FAQ
Learn more about the SAP Innovation Awards 2022 program
- Customer POCs – Must be using at least one of the following advanced technologies:
- Machine learning or artificial intelligence (Conversational AI, AI-based knowledge graph, AI Business Services, Robotic process automation)
- Blockchain
- Internet of Things
- Intelligent data management (Multi-cloud and/or hybrid deployment, data virtualization & governance, privacy compliance, cloud data lake service)
- Advanced cloud integration (New business models using APIs, Connecting business partner(s) with APIs, Integration Advisor, Digital integration hub architecture, Event Mesh)
- Advanced and augmented analytics (Real-time and streaming analytics, spatial analytics, natural language processing, machine learning to identify trends, patterns, and outliers, predictive analytics and planning)
- Combined transactions and analytics on single data set (Reduce data latency and footprint from dedicated data marts, data warehouses and data lakes, > 1TB)
6. New requirements for SAP Partner submissions:
- Submit a developed next-gen application deployed by one or more customers using at least one of the advanced technologies from SAP BTP:
- Machine learning or artificial intelligence (Conversational AI, AI-based knowledge graph, AI Business Services, Robotic process automation)
- Blockchain
- Internet of Things
- Intelligent data management (Multi-cloud and/or hybrid deployment, data virtualization & governance, privacy compliance, cloud data lake service)
- Advanced cloud integration (New business models using APIs, Connecting business partner(s) with APIs, Integration Advisor, Digital integration hub architecture, Event Mesh)
- Advanced and augmented analytics (Real-time and streaming analytics, spatial analytics, natural language processing, machine learning to identify trends, patterns, and outliers, predictive analytics and planning)
- Combined transactions and analytics on single data set (Reduce data latency and footprint from dedicated data marts, data warehouses and data lakes, > 1TB)
1. For all categories: SAP Customers with live deployment of SAP solutions
Note: SAP Partners that are using an SAP solution within their own organization and are submitting those stories are considered SAP Customers for the purpose of the Awards, and should identify themselves as such in the Entry Form when selecting their relationship with SAP.
2. For Cutting-Edge Genius category: SAP customers with POC (Proof of Concept) if they are using at least one advanced technology from SAP BTP solutions
- Machine learning or artificial intelligence (Conversational AI, AI-based knowledge graph, AI Business Services, Robotic process automation)
- Blockchain
- Internet of Things
- Intelligent data management (Multi-cloud and/or hybrid deployment, data virtualization & governance, privacy compliance, cloud data lake service)
- Advanced cloud integration (New business models using APIs, Connecting business partner(s) with APIs, Integration Advisor, Digital integration hub architecture, Event Mesh)
- Advanced and augmented analytics (Real-time and streaming analytics, spatial analytics, natural language processing, machine learning to identify trends, patterns, and outliers, predictive analytics and planning)
- Combined transactions and analytics on single data set (Reduce data latency and footprint from dedicated data marts, data warehouses and data lakes, > 1TB)
3. For Partner Paragon category: SAP Partners that developed a next-gen app deployed by one of more customers using at least one advanced technology from SAP BTP solutions
- Machine learning or artificial intelligence (Conversational AI, AI-based knowledge graph, AI Business Services, Robotic process automation)
- Blockchain
- Internet of Things
- Intelligent data management (Multi-cloud and/or hybrid deployment, data virtualization & governance, privacy compliance, cloud data lake service)
- Advanced cloud integration (New business models using APIs, Connecting business partner(s) with APIs, Integration Advisor, Digital integration hub architecture, Event Mesh)
- Advanced and augmented analytics (Real-time and streaming analytics, spatial analytics, natural language processing, machine learning to identify trends, patterns, and outliers, predictive analytics and planning)
- Combined transactions and analytics on single data set (Reduce data latency and footprint from dedicated data marts, data warehouses and data lakes, > 1TB)
All countries are eligible to participate in the Innovation Awards. However, not all countries are eligible for monetary prizes. Companies with deployments in non-eligible countries may participate in the awards and stand a chance to be selected as winners and receive a trophy. However, they are not eligible to win any of the monetary prizes.
Each year the Innovation Awards team works with legal counsel to expand the list of eligible countries, i.e., verify local laws governing contests. The following five countries: Kenya, Greenland, Botswana, Ecuador, and Morocco have been added as eligible countries this year.
The following list of countries are eligible for the monetary prizes in the 2022 SAP Innovation Awards:
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada (excluding Quebec), Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estwatini, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Kazakhstan, Russian Federation, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and Venezuela.
Note: The application that is the subject of the entry must be deployed in an Eligible Country or has been developed and intended to be sold, and used by customers in an Eligible Country to be eligible for the monetary prizes.
Yes, a single submission can win multiple awards and would receive multiple trophies. However, a winning entry is entitled to a maximum of one (1) SAPPHIRE NOW pass OR a $1,000 SAP4Good donation voucher per winner (in the event of SAPPHRE NOW not occurring).
Additionally, compelling submissions that do not get selected as winners will be formally acknowledged by the program as Honorable Mentions when winners are announced.
The 2022 judging criteria are:
- Use Case Creativity: How compelling and disruptive is the use case described in the entry? Does the use case involve a big idea and innovative approaches? Can it drive significant change?
- Tangible Outcomes: What was the result of the project? What is the magnitude of the outcome? What is the impact on individuals? How compelling are the quantified results? Is the submission outcome value-based, illustrating how the customer was able to solve a business problem within the context of their own industry?
