The awards are part of the Future of Emerging Europe programme, which has been carried out by Emerging Europe since 2018. The programme includes the awards, the Summit & Awards event in Brussels, three reports and editorial content published throughout the year. 

The Emerging Europe Awards celebrate the outstanding efforts of projects, initiatives, organisations and individuals who consistently work towards the economic and social development of the emerging Europe region and contribute most to its growth. 

Winners in most of the categories come from the 23 countries of the emerging Europe region (Central and South-Eastern Europe and the Caucasus): Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine.

In addition, winners might not come from the region but do have a presence in Central and South-Eastern Europe and the Caucasus — for example, foreign investors.

In the case of the Professor Günter Verheugen Award, winners come from outside the region but have worked with emerging Europe extensively or made an impact on the region.

The call for entries for the Emerging Europe Awards is open for the categories framed by the five dimensions of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – People, Planet, Prosperity, Partnership and Peace. Please check the categories page for detailed information about the categories. 

Some categories are not open for entries, as they follow different processes.

These include the Investment Promotion Agency of the Year and the Business-Friendly City - selected based on Emerging Europe’s research; the Professor Günter Verheugen Award and the Princess Marina Sturdza Award - selected by the Emerging Europe Council; and the Public Figure of the Year, chosen by the Emerging Europe editorial team.  

The applications are open for candidates from all 23 countries of the emerging Europe region:

• Albania
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czechia
• Estonia
• Georgia
• Hungary
• Kosovo
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Moldova
• Montenegro
• North Macedonia
• Poland
• Romania
• Serbia
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Ukraine.

In addition, winners might not come from the region but do have a presence in Central and South-Eastern Europe and the Caucasus - for example, foreign investors.

The Emerging Europe Awards are part of the Future of Emerging Europe programme that has been run since 2018 by Emerging Europe, a London-based growth hub with a mission to contribute to the social, economic and democratic development of 23 countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe and the Caucasus through innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainability.  

There are benefits on the regional and national as well as individual level. 

A lot of amazing emerging Europe success stories have never been talked about internationally. It is a pity as the region has plenty to boast about.

The Emerging Europe Awards are a celebration of those successes, shining light on and raising awareness about the region and nations globally. 

It is also an opportunity for organisations and companies regardless of their size.

Through the Emerging Europe Awards not only winners are distinguished, but the shortlisted entries are also promoted widely via our media and association partners, during voting and both before and after the Awards ceremony.

In addition, the benefits of researching, writing, and supporting your entries themselves are significant. You'll develop succinct, compelling stories of achievement that can be used elsewhere to help tell your organisation's story, as well as to disseminate inspiring practices in the region. 

In addition to the benefits of promoting your success via own and partner channels, winning the Emerging Europe Awards marks you out as a leader in your field of expertise in the region.

Many of our awardees report having received grants and expanded their client base following their win, as trust in their work was substantially strengthened by the recognition.

You will receive a trophy and a certificate of recognition, as well as a "winner’s pack” which includes your Emerging Europe Awards winner logo, photos, and ideas on how to further communicate and disseminate your success.

The Summit & Awards event, which includes the awarding ceremony, will be livestreamed, recorded and photographed. Winners will have access to these resources to help them celebrate their wins and generate awareness of their achievement.  

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. 

The hashtags to follow and use are:  

#EEAwards - Emerging Europe Awards 

#FutureofEE - Future of Emerging Europe Summit & Awards 

An entry is the completion and submission of an online form which proposes a project, an initiative, an organisation or individual to be awarded in a specific category of the Emerging Europe Awards.  

Through an entry you can: 

1. Apply yourself or on behalf of an organisation; or 

2. Nominate an individual, project, initiative or an organisation (in which you are not directly involved in as partner, employer).   

Individuals, local and national authorities, international organisations, chambers of commerce, non-governmental organisations, local or global businesses, amongst others, are welcome to submit their entries.

A consultant/representative of an agency/company can submit their client’s work.   

