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The Google.org Impact Challenge Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is an open call for applications to provide €2m in funding to support initiatives that put digital inclusion at the heart of economic recovery. We want to empower nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations and academic institutions with charitable initiatives that use technology and innovation to help individuals and communities gain new skills for the future. Let’s build a digital economy for everyone.
Meet the organizations
We are delighted to announce the selected projects from the Google.org Impact Challenge Central and Eastern Europe. Each of these organizations receives funding between €50,000 and €250,000 and support from Google.
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Bulgaria
Listen Up Foundation
Uniting and empowering the diverse Deaf community.
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Bulgaria
Tuk-Tam
Connecting disadvantaged students to educational and career opportunities through a global network of Bulgarians living abroad.
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Croatia
Green Energy Cooperative
Encouraging local citizens, especially women, to actively participate in renewable energy projects.
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Czechia
StartupBox
Providing support for startup founders in regional areas in Czechia to get their companies up and running.
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Estonia
Startup Wise Guys Foundation
Helping CEE get back on its feet with digital opportunities for startups.
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Hungary
Maker’s Red Box
Bringing digital learning methodologies to disadvantaged children.
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Latvia
Riga Tech Girls
Promoting digital skills among female artists, healthcare professionals and teachers.
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Lithuania
Association Lithuanian Gay League
Combating homophobia and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
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Poland
Fundacja Studio M6
Helping underprivileged groups access employment and financial assistance.
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Romania
Digital Nation
Accelerating digital transformation in regions with limited access to education and economic opportunities.
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Slovakia
Touch & Speech
Improving the quality of life of visually impaired people.
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Slovenia
AmCham Slovenia
Providing a support platform for teachers.
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Slovenia
UP FTS Turistica
Digitising tourism in rural communities to create new income opportunities.
About the challenge
At Google, we believe that innovation and inclusion go hand-in-hand. Digital is key to the economic recovery across Central and Eastern Europe and it needs to involve and benefit everyone.
To help ensure an inclusive digital future, we’re calling on organizations across 11 countries to develop innovative and inclusive solutions that will support individuals and communities in need through economic recovery.
The participating countries are: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. The boldest and brightest ideas will be selected by a regional panel of experts and will be provided a total of €2 million in funding and support from Google.
Google’s commitment to economic recovery and reducing inequality
At Google, we want to help ensure that the opportunities created by technology are available to everyone. Digitization has proven to play a key role in enabling social and economic activity. More than ever there is a need to focus on inclusive solutions and digital upskilling. Since 2015, we've helped millions of people find a job, grow their career or business. Now, we are here to help accelerate economic recovery through our technology, tools and training so that local businesses, communities and people can grow stronger, faster and become more resilient.
More about Google programmes:
Meet the experts
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Hrvoje Josip Balen
Co-founder and President of the Managing Board at Algebra University
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Rowan Barnett
Head of Google.org
EMEA & APAC -
Paula Bruszewska
Co-founder & CEO,
Zwolnieni z Teorii Foundation -
Nikoleta Gabrovska
Executive Director,
Single Step Foundation,
Bulgaria -
Marko Grobelnik
Digital Champion of Slovenia
& Co-head of AI Lab at
Jozef Stefan Institute -
Nicolas Hazard
INCO.org's
Chairman and Founder -
Agnieszka Hryniewicz-Bieniek
Global Director,
Google for Startups -
Ieva Ilves
Cybersecurity and Digital Policy Expert, Adviser to the President of Latvia for Information and Digital Policy
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Anna Korzeniewska
Founder of Social Impact Alliance for Central & Eastern Europe
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Liliya Makaveeva
Director of
INTEGRO Association, Bulgaria
Board member of
ERGO Network -
Tibor Navracsics
Former European Commissioner for Youth and Education, High Commissioner for the Economic Development of Northwest Hungary
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Victor Negrescu
Member of the European Parliament
Vice-chair of the Culture and Education Committee -
Jaromir Novak
Partner for governmental affairs in CZNIC and former Chairman of Czech Telecommunication Office
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Justyna Orłowska
Prime Minister’s High Representative for Government Technology, Poland
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Gergana Passy
President at the Digital National Alliance, Bulgaria
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Iveta Radičová
Former Prime Minister
of Slovakia -
Gaja Šavelė
Executive director of the
National Coalition of
Non-Governmental Organizations