We invite doctoral students and young researchers from Lithuanian academic institutions who received the doctoral degree not later than 5 years ago to participate in a pitching competition at Kaunas University of Technology, School of Economics and Business (KTU SEB).
The best-written pitches will be selected and earn the right to advance through the semi-final of the global pitch competition (IGPRC2026). The winners of the global IGPRC2026 competition will share approximately AUD10,000 monetary prize!
Core Task
The core task of this competition is to produce a written 1,000-word novel research pitch using the “pitching research” framework, PRF (see the skeleton PRF tool on the following page). This tool provides a simple, methodical device to communicate … confidently/succinctly … all the essential elements of a new research proposal to an academic expert e.g., to your thesis supervisor. For a detailed explanation of the PRF, see the latest version of the SSRN paper “Pitching Research” [Faff (2024)].
Selected candidates will also be invited to present their pitches.
Eligibility to Participate
The competition is open to PhD students and young researchers from Lithuanian academic institutions who received the doctoral degree not later than 5 years ago, from any discipline.
Competition Prizes and Awards
The winners from Lithuania of the best-written pitches will go to the global semi-final.
* Semi-final and final will take place remotely and will be organized by prof. Robert Faff (University of Queensland, Australia).
The first-place winner of the IGPRC2026 Lithuania selection will receive a prize valued at EUR 300, the second-place winner will receive a prize valued at EUR 200, and the third-place winner will receive a prize valued at EUR 100.
The following potential prizes await the ultimate winners of the global IGPRC2026:
The first-place winner of the global IGPRC2026 will receive a cash prize of AUD 3,000, the second-place winner will receive AUD 2,000, and the remaining grand finalists will share up to AUD 5,000 among them. In addition, all participants who reach the semi-final or grand final rounds will receive an official certificate recognizing their achievement.
Important Dates & Timeline
- Until 31 October 2026: registration to the IGPRC2026 Lithuania at KTU SEB pitch competition. Registration link: https://forms.gle/pCKmQkWQcVa9tUAT8
- 10 November 2026: participation approval in the IGPRC2026 Lithuania pitch competition at KTU SEB.
- 13 November 2026: pitching seminar given by prof. Robert Faff to pitch competition participants. 09:30–11:00 online, Lithuania time.
- 19 November 2026: Generative AI training given by prof. Robert Faff for participants. In-person at KTU SEB, time 13:00–16:00*
*Address and auditorium at KTU will be provided closer to the event
- 20 November 2026: IGPRC2026 Lithuania pitching competition* at KTU SEB and announcement of winners who will participate in the semi-final of the global IGPRC2026, time 10:00–13:00**
*Selected participants will be invited to present their pitches.
** Address and auditorium at KTU will be provided closer to the event.
❗Read more in this attachment ❗
Contact person and any further enquiries
Assoc. Prof. Neringa Gerulaitienė (neringa.gerulaitiene@ktu.lt)
