1. Introduction – Purpose of Competition

1.1 Organization

Innovation for Society Awards (“IFS”) by RCM 2026 is a competition (“Competition”) organized by the Region of Central Macedonia, acting through the One Stop Liaison Office of the Region of Central Macedonia (“OSLO by RCM”), based at Vasilissis Olgas 198, Thessaloniki, P.C. 546 55, Greece. The Competition is funded by the Programme “Central Macedonia 2021–2027” (NSRF 2021–2027).

For the purposes of these Terms and Conditions, the sole Organizer of the Competition is the Region of Central Macedonia, acting through OSLO by RCM / the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Support Mechanism.

The project implementation contractor supports the Organizer exclusively in administrative, technical, operational and communication tasks, in accordance with the contract “Provision of support services for the implementation of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Support Mechanism (OSLO by RCM)”. The implementation contractor does not act as Organizer, Co-Organizer, Challenge Owner, beneficiary of the Competition or final decision-making authority.

Challenge Owners are companies, organisations or public entities that submit business, technological, operational or societal challenges to be addressed by Solution Providers. Challenge Owners participate as beneficiaries of the Competition and as technical/business assessors for solutions submitted in response to their own challenges. They are not Organizers or Co-Organizers of the Competition.

Supporters are organisations that may contribute to the dissemination, outreach, networking, training or ecosystem mobilisation of the Competition. Supporters do not have decision-making authority regarding eligibility, evaluation, ranking, awards or prize payments, unless expressly appointed by the Organizer for a specific advisory role.

1.2 Scope

IFS by RCM is an open innovation Competition bringing together the Quadruple Helix, corporations and public entities looking for innovative solutions to challenges with social impact, with entrepreneurs, startups, spinoffs, SMEs, researchers and other innovation actors working at the forefront of science, innovation and technology.

Upon the collection and release of the Competition challenges, the process unfolds across five phases, beginning with the submission of applications and moving through evaluation, bootcamp sessions and validation, before culminating in the final review and award of prizes.

Innovation for Society Awards by RCM 2026 is implemented in the context of Deliverable P3.8.1 “Open Innovation Competition” under the project “Provision of support services for the implementation of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Support Mechanism (OSLO by RCM)”.

1.3 Challenge Owners

Organisations, businesses or public entities that submit challenges to be addressed by Solution Providers are the “Challenge Owners”. Challenge Owners participate as beneficiaries of the Competition and as technical/business assessors for solutions submitted in response to their own challenges. They do not act as Organizers or Co-Organizers and have no authority to modify the Terms and Conditions, the evaluation methodology or the final approval of results.

Challenge Owners must be based in the Region of Central Macedonia and/or have business or operational activity in the Region of Central Macedonia.

The Challenge Owners of the IFS by RCM 2026 are:

