Competition

Participation Fee

A participation fee of 200 EUR per project is charged for International participation in INNOVATE GERMANY. There is no participation fee for the national participants.

All collected fees are used exclusively for student-friendly expenses, organizational and educational costs, and the continuous development of INNOVATE GERMANY, ensuring a high-quality, accessible, and sustainable international competition experience.

Accommodation

Accommodation options for INNOVATE GERMANY may vary each year depending on the host city.
The competition will take place between 27 May 2027 – 30 May 2027.

27 May 2027-Check In

28 May 2027- Check In , Cologne & Paderborn Trip , Projects Set Up

29 May 2027- Exhibition , Check Out

30 May 2027- Check Out

Check-in and check-out dates may be one day earlier or one day later, depending on individual travel arrangements.

For the 2027 competition, official accommodation will be available at:

New Birken Guest House – Paderborn

https://neue-birken.de

Accommodation Details

  • Accommodation fee for national or international participants: 50 EUR per person per night
  • Breakfast is included
  • Dinner is not included
    Participants may have dinner with their mentors at suitable restaurants in the area

Accommodation Rules & Conditions

  • Rooms are arranged separately for female and male participants
  • Rooms accommodate a maximum of 4 participants
  • Participants may share rooms with students from different countries
  • Participants who prefer to stay alone in a room may select a single-room option for an additional fee, depending on availability
  • Mentors may choose not to use accommodation provided by INNOVATE GERMANY and may arrange their own accommodation nearby
  • Accommodation preferences must be completed within the given period after abstract submission
  • Transportation between official accommodation and the competition venue will be provided by INNOVATE GERMANY

Airport and train station transfers for check-in and check-out are the responsibility of participants and mentors.Local Transportation & Taxi Services

Participants and mentors may use local taxi and ride-booking services for transportation between airports, train stations, hotels, and competition venues.

Available services in and around Paderborn include:

Participants may also use standard local taxi services directly from Paderborn Central Station or nearby airports.

Alternative Accommodation Options Nearby

Participants and mentors who prefer independent accommodation may also consider nearby hotels in Paderborn.

Examples include:

Please note that these accommodations are independent from INNOVATE GERMANY and reservations must be arranged individually by participants.

Trips

A cultural trip will be organized on Saturday, 28 May 2027.

Participants and guests will visit HNF ( Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum), the world’s largest computer museum, which is an organizational partner of INNOVATE GERMANY.

Cologne (Köln) & Paderborn Trip

  • Destination: Cologne (Köln), Paderborn Germany
  • Transportation: Bus
  • Trip fee: 200 EUR per participant
  • Dinner during the trip is at the participants’ own expense

Participants will visit major landmarks of Cologne, including the Cologne Cathedral (Dom), Rhine bridges, and scenic viewpoints.
This trip supports cultural exchange and international interaction.

Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony will take place on:

29 May 2027 – 08:30
Location:  University of Paderborn

https://www.uni-paderborn.de/en

The Opening Ceremony marks the official start of INNOVATE GERMANY and welcomes participants, mentors, jury members, and guests.

Exhibition

The Exhibition is a core academic and public component of INNOVATE GERMANY and will take place at University of Paderborn Paderborn

Exhibition Schedule

  • Start: 09:30 – 12:30 (First Session)
  • Break: 12:30 – 13:30
  • End: 13:30 – 15:30 (Second Session)

Exhibition Rules & Expectations

  • Participants must remain at their stands during the exhibition hours
  • Participants are required to wait for assigned jury members to arrive at their stands
  • Projects must be presented in a polite, clear, and professional manner to both jury members and visitors
  • When interacting with visitors, serious, respectful, and informative communication is expected

The exhibition officially opens during the Opening Ceremony and concludes during the Closing Ceremony.

Catering

  • On the exhibition day, snacks will be provided for both participants and mentors by INNOVATE GERMANY

Detailed jury schedules and presentation time slots will be announced on-site.

Closing Ceremony

The Closing Ceremony will take place on:

29 May 2027 – 19:00
Location:  University of Paderborn

https://www.uni-paderborn.de/en

During the Closing Ceremony:

  • Competition results will be announced
  • Awards and recognitions will be presented
  • INNOVATE GERMANY 2027 will be officially concluded