Press Release
Smart Country Convention 2025: Start of applications for the Smart Country Startup Award
• Startups can apply in the GovTech and Smart City categories until 15 August
• Live pitch of the finalists on 1 October at the Smart Country Convention in Berlin
A digital twin for society as a whole, smart charging stations or AI in urban planning and administration - many startups are working to drive digitalisation in the public sector. As an innovation prize of the Smart Country Convention (SCCON), the Smart Country Startup Award (SCSA) honours young companies with outstanding solutions in the GovTech and Smart City categories. Interested start-ups can apply now.
Innovation prize for bright minds
With the Smart Country Startup Award, Get Started, the startup initiative of the digital association Bitkom, promotes young companies, talented founders and visionary ideas relating to the digitalisation of the federal, state and local governments.
Early-stage start-ups are invited to submit their ideas and forward-looking concepts and pitch for the innovation prize. The best solutions will have the opportunity to present their projects on stage at the Smart Country Convention in front of a jury of experts and a live audience. The winners will receive prize money, a stage slot at SCCON 2026 and a one-year free membership to Get Started. Application deadline is 15 August 2025.
Click here for the official application form.
SCSA live pitches on the Plaza Stage at #SCCON25
As the leading event for the digitalisation of the public sector, the Smart Country Convention brings together more than 18,000 experts from politics, business, science and administration in Berlin. 400 partners will present practical solutions for smart urban development and administrative digitalisation. Around 650 top-class speakers are expected to speak on a total of seven stages on pressing topics relating to the digitalisation of the public sector.
On 1 October, the finalists of the Smart Country Startup Award 2025 will have the opportunity to present their solutions live on the Plaza Stage. At the subsequent Startup Award Night, participants will be able to network with representatives from all areas of the public sector and make new contacts.
Become a startup supporter
Digitalisation can only succeed together - which is why the Smart Country Startup Award is supported every year by forward-looking innovation drivers in the industry. Interested companies and institutions can now apply to become sponsors. All information can be found on the SCCON website.
Free tickets for the Smart Country Convention 2025 are already available in the online ticket shop.
About Smart Country Convention
The Smart Country Convention is the leading event for the digital state and public services. With over 18,000 participants, SCCON is the meeting place for everyone involved in the digitalisation of the public sector. The combination of congress, workshops, expo and networking is aimed at employees from administration, politics, the digital economy, associations and science. SCCON is organised by Bitkom e.V. and Messe Berlin.
You can also find this press release on the Internet: www.smartcountry.berlin
Press photos of the Smart Country Convention in printable quality can be downloaded here. Videos about the event and the topics of the Smart Country Convention can be found here.