Icnm - Internationales Centrum Fur Neue Medien

What Icnm - Internationales Centrum Fur Neue Medien does

ICNM - Internationales Centrum Für Neue Medien is an Austrian non-profit association (Verein) founded in 2002 and headquartered in Salzburg, with a secondary office in Vienna. The organization runs international award programs, training, and projects that identify, recognize, and promote digital content and solutions with positive social impact, anchored to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Its flagship program, the World Summit Awards (WSA), originated in 2003 as Austria's contribution to the UN World Summit on the Information Society and today spans 187+ UN member countries, all 27 EU member states (via WSA Europe), and a community of over 20,000 members.

The core technology asset is the in-house ICNM Contest Software, a proprietary award management platform offering multilingual questionnaires, file upload, automated email processing, integrated jury voting with multiple rounds, comment/chat functions for online juries, and white-label branding for partners. The platform has been licensed to recurring partners including Zero Project/Essl Foundation, ReSPA, and ESCWA for their own award programs. ICNM also operates the European Young Innovators Festival, WSA Global Congress, WSA Academy workshops and mentoring, and the WSA Young Innovators track for entrepreneurs under 26.

ICNM's business model is grant- and partnership-funded. Revenue comes primarily from EU programmes (notably the €5 million CERV award for ProUnionValuesAT running December 2024 through 2027, of which 90% is EU-funded), recurring award-partner fees (Umdasch Group, Zero Project/Essl Foundation, ReSPA, ESCWA), and consulting services for international award design and event execution. Customer-facing programs distribute capacity-building grants of €5,000–€50,000 to Austrian civil society organizations through the CERV-funded consortium. The organization employs 1–10 people and is led by founder Prof. Dr. Peter A. Bruck.

Name

Icnm - Internationales Centrum Fur Neue Medien

Legal name

ICNM – Internationales Centrum für Neue Medien

Website

https://icnm.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ICNM is an Austrian non-profit founded in 2002 that runs international awards, training, and EU-funded projects to identify and promote digital solutions with positive social impact across 187+ countries, serving entrepreneurs, civil society organizations, and public agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Salzburg

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. EU CERV Programme Funding: ProUnionValuesAT consortium received €5 million from the CERV programme (Citizen Engagement, Equality, Rights and Values), with 90% EU funding and 10% from consortium partners. The project runs for 42 months starting December 2024, with three annual cycles of capacity building and financing for civil society organizations.
2. Award Services and Consulting: ICNM provides consulting and services in international event organization, award design, contest software setup, jury organization, and award ceremony implementation. ICNM has been successfully designing, organizing and holding awards for over 20 years for worldwide partner organizations.
3. Partnership Programs: ICNM conducts programs in partnership with organizations such as Umdasch Group (Josef Umdasch Research Prize since 2017), ReSPA (PA Awards for Western Balkans), Zero Project (Essl Foundation), and ESCWA (Digital Arabic Content Award).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ICNM is a non-profit association that runs international award programs, knowledge transfer initiatives, and EU-funded projects to identify, evaluate, and promote digital content with positive social impact. Its core offerings include the World Summit Awards (WSA) ecosystem, the proprietary ICNM Contest Software for award management, and the EU-funded ProUnionValuesAT project providing grants and capacity building to civil society organizations in Austria.