We ask your support to widely disseminate the call and we strongly encourage you:    

• To apply, if you consider that you and/or your organisation are/is consistently working towards the economic and social development of the emerging Europe region, in particular in one or more of the Emerging Europe Awards’ categories;  

• To nominate an individual, a project, initiative or organisation for their outstanding efforts and achievements towards the economic and social development of the emerging Europe region, in particular in one or more of the Emerging Europe Awards’ categories. 

Yes, a representative can submit his/her client’s work.

If you are doing it on their behalf, please choose the option “Apply” at the beginning of the form.   

Yes, government agencies, non-profit organisations and foundations are welcome to submit either their projects or others' work and achievements.

Yes, Partners of the Emerging Europe Awards can still submit an entry and apply. Please review the Awards page to apply.  

To submit an entry, please go to the AWARDS page, review the Categories and click on the link “submit an entry”.

Please complete the form and click „Submit” at the end. You will receive a confirmation email if the form has been successfully submitted. 

In case you do not receive an email confirmation, please check your spam box before reaching out to the Emerging Europe Awards team at awards@emergingeurope.org. 

A detailed description of each category can be found in the AWARDS page.

If you are not sure which category your entry fits into, please reach out to the Emerging Europe Awards team at awards@emerging-europe.com.

There is no limit on the number of entries per person/organisation. It is important that you submit the entry in the most appropriate category. In principle, you will be submitting only one entry per category. You might wish to submit other entries under different categories.

In case you have any questions around the most appropriate category to submit your entry (individual, project, initiative or organisation), reach out to the Emerging Europe Awards team at awards@emergingeurope.org.

No. Submitting an entry is free of charge, there are no fees.

Yes, all information must be provided in English.  

Please note that by submitting the entry form, you confirm your consent that the information provided will be used in the framework of the Emerging Europe Awards. In case of being shortlisted, this includes sharing the information provided with the members of the jury and with general public for the voting process.  

No contact details will be shared with anyone outside Emerging Europe. By submitting the entry, you also agree to receive communications from Emerging Europe. For more information about GDPR and terms and conditions click here.

A team of Emerging Europe experts will carefully assess each entry and identify three shortlisted entries per category. 

Assessment is composed of two main phases.

First, eligibility check (for example, it refers to an initiative implemented in 2022, the promoter is from one of the 23 countries of the emerging Europe region, amongst others).

Second, impact assessment of the initiative /personal achievements.

There will be three shortlisted in each category.

The final shortlists will be published on March 31, 2023.

The shortlisted will be subject to a jury and public vote. 

Following the assessment, all organisations and individuals that have submitted entries will be notified by email on March 31, 2023.

Those who were shortlisted will proceed to public and jury voting, and will be announced on the Emerging Europe Awards website on March 31 and in marketing and PR communications.

Emerging Europe will close the full list of shortlisted entries, which will be published on our  Awards page by March 31, 2023.

Voting will take place between March 31 – April 30, 2023.

Potential winners are the ones shortlisted. They will be chosen by the global Emerging Europe community (more than 8,400 votes were cast for the various nominees in 2022) and by the Emerging Europe Awards Jury.

Winners will be identified based on a 50-50 weight of votes (public and jury). 

Winners of some categories, including the Investment Promotion Agency of the Year, the Business-Friendly City, are selected based on Emerging Europe's research, or such as the Professor Günter Verheugen Award and the Princess Marina Sturdza Award, are selected by the Emerging Europe Council, or chosen by the Emerging Europe editorial team, like the Public Figure of the Year.

Due to the specificities of the abovementioned categories, there is no possibility to submit entries nor is there public or jury voting. 

Jury members vote electronically by sending their choices directly to the Auditor.

The top 3 (three) in each category will be announced at the Summit & Awards event in Brussels on June 2023, with the winner invited onto the stage to collect the Award and the second and third placements to collect certificates.

The international Emerging Europe Awards Jury is composed of 25 renowned experts – professionals, industry experts and academics.