1. “ALTERRA SA”, with its registered office and business activity in the Region of Central Macedonia, based at 3rd km Giannitson-Edessas, Pella, P.C. 58100, with contact email info@alterra.gr.
2. “Alumil S.A.”, with its registered office and business activity in the Region of Central Macedonia, based at Industrial Area (VI.PE.) Stavrochori, Block 19, Kilkis, 61100, Greece, with contact email info@alumil.com.
3. “BRITE HELLAS S.A.”, with its registered office and business activity in the Region of Central Macedonia, based at 9th km Thessaloniki – Thermi Road, Thermi, Pylaia-Chortiatis, Thessaloniki, 57001, Greece, with contact email info@britesolar.com.
4. “Ergobyte Informatics SA”, with its registered office and business activity in the Region of Central Macedonia, based at 21 Aristotelous St., Thessaloniki, 54624, Greece, with contact email info@ergobyte.gr.
5. “EVYP LLP”, with its registered office and business activity in the Region of Central Macedonia, based at Road A5, Delta, Thessaloniki, 57022, Greece, with contact email info@evyp.gr.
6. “Infoteam HELLAS MIKE”, with its registered office and business activity in the Region of Central Macedonia, based at 5 Elenis Skoura St., Thessaloniki, 54249, Greece, with contact email info@infoteam-software.gr.
7. “ISOMAT”, with its registered office and business activity in the Region of Central Macedonia, based at 17th km Thessaloniki – Ag. Athanasios, P.O. Box 1043, Ag. Athanasios, Chalkidona, Thessaloniki, 57003, Greece, with contact email info@isomat.gr.
8. “Maintenance Cluster IKE”, with its registered office and business activity in the Region of Central Macedonia, based at 12 Filikis Etaireias St., Thessaloniki, 54621, Greece, with contact email okapousidou@gmail.com.
9. “Olympia Electronics S.A.”, with its registered office and business activity in the Region of Central Macedonia, based at 72nd km Old National Road (P.E.O.) Thessaloniki – Katerini, Pydna-Kolindros, Pieria, 60300, with contact email info@olympia-electronics.com.
10. “PELOPAC S.A.”, with its registered office and business activity in the Region of Central Macedonia, based at Sindos Industrial Area (VI.PE.), Block 38, Roads DA11 & KA, Delta, Thessaloniki, 57022, Greece, with contact email info@pelopac.gr.
11. “Port of Thessaloniki S.A.” (“ThPA S.A.”), with its registered office and business activity in the Region of Central Macedonia, based at Port of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54110, Greece, with contact email secretariat@thpa.gr.
12. “Regional Association of Solid Waste Management Agencies of Central Macedonia (FoDSA CM)”, with its registered office and activity in the Region of Central Macedonia, based at 6-8 Fragkon St., 54626 Thessaloniki, Greece, with contact email info@fodsakm.gr.

1.4 Solution Providers

For the purposes of these Terms and Conditions, the terms “applicants” and “participants” shall be used interchangeably to refer to Solution Providers.

Solution Providers are individuals, teams or legal entities, universities, research Centers, start ups etc, submitting a solution to at least one of the Competition Challenges. Solution Providers must be based in the Region of Central Macedonia and/or have registered business or professional activity in the Region of Central Macedonia, as further specified in these Terms and Conditions. Solution Providers submit solutions and may compete for the IFS Award by RCM prizes.

2. Committees of the Innovation for Society Awards (“IFS”) by RCM 2026

During IFS Awards by RCM 2026, the Organizer may establish the following bodies for the operational coordination and evaluation of the Competition. The establishment, composition and roles of these bodies shall be approved by the Organizer before the launch of the call.

2.1 Organizing Committee

The Organizing Committee- IFS Awards by RCM 2026, shall be appointed by the Organizer and may include representatives of the Region of Central Macedonia / OSLO by RCM and, where necessary, representatives of the project implementation contractor in a technical, administrative and operational support role.

The Organizing Committee performs its tasks with the administrative, technical, operational and communication support of OSLO by RCM and the project implementation contractor, within the limits of their respective roles and contractual responsibilities.

The Organizing Committee-IFS Awards by RCM 2026 is responsible for the operational coordination, administrative supervision and procedural oversight of the Competition, under the authority of the Organizer.

In particular, the Organizing Committee-IFS Awards by RCM 2026 shall:

• coordinate the overall timetable and the implementation of the Competition phases, with the support of OSLO by RCM and the project implementation contractor;
• ensure that the approved Terms and Conditions, methodology, eligibility rules and evaluation criteria are applied throughout the Competition;
• supervise and review the preparatory actions carried out by OSLO by RCM and the project implementation contractor;
• coordinate communication with Challenge Owners, Solution Providers, Supporters, trainers, experts and members of the Evaluation Committee, with the operational support of OSLO by RCM and the project implementation contractor;
• support the collection, registration and administrative check of applications and supporting documentation;
• ensure that all required confidentiality and impartiality declarations are collected before the evaluation process;
• maintain, through OSLO by RCM and the project implementation contractor, the Competition file, including applications, declarations, evaluation forms, scoring sheets, minutes, correspondence and any other supporting documentation;
• support the organization of information events, bootcamp sessions, validation meetings, B2B meetings and final pitching sessions;
• monitor compliance with the Competition timetable and participation requirements;
• identify and report to the Organizer any procedural issue, potential conflict of interest, eligibility issue or deviation from the approved rules;
• provide administrative and technical support to the Evaluation Committee, without substituting its evaluation role;
• review, approve or request corrections to actions, documents, proposals, communication material and operational arrangements prepared by OSLO by RCM and/or the project implementation contractor, where such approval is required for the smooth and compliant implementation of the Competition;
• prepare the documentation required for the validation of results by the Organizer;
• coordinate the preparation of the award ceremony, after the formal approval of the results by the Organizer;
• present and award the prizes to the winners during the award ceremony, following the formal approval of the Competition results by the Organizer;
• support the communication and dissemination of the Competition results, in accordance with the communication rules of the Programme “Central Macedonia 2021–2027”.