Product overview

ICNM operates as a non-profit organization running multiple interconnected award programs and platforms focused on digital innovation with positive social impact. The core offering consists of the ICNM Contest Software (proprietary award management platform) and the World Summit Awards (WSA) ecosystem, which includes WSA Europe (EU-focused), WSA Young Innovators (youth track), ProUnionValuesAT (EU-funded democracy project), the European Young Innovators Festival, WSA Global Congress, and WSA Academy. These programs work together to identify, evaluate, showcase, and support digital solutions that promote democracy, social inclusion, and UN Sustainable Development Goals across over 182 countries. ICNM also completed prior programs including the European Youth Award, WSA Mobile, Europrix Top Talent Awards, and African Content Award.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ICNM Contest Software In-house developed contest software enabling efficient, transparent, and secure execution of award programs. Features include adaptable design, customizable multilingual questionnaires, file uploads, automated email processing, integrated voting tools, and jury communication functions. Available to partner organizations for their own award programs.
• World Summit Awards (WSA) International nomination-based award system recognizing purpose-driven digital content with positive social impact, operating in over 182 UN member countries. Designed for digital innovators and social entrepreneurs aligned with UN SDGs.
• WSA Europe European Digital Impact Community operating across all 27 EU member states, evaluating and promoting best practice in digital applications that create positive societal impact and strengthen Union values. Designed for EU-based SMEs, social entrepreneurs, and policy makers.
• WSA Young Innovators Special recognition award for individuals under 26 years of age who use ICTs to take action on UN Sustainable Development Goals, providing youth with less competitive access to the WSA ecosystem.
• ProUnionValuesAT / ProEuropeanValuesAT EU-funded project (EUR 5 million from CERV program) coordinating a consortium to strengthen digital democracy and EU values in Austria, providing capacity building and grants of EUR 5,000 to EUR 50,000 for civil society organizations.
• European Young Innovators Festival (EYIF) Annual festival bringing together young European digital entrepreneurs selected through national contests across EU member states, featuring jury processes, networking, and knowledge exchange.
• WSA Global Congress Annual international event connecting the WSA network of start-ups, social entrepreneurs, and experts, featuring workshops, side-events, and international speakers for knowledge transfer.
• WSA Academy Platform offering workshops and mentoring programs for entrepreneurs and the wider public, providing regular knowledge exchange and skill enhancement opportunities.
• International Award Design & Consulting Services Consulting and services in international event organization, award design, contest software setup, jury organization, and award ceremony implementation for worldwide partner organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Network of over 20,000 members across 187+ UN member countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• UN / UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICNM founded WSA as Austrian Member State initiative for UN World Summit on Information Society in 2003. Cooperation with UNESCO Beijing Office and WSIS (World Summit on Information Society). Alignment with UN SDGs.
• GIZ (German Development Agency)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for international development initiatives including Women in Tech collaboration and MAKE-IT Africa initiative for digital innovation in Africa.
• Umdasch GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2017, partnership for Josef Umdasch Research Prize to find innovative solutions for global companies. Umdasch Group supports outstanding achievements in research and development since 1990.
• Zero Project (Essl Foundation)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2017, Zero Project leverages ICNM Contest Software for annual awards. Goal is creating 'a world without barriers' - initiative run in partnership with World Future Council and European Foundation Centre.
• ReSPA (Regional School of Public Administration)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2020 for Public Administration Awards in Western Balkans. Cooperation in award execution and methodology for recognizing inspiring government practices.
• ESCWA (UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Digital Arabic Content Award recognizing efforts to develop digital Arabic content for sustainable development in Arab region, launched in 2021.
• Digital Austria (BMDW)majorOthersCooperation with Austrian Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs for digital development initiatives.
• Erste GroupminorOthersCorporate partnership for social entrepreneurship and digital development initiatives in Austria.
• Green Tech Cluster AustriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership for highlighting green tech innovation across Europe and environmentally friendly event design.
• EIT Climate KICminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for climate innovation activities and green economy initiatives across ICNM events.
• City of GrazminorOthersCooperation with City of Graz for digital development and hosting of events including European Young Innovators Festival.
• Female FoundersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership promoting female entrepreneurship and leadership in tech industry through mentoring and education programs.
• The Female FactorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for gender mainstreaming and promoting female leadership in digital innovation.
• FH JoanneumminorOthersUniversity partnership for research and education in digital media and innovation.
• Campus02 University of Applied SciencesminorOthersUniversity partnership for student projects and digital entrepreneurship education.
• Social Impact AwardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting social entrepreneurs and impact-driven ventures.
• Austrian StartupsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting Austrian startup ecosystem and digital innovation.
• Digital Empowerment Foundation (India)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for digital inclusion and social impact in India through community-led connectivity solutions.
• Kreativwirtschaft Austria (KAT)minorOthersICNM is a member of Kreativwirtschaft Austria for creative economy development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• NetHope: International consortium of ~60 global NGOs collaborating on digital innovation for humanitarian and development work. Shares ICNM's coalition-building, multi-stakeholder engagement, and digital-for-good orientation, with stronger operational technology focus.

Broad incumbents

• Mozilla Foundation: Major US-based non-profit advocating for a healthy internet through fellowships, grants, and advocacy. Overlaps with ICNM on digital citizenship, web equity, and civil society capacity building, but operates at significantly larger scale with broader programme portfolio.
• World Economic Forum: Geneva-based international organization for public-private cooperation, running annual forums, awards, and multistakeholder initiatives. Overlaps with ICNM on global convening power, multistakeholder partnerships, and digital transformation themes but at vastly larger scale.
• Web Foundation: International non-profit founded by Tim Berners-Lee focused on web access, digital rights, and internet governance policy. Shares ICNM's digital-for-development orientation and UN/UNESCO alignment, but operates as a policy and advocacy organization rather than an awards platform.
• European Innovation Council: EU body funding and supporting high-potential startups and scaleups across Europe with grants and equity. Comparable EU-institutional alignment and innovation focus as ICNM's EU-funded programmes, but at materially larger scale and with different operating logic (funding vs. recognition).
• Ashoka: Global organization supporting the world's largest network of leading social entrepreneurs (Ashoka Fellows) across 90+ countries. Comparable community-driven model for social change but at significantly greater scale and with deeper fellowship funding support.

Direct peers

• Impact Hub: Global network of impact-focused incubators and innovation spaces supporting social entrepreneurs across 100+ locations. Comparable in mission (social innovation, community building) and member-driven operating model, though commercial in nature.
• NetExplo: Paris-based global observatory that identifies, curates, and showcases innovative digital initiatives worldwide through an annual forum and university partnerships. Closely mirrors ICNM's WSA model of selecting and promoting purpose-driven digital solutions with global reach.
• Zero Project: Vienna-based Essl Foundation initiative that runs an annual award for disability innovation and uses ICNM's Contest Software since 2017. Shares ICNM's award-driven, network-based model focused on social impact and operates in overlapping geographic and policy circles.

Emerging players

• Nesta: UK-based innovation foundation running challenge prizes, research, and experiments on social and economic issues. Overlaps with ICNM's knowledge transfer and innovation identification activities, with comparable focus on impact measurement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/icnm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

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