How can administrative processes be streamlined, government networks better protected, or existing infrastructure utilised more intelligently? At the Smart Country Startup Award 2026, five young companies will demonstrate how digital technologies can solve very specific challenges facing the public sector.

On 14 October 2026, the finalists will compete against one another at the Smart Country Convention in Berlin. During their pitches, they will present their solutions to the jury and the audience. The competition is looking for the start-up with the most compelling idea for a modern, digital state.

The award is presented by Get Started, the start-up and scale-up initiative of the digital industry association Bitkom. The competition is supported by Deloitte and the de:hub initiative.

Five solutions for digital public administration and smart cities

The range of finalist start-ups demonstrates just how diverse the digitalisation of the public sector has become: from artificial intelligence and cyber security to immigration authorities, smart infrastructure and digital financial processes.

ellamind: Agent-based AI for public administration

The Bremen-based start-up ellamind develops AI agents for administrative tasks. One potential area of application is digital accessibility: the technology can automatically check websites for compliance with requirements such as sufficient contrast, alternative text or keyboard accessibility.

The analysis generates a transparent test report. In this way, the start-up demonstrates how agent-based AI can be used in public administration to support standardisable testing and work processes.

ENVIOTECH: Streetlights become smart city infrastructure

ENVIOTECH, based in Frankfurt am Main, focuses on infrastructure that already exists in almost every local authority: street lighting.

Existing lights are retrofitted with sensors, communication technology and AI. This allows existing infrastructure to be utilised for new smart city applications without having to replace entire systems.

This approach demonstrates how digitalisation can also be achieved through the intelligent further development of existing local authority infrastructure.

Parto: Digital payment processes in care and support

The Hamburg-based start-up Parto is digitising payment and administrative processes in social care organisations.

The platform offers digital accounts, cards and automated workflows for organisations providing child and youth welfare, integration support and elderly care, amongst others.

In doing so, Parto is tackling an area where administrative burdens often tie up valuable time – and demonstrates how digital processes can ease the workload for staff in the care and support sector.

PID1: Zero Trust for public sector networks

As digitalisation increases, so too does the importance of cyber security in the public sector. The Berlin-based start-up PID1 is developing a solution that enables zero-trust concepts to be implemented in public sector networks.

The software enables identity-based access to applications and services. An important aspect for public sector organisations is that the solution can also be operated within the respective authority’s own data centre.

VisaFlow: Digitally coordinating residence permit procedures

Cologne-based VisaFlow is tackling a particularly complex area of administration: residence permit procedures at immigration authorities.

The solution digitally coordinates audit trails and automates individual process steps. Decisions are intended to remain traceable and continue to be made under human supervision.

The aim: to better structure complex procedures whilst maintaining transparency and traceability.

Start-ups as partners in administrative modernisation

Many of the challenges facing the digitalisation of public administration do not stem so much from a fundamental lack of technology. What is often crucial is integrating solutions quickly into existing processes and putting them into practical use.

This is precisely where start-ups can play an important role: they develop specialised solutions, test new technological approaches and can rethink existing processes.

“The public sector must and wants to become more modern and digital, but often fails to make progress, or does so only too slowly. Start-ups can significantly accelerate this transformation,” says Daniel Breitinger, Head of Start-ups and Scale-ups at Bitkom.

The Smart Country Start-up Award therefore brings young technology companies together with the people who can implement such solutions in cities, local authorities and government bodies.

Final on 14 October at the Smart Country Convention

Which start-up will win over the jury will be decided on 14 October 2026 at the Smart Country Convention in Berlin.

The winning start-up will receive a stage slot at the Smart Country Convention 2027, as well as a one-year membership of Get Started at Bitkom.

The five finalists exemplify key questions that also shape the SCCON: How can artificial intelligence be used effectively in public administration? How can digital infrastructures be made more secure? And how can cities and public authorities implement digital solutions more quickly?

Answers to these and many other questions will be available from 13 October at the Smart Country Convention in Berlin.