About WSA

WSA (World Summit Awards) is a unique awards system, selecting and promoting local digital innovation to improve society. Combining an ongoing series of international events and activities with a global network of start-ups, social entrepreneurs, mentors, jurors, speakers, experts, government leaders, academia and civil society, WSA is an international platform for cutting edge examples of how ICTs can impact society in a positive way.

With 20 years of international experience, WSA is a quality seal for digital content with societal impact in 182 participating countries.

What is WSA?

The Mission

Global network

WSA leverages its global network of start-ups, mentors, entrepreneurs, jurors, governmental representatives, ICT experts & international organisations to ensure a global multi-stakeholder transfer.

Innovation

WSA stands for the worldwide selection & promotion of digital innovation with a positive impact on society & the encouragement of young entrepreneurship.

UN context

WSA keeps a close strategic association with the United Nations agendas. By reporting back national digital developments to the UN WSIS process it is supporting the UN Post-2025 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Regional & global events

With 15+ local, regional & global events, workshops and meetings every year, the WSA offer face to face platforms for a multi-level knowledge exchange.

182 countries

WSA works with a daily growing network of thought leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, government and business representatives and young founders.

45 winners

WSA showcases a prime selection of 40 Winners per year through a democratic, inclusive and highly competitive award system.

+ 5 WSA Young Innovators
Winners

Facts & numbers

 
  • The WSA are a highly diverse and democratic award system, that selects and promotes the world’s best digital innovation with impact on society.
 
  • WSA has been initiated in 2003 in the framework of the UN World Summit on the Information Society (UN WSIS). It contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals Agenda by recognizing local digital content with an impact on society, demonstrating the richness and diversity of innovative applications.
 
  • To date, 182 Countries are actively involved, making the World Summit Awards are a global hub for everyone who values the crucial importance of local content to make today’s information society more inclusive.
 
  • Be it an app to help the blind using smartphones, or a website reanimating history – the WSA offer a platform for those who think beyond the box.
 

Objectives

Selection and promotion of cutting edge digital innovation with local relevance, content depth and user value from all UN member states

Contribute to the Agenda of UN WSIS and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by showcasing creative use of digital innovation

Fostering knowledge exchange, offering platforms of inspiration and enhancing a worldwide multi-stakeholder network

Global visibility of WSA activities through national experts network, media partners and strategic cooperation

WSA is organized by

WSA is conducted by ICNM, an Austrian not-for-profit organisation based in Salzburg and Vienna, Austria.

ICNM organizes national, regional and global competitions to demonstrate the richness and diversity of digital media with societal impact. ICNM was founded by Prof. Peter A. Bruck in 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Video message by WSA Chairman Peter A. Bruck