Are You the Next Idea Master? Turn Challenges into Solutions

As part of the social innovation activities under the Swiss–Estonian Cooperation Programme “Enhancing Social Inclusion,” a new programme has been launched to identify and develop solutions to integration and inclusion challenges in Estonia.

At the heart of the programme is the Idea Masters programme, implemented by the Visionest Institute. This initiative offers an opportunity for anyone who notices a challenge in society and wants to help solve it. Whether it is limited access to community life, low inclusion of different target groups, or barriers to integration, Idea Masters invites people not only to recognise these issues but also to address them.

Importantly, you do not need to come with a fully developed project, team, or solution. A single observation, question, or early-stage idea is enough. If you have a concept that brings people together or helps strengthen communities, this is the right place to develop it. And if you do not yet have an idea, you can join others and contribute with your skills and experience.

Participation is possible in Estonian, English, Russian, and Ukrainian. Diverse teams bringing together different cultural backgrounds are especially encouraged.

How does an idea become a solution?

The journey begins with an idea—even if it is still unfinished. You can write it down, and if needed, artificial intelligence tools can help you refine and develop it further. You can then form a team or join an existing one. Programme organisers will also help match participants with suitable teammates.

Each idea receives expert feedback, helping participants understand its strengths, identify areas for improvement, and define the next steps.

Participants then come together on Idea Day, a hackathon-style event where ideas are developed into clearer solution concepts. Together with mentors and experts, participants define the problem, target group, and impact, and create an initial action plan.

The most promising ideas will move forward into a five-month development programme featuring workshops, mentoring sessions, and hands-on work. Participants will receive support in finding partners, testing solutions, and taking the first steps toward implementation.

The Idea Masters programme is part of the Swiss–Estonian Cooperation Programme “Enhancing Social Inclusion,” aimed at strengthening civil society through social innovation. The activities are co-financed by Switzerland to reduce economic and social disparities within the European Union. The programme is implemented by the Visionest Institute.