- Intelligent Enterprise: How well does the entry demonstrate the company’s journey to becoming an Intelligent Enterprise? Is the company effectively applying advanced technologies and best practices within agile, integrated digitized business processes that help make them resilient, profitable, and sustaiable?
- On behalf of your Customer: By showcasing how your customer is using SAP products to innovate and describing your role and contribution as the partner in the project. In this case, the customer is the actual participant of the awards and will win the prizes if the entry is selected, but the partner will be recognized as well.
- As a Customer: When your organization is using SAP solutions internally for its own benefit.
2. For Partner Paragon category only:
- As a Partner App Developer: When your organization has developed a next-gen application using at least one of the advanced technologies from SAP BTP solutions:
- Machine learning or artificial intelligence (Conversational AI, AI-based knowledge graph, AI Business Services, Robotic process automation)
- Blockchain
- Internet of Things
- Intelligent data management (Multi-cloud and/or hybrid deployment, data virtualization & governance, privacy compliance, cloud data lake service)
- Advanced cloud integration (New business models using APIs, Connecting business partner(s) with APIs, Integration Advisor, Digital integration hub architecture, Event Mesh)
- Advanced and augmented analytics (Real-time and streaming analytics, spatial analytics, natural language processing, machine learning to identify trends, patterns, and outliers, predictive analytics and planning)
- Combined transactions and analytics on single data set (Reduce data latency and footprint from dedicated data marts, data warehouses and data lakes, > 1TB)
Yes, 3rd parties, i.e., SAP partners and SAP employees, can submit on behalf of an SAP Customer. In the entry form, you must:
- Enter the customer’s contact details as participant (competing for the awards and eligible for prizes)
- Confirm in the entry form that the customer has agreed and provided consent to participate
Note: The SAP Innovation Awards team will send the participant (customer) an email if the entry is published/selected as a finalist or winner and you, as submitter, will be copied.
- Use the online tool to check your submission eligibility before you start developing your Pitch Deck.
- Maximize your chance of winning by submitting a compelling and well-structured story using the pitch deck template. Once posted, you can continually refine your Pitch Deck until the end of the submission period.
- Use the pitch deck guidance document to help you structure your pitch deck.
3. Create your SAP.com Account (required)
- If you do not have an account created on sap.com, you will need to create one before accessing the online entry form (see next step).
- Along with the Pitch Deck, you must also complete the online Entry Form with information about you (participant) and your company. It also includes promotional opportunities that you might like to participate in.
- Remember to upload the pitch deck in PPT format, the company logo, an optional participant photo, and the participating SAP partner logo (if applicable).
- Go to the submission platform to access the online entry form here
- In the “Title” field, type the beginning of your saved entry’s title and tab/move to the next field. A link to your existing draft entry/entries will appear; click on your draft entry that you would like to edit
- Click on “Edit” and select “Edit Idea.” Your entry will become editable and you can make any adjustments or complete the missing information to submit
Note: Once you click on “Submit,” you will no longer be able to edit your entry and any changes will need to be made by the SAP Innovation Awards team through the e-mail sapinnovationawards@sap.com
While the winning entries can be in any language, the submissions – i.e., Entry Form and Pitch Deck – must be in English.
- Gain global recognition as an innovation leader and claim sole bragging rights
- Win a trophy and prizes (see question "What are the prizes available to winners of the award?" for details), a virtual badge, and other assets for promotion and social media
- Get support from SAP to create and promote your innovation story
2. Share your expertise in exclusive promotional opportunities
- Engage with SAP executives at a dedicated exclusive celebration event
- Get your brand amplified via Innovation Awards promotional materials
- Participate in SAP activities such as webinars, podcasts, interviews, videos, blogs, social media, and more!
3. Extend your network and do good
- Connect with your peers and other prominent business leaders
- Support social causes through charitable contributions of $100 per submission (up to a total of $20,000) on behalf of customers to different organizations worldwide
- Improve people’s lives by supporting a good cause with the awarded $1,000 SAP4Good donation voucher per winner (in the event of SAPPHRE NOW not occurring). Public sector companies and related public sector companies and entries from non-eligible countries are not eligible for the donation
There are many benefits of participating in the award program for SAP partners:
1. Promote your company’s innovation story
- Gain global recognition as an innovation leader
- Build credibility with their customers, prospects, and industry peers
- Win big prizes
2. Promote your customer’s innovation story
- Showcase your customer successes, amplify their story to a broad audience positioning them as leaders and innovators
- Promote your role as a trusted partner helping customers to innovate
- Take advantage of the many opportunities to tell your customers’ stories through the SAP Innovation Awards (online/social media, SAPPHIRE NOW Reimagined activities, press and analyst opportunities, webinars, and podcasts)
3. Promote your innovative next-gen application to enter a market or capture an opportunity
- Promote your innovative solution to SAP employees and SAP customers
- Gain bragging rights over peers with validation of innovation leadership from SAP
- Get exposure and opportunities to interact with SAP executives virtually
- Government and Government-related entities employees may participate and are not eligible for the prize identified above, but may receive recognition for their achievements in the form of a trophy.
- Participants from non-eligible countries and/or deployments in non-eligible countries may participate and are not eligible for the prize identified above, but may receive recognition for their achievements in the form of a trophy.
All previous award winners are publicly available on the awards website – "Past Winners" and "2021 Entries" links submissions from 2021 and previous years. Submissions for the 2022 Awards will be posted on the website as soon as they are verified.