The evaluation methodology and criteria shall be approved by the Organizer before the launch of the Competition and shall be made available to participants in advance. The Organizing Committee is responsible for ensuring their consistent application throughout the Competition.

The Organizing Committee shall not modify the approved methodology, eligibility rules or evaluation criteria after the launch of the Competition, shall not substitute the Evaluation Committee in the evaluation of participants, and shall not announce winners or awardees without the prior formal approval of the Organizer.

2.2 Evaluation Committee

The Evaluation Committee-IFS Awards by RCM 2026 shall be appointed by the Organizer and is responsible for the evaluation of the eligible proposals submitted by the Solution Providers, in accordance with the approved Terms and Conditions, the pre-defined evaluation methodology and the evaluation criteria made available to participants in advance.

The Evaluation Committee- IFS Awards by RCM 2026 may include:

• representatives of the Organizer / OSLO by RCM;
• representatives of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem with relevant expertise;
• representatives of the companies or organisations submitting the challenges (“Challenge Owners”), acting as technical/business assessors for the solutions submitted in response to their respective challenges;
• representatives of the project implementation contractor or instructors/trainers only in a technical, administrative or advisory support role, unless otherwise expressly decided by the Organizer and provided that no conflict of interest exists.

The Evaluation Committee-IFS Awards by RCM 2026 shall:

• evaluate the proposals and presentations of the Solution Providers on the basis of the approved evaluation criteria;
• assess the relevance, feasibility, maturity, innovation potential, expected impact and practical applicability of the proposed solutions;
• take into account the specific needs and requirements of each Challenge, as defined by the relevant Challenge Owner;
• ensure that the evaluation process is conducted in a transparent, impartial and documented manner;
• use standard evaluation forms and scoring sheets approved before the launch of the Competition;
• document the scores, comments and ranking of the evaluated proposals;
• identify and report to the Organizer any potential conflict of interest, procedural issue or deviation from the approved rules;
• prepare an evaluation report, including the proposed ranking of participants and the recommendation of winners and awardees;
• submit the evaluation report to the Organizer for validation and formal approval before the announcement of the results.

Challenge Owners may participate in the evaluation process because they are best placed to assess whether a proposed solution responds to the actual business, operational or organisational need they have submitted. Their assessment shall be limited to the proposals submitted in response to their own Challenge and shall focus on the relevance, feasibility, applicability and practical value of the proposed solution.

The Evaluation Committee shall not modify the approved methodology, eligibility rules, evaluation criteria or weighting system after the launch of the Competition. The Evaluation Committee shall not announce winners or awardees before the formal approval of the results by the Organizer.

All members of the Evaluation Committee and any persons participating in the evaluation process shall sign a Confidentiality and Impartiality Declaration before receiving access to applications, proposals or evaluation material. In case of an actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest, the person concerned shall abstain from the relevant evaluation.

3. Eligibility

3.1 Submission

To join the Competition, applicants must submit an application addressing one or more of the challenges described on the Competition website.

3.2 Restrictions and Documentation

By submitting the application form, applicants confirm that they are over 18 years old and that they are registering either on their own behalf and in their own name or as duly authorised representatives of a legal entity, team, startup, spinoff, SME, R&D organisation, university, research team or other eligible participant.

