Does your thesis have the potential to be applied in practice? Have you developed a solution that addresses a real-world challenge, creates value, or could serve as the foundation for further development? If you believe in your work and would like to present it to experts, we invite you to participate in the TOP STUDENT THESIS competition.
Who Can Apply?
The competition is open to students who successfully defended their:
- Bachelor’s thesis (Bc.)
- Master’s thesis (Ing. / Mgr.)
- Doctoral dissertation (PhD.)
at the Technical University of Košice, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice and the Member Universities of the Ulysseus European University Alliance during the academic year 2025/2026, no later than 31 August 2026.
Competition Categories
1. Manufacturing
Focus:
Innovative solutions for industry, manufacturing, automation, robotics, energy, materials, transport, and technical infrastructure.
Examples of topics:
- Industry 4.0
- Digital factories
- Production optimization
- Smart manufacturing
- Industrial machinery and equipment
- Advanced materials
2. Health
Focus:
Projects addressing healthcare, biomedicine, life sciences, medical technologies, psychology, and public health.
Examples of topics:
- Medical diagnostics
- Healthcare applications
- Bioinformatics
- Public health solutions
- Mental health technologies
- Wearable devices and sensors
- Artificial intelligence in medicine
3. Digital Business
Focus:
Innovations in business, finance, services, law, marketing, information systems, and the digital economy.
Examples of topics:
- E-commerce
- Enterprise information systems
- Fintech solutions
- Digital marketing
- Business cybersecurity
- Legal aspects of information technology
4. Society & Art
Focus:
Projects that contribute to society, sustainability, education, culture, the environment, or the public sector.
Examples of topics:
- Smart cities
- Green technologies
- Inclusive and accessible technologies
- Environmental applications
- Social innovations
- Artistic and creative innovations
Why Participate?
TOP STUDENT THESIS offers more than recognition. It provides support for transforming academic research into practical applications.
Competition winners will receive financial awards to help further develop their projects. They will also gain access to the startup ecosystem of UVP Technicom and Innovlab, where they can continue developing their ideas and potentially establish their own startup.
By participating, you will:
- Gain valuable contacts from academia, industry, and the startup community.
- Increase the visibility of your work.
- Improve your chances of succeeding in international competitions and projects.
- Receive opportunities to bring your research into practice.
The competition also creates a platform for companies and investors to discover promising innovations, support their development, and connect with talented graduates.
Evaluation
Submitted theses will be evaluated by a panel of experts representing both academia and industry.
Important: Applicants must inform their thesis supervisor or consultant about their intention to participate in the competition.
Competition Schedule
| Milestone | Date |
| Competition launch | 1 February 2026 |
| Application deadline | 31 August 2026 |
| Announcement of winners | 30 September 2026 |
| Final event – project presentations and awards ceremony | Ocotber 2026 |
Further Information
Please refer to the Competition Rules and Conditions for detailed information about eligibility, evaluation criteria, and the application process.
