Handels Impact Innovation Challenge

Do you have a sustainable idea that can make a real difference? The Handels Impact Innovation Challenge (HIIC) motivates students at the School of Business, Economics and Law to develop business ideas and projects that address a societal challenge through entrepreneurship. The competition, first introduced in 2024, gives students the opportunity to bring their ideas to life — whether it’s a newly founded company, a research-based innovation, or a campus-based initiative. The aim is to inspire innovative solutions that meet an urgent sustainability challenge.

HIIC is not only a competition but also a platform for sustainable entrepreneurship that brings together a wide range of actors within innovation and sustainable development. Students get the opportunity to develop their business ideas, build valuable connections, and grow both professionally and personally. HIIC aims to serve as a springboard into entrepreneurship, whether you want to participate in a single lecture or submit a full competition entry.

How the competition works

HIIC is held annually, with the competition period running from May to October. All submissions must be based on one of four categories — environmental sustainability, social sustainability, governance, or projects (where the project category can be non-profit). Participants may choose to focus on one or several of these aspects, and entries are judged based on their potential to create societal and commercial value.

Throughout the competition, participants receive feedback on their ideas, and they also have the opportunity to get professional help to practice pitching in front of an audience.

Submissions that advance to the finale present their ideas to a jury during Pitch Day, which takes place on the first day of the career fair GADDEN. The winners are selected during Pitch Day and are celebrated at the fair’s concluding gala dinner. Each winning entry is awarded SEK 50,000. The number of winners and who wins is decided by the jury.

Collaboration and support

The competition is organized by the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg in collaboration with the student union HHGS, GADDEN, Venture Cup Sweden, and Ernströmgruppen. The prize is made possible through support from Ernströmgruppen.

The jury consists of individuals who have founded successful companies or are key actors in Gothenburg’s ecosystem for sustainability and entrepreneurship.

Through our scholarship, we want to encourage entrepreneurship and support the development of new sustainable solutions for future generations. 

Malin Jidéus, Head of Sustainability, IR & Finance at Ernströmgruppen.

Yearly timeline

An approximate annual timeline for the competition looks as follows:

• May: Applications open
• September: Early submission deadline – opportunity for feedback
• Early October: Final application deadline
• Early November: Pitch Day, when winners are selected
• Early November: Winners are celebrated at the GADDEN gala dinner

Winning entries from previous years

2025 

Senra Health (Vanessa Graniffo, BSc in Business and Economics) 
Senra Health offers digital tools that prevent foot ulcers and amputations among people with diabetes.

2024 

GRALG (Charlie Arby, Independent course) 
GRALG grows microalgae in outgoing water from wastewater treatment plants and uses the algae to develop organic fertilizer.

Digital Governance Group (Paulina Svensson, Law Program)
Digital Governance Group tackles the challenge of organized crime in the digital age.