Where applicants represent a legal entity, they must have full legal authority to perform any obligations on behalf of that entity.

Solution Providers must have registered business, professional or operational activity in the Region of Central Macedonia and shall provide the relevant supporting legal documentation, where requested by the Organizer.

3.3 Approval of Participation

Approval of participation in any phase of the Competition is subject to compliance with these Terms and Conditions, the eligibility rules and the approved Competition procedure.

The Organizer may refuse evaluation and/or participation where an application has been made in breach of these Terms and Conditions, the eligibility rules or applicable law.

3.4 Use of Website

Participants are responsible for all uses of the Competition website made through their submitted information, account, username or email, whether they are aware of that use or could reasonably have been aware of that use.

3.5 Communication Process

The Organizer, OSLO by RCM, the project implementation contractor and Challenge Owners may communicate with participants through the username and/or email address provided in their application. Participants may also use any B2B or communication platform made available for the purposes of the Competition.

Participants shall notify the Organizer promptly of any changes to their contact information. If they fail to do so, communication shall be considered effective when sent to the most recently provided email address.

3.6 Submission Content

Participants guarantee that any content they provide:

• a) complies with all applicable laws;
• b) respects third-party intellectual property rights and any other legal rights;
• c) is truthful, accurate and genuine;
• d) is not offensive, defamatory, harassing, unlawful or otherwise inappropriate.

Applications that are unlawful, infringe third-party intellectual property rights, are illegible, indecent, incomplete or otherwise contrary to these Terms and Conditions may be rejected by the Organizer.

3.7 Compliance with EU Restrictive Measures

Participation in the Competition must not violate Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 of 31 July 2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, as amended, nor Council Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 of 18 May 2006 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus, as amended, nor any other applicable EU restrictive measures.

The Organizer shall reject applications and may terminate the participation of any selected participant where participation would result in a violation of national, EU or international law applicable in Greece.

3.8 Russia- and Belarus-Related Restrictions

Based on Article 5k of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 and the equivalent provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning Belarus, participants warrant that they are not, and do not represent, and shall not at any time during the Competition become or come to represent:

• a) a Russian or Belarusian national, a natural person residing in Russia or Belarus, or a legal person, entity or body established in Russia or Belarus;
• b) a legal person, entity or body whose proprietary rights are directly or indirectly owned for more than 50% by an entity referred to in point (a);
• c) a natural or legal person, entity or body acting on behalf of, or at the direction of, an entity referred to in points (a) or (b).

This applies also to subcontractors, suppliers or entities whose capacities are being relied upon, where relevant under applicable EU restrictive measures.

3.9 Self-Declaration and Verification

By submitting an application, participants declare under their full responsibility that they comply with the requirements of paragraphs 3.7 and 3.8 above and undertake to notify the Organizer in writing, without delay, of any change in circumstances that may affect such compliance.

The Organizer reserves the right, at any stage of the Competition, to request documentation evidencing such compliance, including without limitation: information regarding ownership and control structure, nationality, residence and relevant connections of legal representatives, key managers and beneficial owners, and information regarding subcontractors, suppliers or entities whose capacities are being relied upon for the proposed solution.

In assessing compliance, the Organizer shall consider all relevant legal and factual circumstances, including ownership and control structures, personal and professional connections between the persons concerned, and any indications of coordination with or instructions from sanctioned persons or entities.

3.10 Consequences of Non-Compliance

Failure to provide the requested information within a reasonable deadline set by the Organizer, or the provision of false, incomplete or misleading information, shall constitute grounds for immediate disqualification from the Competition.

Where non-compliance with paragraphs 3.7 or 3.8 is established after the award of any prize, the Organizer reserves the right to revoke the award and recover any amounts already paid, without prejudice to any further legal remedies available to the Organizer or to the public authorities financing the Competition.

4. Application Process

4.1 Application Process

Participants shall submit solutions to challenges placed by the Challenge Owners. Challenges shall be developed around specific questions and/or themes that concern business, technological, operational or societal challenges with social impact.

