Terms and Conditions of Participation

The European DIGITAL SME Alliance Essay Competition (the “Competition”) is operated and promoted by the European DIGITAL SME Alliance (“DIGITAL SME”), a non-profit Association organized under the Belgian law and established in Rue Marie Thérèse 21 bte.5, 1000, Brussels, Belgium, with VAT number BE0899786252, duly represented by Sebastiano Toffaletti, Secretary-General.
By entering the Competition, you agree to these terms and conditions.

1. The Competition

a. At least one call for essays will be launched every year and announced on the DIGITAL SME website and social media channels.
b. The topic of each call will be related to the ICT sector and linked to the DIGITAL SME priorities and area of work.
c. Entries should be no more than 1,500 words in length, excluding bibliography and title and must be written in English.

2. The Prize

a. The winner(s) will be based on the decision of the judging panel.
b. Upon evaluation by a jury, the winner will be offered a 6-month remunerated traineeship related to the essay topic at the European DIGITAL SME Alliance offices in Brussels. The cost of travel as well as living expenses during the internship at DIGITAL SME are the sole responsibility of the intern. In line with Belgian legislation (“Convention d’immersion professionnelle”), the amount the winner will receive is set at €1035.20 and will be subject to indexation.
c. Moreover, the rewarded essay will be promoted on the DIGITAL SME website, social media channels and during flagship events, such as the DIGITAL SME Summit. DIGITAL SME will reimburse travel expenses to attend such events to the winner and reserves the right to invite other finalists.
d. Any further details will be regulated by each call.

3. How to enter

a. Entries must be submitted using the online form available at the following link . Note: other file attachments are not allowed and will not be opened.
b. All entries must submitted by the closing date as defined by each call for essays. Entries will be acknowledged by a message once submitted. Only entries that are duly received by the closing date will be considered eligible.

4 Eligibility

a. The Competition is open to students enrolled in the last year of a graduate degree (Master or equivalent) or in a higher degree programme relevant to the DIGITAL SME’s work or have already completed such a programme in a Higher Education Institution established in the European Union.
b. The candidates must be able to work in Belgium for the entire duration of the internship.
c. By entering the Competition, you confirm that you are eligible to do so and eligible to claim any prize you may win. DIGITAL SME may require you to provide proof of your eligibility.
d. Only one entry per person is permitted.
e. Entries not submitted in accordance with these terms or entries that are incomplete or illegible will not be considered.

5. Prize and judging

a. A judging panel of at least three people will be established. The panellists will be chosen among the members of the DIGITAL SME Scientific Committee. The decision of the judging panel is final and at its sole discretion. The final decision will also involve an interview with the candidate.
b. The winner will be notified by email within 30 days of the closing date.
c. If any winner cannot be contacted, is not available or has not claimed the prize within 10 days of the notification date, DIGITAL SME reserves the right to offer the prize to the next eligible entrant.
d. We may ask the winner to provide documentary proof or identity, address and eligibility criteria before award of the prize. The use of a false name or address will disqualify you from receiving any prize.

6. Use of your information

a. We will use any personal information that you give us in accordance with the law and our privacy policy for the purposes of the Competition and for any marketing or other purposes related to it.
b. All entries must be the original work of the entrant and must not infringe the rights of any other party.
c. We use various means to identify plagiarism, contract cheating, the use of AI and other forms of fraud. If we find that any content is generated by AI, the entry will be disqualified.
d. DIGITAL SME accepts no responsibility if entrants ignore these terms and conditions.
e. All entries may be published on DIGITAL SME’s website. Each entrant retains the copyright in the entry but grants to DIGITAL SME a perpetual non-exclusive royalty-free licence to publish and post it online and on any other platforms yet to be envisaged, together with his or her name and country of residence.

If you have any questions, please contact Serena Dell’Agli, Senior Technology Manager, at s.dellagli@digitalsme.eu.