Hrvatski Telekom dd : HT invites the donation contest named "Generation Next" for IoT digital innovations and science projects worth HRK 700,000

16.5.2018

• Applications for the donation contest in the categories of digital innovations with IoT and science research projects in the field of new tech concepts can be submitted by 16 June
• The donated projects will be selected by the Committee of Experts, comprising of representatives of the most relevant academic institutions, competent state authorities, and distinguished private sector representatives
• During 14 years of donation programme, 300 projects worth 10 million have been awarded

For the 14^th consecutive year, Hrvatski Telekom has been inviting the donation contest. The applications can be submitted from 16 May to 16 June. The contest has a new name, 'Generation Next', and a new visual identity, and it is intended to donate HRK 700,000 to be invested into knowledge and skills of generations whose time is about to come.

Education institutions, non-profit organisations, and joint applicants or partner projects are eligible to apply for the contest in two categories.

In the first category 'Digital Innovations with the Internet of Things' we are looking for concrete IoT solutions that will affect the local community - projects opening a new perspective in education, healthcare, transport, and in the field of wider corporate social responsibility. The anticipated number of accepted projects is 50, with the donation worth HRK 400,000. The selected applicants will receive a donation worth HRK 8,000, which is intended to provide for the overall equipment required for project implementation. In order to achieve the greatest success possible during the phase of project implementation, the selected applicants will be guided throughout the project of the contest. We will invest additional financial resources into their training on equipment and the training required for the performance and implementation of their solutions.

The second category includes science research projects, and the value of investment into this category will reach HRK 300,000. Projects concerning new technological concepts intended to promote, facilitate, or enable faster application of 5G technologies, as well as Nb-IoT, artificial intelligence, and virtual or augmented reality will be eligible.

'This year's donation contest Generation Next is more closely connected with our business operations and technological trends relevant for the future development of our society. Two categories - innovations with IoT and technological concepts, intended to facilitate the implementation of new solutions - represent strategic fields of growth over the forthcoming years. These are fields that will provide the foundations for all the services of the future, and hence it is extremely important to give children and youth the opportunity to focus and be creative primarily in them', pointed out Davor Tomašković, President of the Management Board of Hrvatski Telekom, who acted as the host at the today's preliminary meeting of the Committee, which will be in charge of the decision-making concerning the selected projects.

The members of the Committee of Experts and Management of HT

The members of the Committee of Experts are distinguished representatives of academic, political, and social community, as well as of prominent entrepreneurs: Tome Antičić, State Secretary at the Ministry of Science and Education, Bernard Gršić, State Secretary at the Central State Office for the Development of the Digital Society, Maruška Vizek, Director of the Institute of Economics, Zagreb, Goran Kezunović, CEO of CARNET, Mislav Grgić, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, Zvonimir Guzović, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, Neven Vrček, Dean of the Faculty of Organisation and Computer Science, Ivica Puljak from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, Luka Arbus, CEO of the company Pet minuta, Damir Sabol, founder of Photomath, Marko Matijević, founder of the portals srednja.hr and mirovina.hr, Paolo Zenzerović from the Institute for Youth Development and Innovation, Saša Kramar, Member of the Management Board of HT and Chief Operating Officer Business, Ana Pauzar, Head of Online Business Operations in HT, and Nina Išek Međugorac, Director of the Corporate Communications Department in HT.

Applications for the contest can be submitted electronically at the following website www.generacijanext.hr, whereas the submitted projects that meet the criteria will undergo the selection process performed by the Expert Committee by 5July. The names of donation recipients will be published on 9 July on the contest website.

Since the donation contest project launch in 2004 and investing almost HRK 10 million, Hrvatski Telekom has supported the implementation of around 300 projects which have positively affected different social segments.