The purpose of such challenges is to create an open-ended inquiry that encourages participants to propose innovative solutions with a positive impact for the Challenge Owner, the relevant sector and/or society.

4.2 Review

Once applications are submitted, an administrative eligibility check shall be carried out under the coordination of the Organizer, with the support of the project implementation contractor where required.

Applications that pass the administrative eligibility check shall be assessed at the first evaluation stage by the relevant Challenge Owner acting as a technical/business assessor for the specific challenge, on the basis of the pre-approved and published evaluation criteria.

The Challenge Owner’s assessment shall focus on the relevance of the proposed solution to the challenge, feasibility, applicability, expected practical value and potential for pilot implementation or further collaboration.

4.3 Review Decision

The selection of participants for the next phase shall be documented through evaluation forms and/or scoring sheets. The Organizer shall validate the completeness and consistency of the assessment process before the announcement of shortlisted participants.

Challenge Owners’ assessments shall not be arbitrary and shall not replace the Organizer’s responsibility to ensure transparency, equal treatment, proper documentation and compliance with the approved Competition rules.

Applicants may submit a request for procedural review within a deadline set by the Organizer, only on grounds of procedural error, eligibility error, conflict of interest or manifest inconsistency with the published rules. The review shall not constitute a re-evaluation of the technical/business merits of the proposal.

4.4 Errors in Applications

For applications that have errors of form and not substance, the Organizer and/or the relevant Challenge Owner may set a reasonable deadline for correcting the deficiencies.

4.5 Request for Additional Information

The Organizer and/or the relevant Challenge Owner reserve the right at any time to request additional information from applicants, both in relation to the proposed solution and in relation to evidence of identity, place of residence, business activity, legal status or other administrative or legal conditions.

5. Bootcamp Sessions

5.1 Bootcamp Sessions

Once participants are selected, they will attend a Bootcamp of approximately two (2) to four (4) days, or another duration specified by the Organizer. The Bootcamp may include sessions with instructors, trainers and representatives of Challenge Owners.

During the Bootcamp, participants will work with instructors and Challenge Owners to refine their proposed solutions to the challenges and improve their pitch decks.

5.2 Bootcamp Evaluation

Upon completion of the Bootcamp, the Organizer shall announce the shortlist of participants selected to participate in the Validation Program, following the applicable evaluation procedure.

5.3 Right to Review and Verification

The Organizer reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to review all entries for compliance with these Terms and Conditions at any time during or after the Bootcamp.

6. Validation Program

6.1 Validation Program Implementation

Selected participants will be invited to participate in a Validation Program, which may be held online, physically or in hybrid format. The Validation Program may also include on-site visits to the premises of the Challenge Owners, where appropriate, in order for participants to gain insights and better understand the challenge.

6.2 Scope of Validation Program

During the Validation Program, selected participants may indicatively:

• a) participate in training workshops open to the innovation ecosystem of Central Macedonia;
• b) hold B2B meetings with the corresponding Challenge Owner, where mandatory or appropriate;
• c) work towards a Proof of Concept, prototype, pilot or other validation output related to the challenge they are addressing.

6.3 Program Schedule and Updates

The updated schedule and overview of topics to be addressed during the Validation Program will be available on the official Competition website or through other official communication channels of the Competition.

6.4 Knowledge Exchange and Collaboration

Challenge Owners and Solution Providers may exchange knowledge in areas that could add value to their common goal, subject to the applicable confidentiality and intellectual property rules.

6.5 Confidentiality and Recording Prohibitions

Participants are not allowed to record presentations, meetings or sessions, nor to share materials with third parties, without the prior permission of the Organizer and/or the relevant rights holder.

6.6 Attendance and Participation Requirements

Participants are expected to be present during the Program training sessions and B2B meetings with Challenge Owners. Repeated absence, without justified reason, may result in disqualification from the Competition, following a decision of the Organizer.

