ředitel kvality ve společnosti PRECIOSA Components

Ing. Jitka Burešová, Ph.D. – Odborná asistentka na Ekonomické fakultě Technické univerzity v Liberci