Emerging Europe will make the list of jury members public on this website.

Jury members, approximately 25, are identified based on their experience and expertise in fields related to the categories of the Emerging Europe Awards.

A jury member will review the three shortlisted in 16 categories and cast their vote electronically. 

The jury members do not pay any fee associated with their function, nor do they receive any renumeration.  

All jury members are profiled as sector or industry experts with a photo on the Emerging Europe Awards website. Jury members are very welcome to attend the Summit & Awards in Brussels in June 2023.

Regional and global leaders in the sectors or industries of the categories of the Emerging Europe Awards, with a close link to the emerging Europe region, are strongly encouraged to express their interest in becoming a juror.

The Future of Emerging Europe Summit & Awards main programme includes the themed sessions and the awards ceremony — and takes place in Brussels, in a venue in the European Quarter (to be announced shortly).

The main programme is open to the general public – journalists, business and government representatives, public figures, professionals and jury members. 

The exclusive programme and sessions can be attended by those acquiring a ticket (see question below for more details).

The exclusive programme will be announced soon and is organised within the framework of the Future of Emerging Europe Summit & Awards.

Exclusive sessions are a unique opportunity to exchange and network with other renowned experts and key business stakeholders related to the emerging Europe region. 

Participants will either be invited directly or acquire a ticket to attend.

Yes, you are welcome to attend the Summit & Awards main programme and award ceremony, which are open to the general public. 

There are no costs associated with attending the main programme (themed sessions and awards ceremony).

To attend the exclusive programme and activities, you can acquire tickets, which will be made available in April 2023.

Yes, the Future of Emerging Europe Summit & Awards main programme is open to the general public – journalists, business representatives, government and public figures, professionals and jury members.

To register for the event please visit the Summit page in April 2023.

Yes, jury members are welcome to attend the main programme of the Summit & Awards as they it is open to the general public.  

All information about the date, location and timetable can be found on the summit page.

For additional information, you can reach out to the Emerging Europe Awards team at: awards@emergingeurope.org.  

Please complete the online registration form, which will be available on the summit page in April 2023.

Travel and accommodation arrangements are the responsibility of each guest.

No, the organiser does not pay for flights or accommodation for applicants shortlisted for the awards. 

The organiser will share the necessary logistical information to reach the venue. We can also share few suggestions for accommodation in Brussels close to the event. 

Regarding visa support to enter Belgium, if needed and appropriate, the organiser can provide an invitation letter. 

Please note that bookings and administrative arrangements are the entire responsibility of the participants. 

The Future of Emerging Europe has been run since 2018 by Emerging Europe, a London-based growth hub, whose mission is to foster social, economic and democratic development of 23 countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.  

Originally held in London at the headquarters of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London, the Summit and Awards were moved to Brussels following the UK’s departure from the European Union.

The Future of Emerging Europe programme consists of multiple activities designed to keep the region in the spotlight throughout the year: the awards, the Summit and Awards event in Brussels, three reports and editorial content.  

What this means for partners is year-round benefits and results: 

• Establish your thought leadership: Your experts will have multiple platforms to position themselves as leaders of change —and creators of trends— in sustainable growth across emerging Europe. 
• Strengthen your brand: Show a global audience that you are a leading sustainable organisation, which values quality of life and forward-thinking solutions and cares about future generations. 
• Build high-profile connections: the programme engages leading sustainability stakeholders, representing businesses, governments, media, international organisations and more. As a partner, you will tap into a wealth of new contacts through events, invitation-only engagements, and personal introductions. 
   

Everything has been carefully planned to ensure that the programme consistently works to achieve your business, communications and public relations goals.  

The Future of Emerging Europe is supported by strategic marketing and PR activities involving all Emerging Europe's channels and a network of business media partners within and outside the region.   

To find out more about the benefits of becoming a Partner and receive the official status of a Future of Emerging Europe Partner, please contact Emiliano Ramos at emiliano@emerging-europe.com.