7. Final Stage

7.1 Final Presentation and Evaluation

Upon completion of the Validation Program, participants shall present their solutions before the Evaluation Committee.

The Evaluation Committee shall be appointed by the Organizer and may include representatives of the Organizer / OSLO by RCM, independent experts from the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem and Challenge Owners acting as technical/business assessors for solutions submitted in response to their own challenges.

The project implementation contractor and instructors/trainers may attend and support the process administratively or technically, but shall not have voting rights unless expressly appointed by the Organizer and provided that no conflict of interest exists.

Challenge Owners may assess the relevance, feasibility, applicability and practical value of solutions submitted in response to their own challenge.

The Evaluation Committee shall prepare a documented evaluation report, including scores, ranking and recommendation of winners. The final approval and announcement of winners and awardees shall be made by the Organizer.

7.2 Approval and Procedural Review

The final ranking shall be based on the approved evaluation criteria and scoring system and shall be documented in the evaluation report.

The Organizer may review the process before final approval in order to verify compliance with the Terms and Conditions, the approved methodology, conflict-of-interest rules and documentation requirements.

Participants may submit a procedural review request within a deadline set by the Organizer, solely on grounds of procedural error, conflict of interest, eligibility error or manifest breach of the published rules. The review shall not constitute a re-assessment of the merits of the proposals.

7.3 Feedback Policy

The Organizer may provide participants with brief feedback or scoring summaries, where feasible, without disclosing confidential information, personal data, trade secrets or comparative details of other participants’ proposals.

8. Prizes

8.1 Award of Prizes

Following the formal approval of the Competition results by the Organizer, the Organizing Committee shall present and award the prizes to the winning teams / Solution Providers during the award ceremony.

8.2 Prize Categories

Prizes are awarded in the form of cash to the first three solutions, based on the final approved ranking following the evaluation procedure.

The following cash prizes are co-funded by the European Union through the Programme “Central Macedonia 2021–2027”. Indicatively:

• The first prize corresponds to the amount of €20,000.
• The second prize corresponds to the amount of €10,000.
• The third prize corresponds to the amount of €5,000.

8.3 Currency and Payment Method

Payment will be made in Euros (€) to an exclusive bank account of the distinguished beneficiaries, following the applicable banking, administrative, accounting and tax procedures.

8.4 Payment Process

Payment will be made to a bank account belonging to the original applicant or to the beneficiary legally entitled to receive the prize. The beneficiary may be required to submit a solemn declaration addressed to the Organizer and/or any other supporting document required for the payment process.

8.4.1 Payment Process in Group Applications

In the case of a group application, participants must submit to the Organizer the required declarations and supporting documents indicating the bank account to which the prize shall be paid. In the case of legal persons, the legal representative signs on their behalf, supported by valid legal representation documentation.

8.4.2 Lack of Agreement within a Team

In case of lack of agreement within a team regarding the payment of the prize, the Organizer may suspend or withhold payment until the necessary documentation and agreement are provided.

8.5 Prize Distribution for Teams

In any case, the Organizer is not obliged to divide the prize proportionally according to the number of persons making up a participating team.

8.6 Tax Compliance and Cooperation

Recipients of prizes undertake to cooperate with the Organizer and/or the competent bodies in order to comply with any applicable tax, accounting, administrative or legal obligations, providing any information or documentation requested.

8.7 Breach of Terms and Prize Recovery

If participants breach any obligation arising from these Terms and Conditions, the Organizer may revoke the award, recover the prize or be released from the obligation to pay it. The Award will be given to the next winner participant.

8.8 State Aid / De Minimis Compliance

Before payment, winners may be required to provide all necessary declarations and supporting documents required by the Organizer and/or the competent public authorities.

Where applicable, prizes shall be subject to the relevant State and EU Rules and Laws. The Organizer reserves the right to request any required declarations, certificates or supporting documentation before the payment of any prize.

9. Duty of Truth

9.1 Duty of Truth and Accuracy

Participants have a duty of truth and accuracy for any information they submit, either in relation to their personal details, their legal status or their business/technical proposal.

Breach of the duty of truth, either at the application stage or at any later participation stage, may entitle the Organizer to disqualify an applicant or participant from the Competition.

9.2 Verification of Submissions

The Organizer may request any information or supporting documentation deemed necessary to verify the submissions of applicants or participants.

9.3 Liability and Damages

Additional compensation for non-pecuniary damage or other compensation, where the Organizer or the Competition suffers damage as a result of breach of the duty of truth, is not excluded.

10. Confidentiality

Each applicant undertakes the obligation, both during the Competition and following its termination or completion, not to disclose to any third party any Confidential Information without the prior written consent of the Organizer or, where applicable, of the relevant Challenge Owner or other rights holder.

Separate Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) may be signed between participants in the Validation Program and Challenge Owners, where necessary.

For the purposes of this clause, Confidential Information may include, without limitation, business, technical, financial, operational or other non-public information disclosed in the context of the Competition.

11. Intellectual Property

11.1 Warranty of Originality and Third-Party Rights

Applicants warrant that they have created or are duly authorised to submit the Competition entries, that they own or lawfully control the relevant intellectual property rights in those entries, and that the Organizer’s and Challenge Owners’ use of the entries in accordance with these Terms and Conditions will not infringe any person’s intellectual property rights or other legal rights.

11.2 Ownership of Intellectual Property

Existing or new intellectual property of applicants shall remain their property after the end of the Competition. Acceptance of these Terms and Conditions does not constitute a transfer of intellectual property rights to the Organizer, Challenge Owners or other participants.

The Organizer and Challenge Owners assume no responsibility for the allocation of intellectual property rights between the members of a participating team.

12. Communication and Dissemination

12.1 Promotional Use of Likeness and Branding

The Organizer may use depictions of participants and Challenge Owners, as well as their company/project names or logos, to promote the Competition in the media, social media and other communication channels, subject to applicable law and the relevant consent requirements.

12.2 Use of Project Descriptions and Content

The Organizer may use descriptions of the Challenges and Participants’ solutions, subject to approval by the relevant Challenge Owners and Participants, respectively, in dissemination and communication materials and actions in the media and social media.

12.3 Grant of License and Duration

By accepting these Terms and Conditions, applicants and Challenge Owners grant free of charge a license to use their depiction, logo and/or approved description to the Organizer for the duration of the Competition and for a period of forty-eight (48) months following its ending date, for communication and dissemination purposes related to the Competition and the Programme “Central Macedonia 2021–2027”.

12.4 Communication Language

The official languages of communication are Greek and English.

12.5 Official Website

The official website of the Competition is: https://www.ifsawards.eu/

13. Unfair Competition

Acts of unfair competition, as defined in Greek law, may entitle the Organizer to exclude applicants or participants from the Competition.

14. Modification of Terms

These Terms and Conditions may be amended by the Organizer with prior notice and at any time, provided that any amendment respects the principles of transparency, equal treatment, proportionality and legal compliance.

No substantial modification of the evaluation methodology, eligibility rules, scoring criteria or weighting system may take place after the launch of the call, unless required for reasons of legality, transparency or force majeure and only upon decision of the Organizer, with appropriate notification to participants.

15. Personal Data

15.1 Use of Data

Participants, Challenge Owners and any other involved parties acknowledge that their personal data shall be processed only for the purposes of the Competition, in accordance with the applicable data protection legislation.

15.2 Data Collection Tools and GDPR

The Region of Central Macedonia / OSLO by RCM acts as Data Controller for the personal data processed for the purposes of the Competition.

The project implementation contractor may process personal data only as Data Processor acting on behalf of and under the documented instructions of the Data Controller, in accordance with the applicable data protection legislation and the relevant contractual arrangements.

Any third-party tools used for application submission, communication, surveys or evaluation shall be used only where appropriate safeguards, access controls and data protection arrangements are in place.

16. Jurisdiction – Applicable Law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by Greek law.

Any dispute that may arise in relation to the Competition shall be resolved by the exclusively competent courts of Thessaloniki, Greece.