CEE PERSPECTIVE STUDENT CHALLENGE 2026

Regulation as a Competitive Advantage: Who Wins the Race to Adapt in the CEE Region?

The CEE region is navigating a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, presenting both challenges and opportunities. This year's theme encourages an in-depth examination of how financial institutions and corporations can not only achieve compliance but also strategically leverage new regulations to enhance their competitive standing. We invite participants to explore how agility and foresight in adapting to key European regulations can transform what might seem like compliance burdens into significant strategic advantages, ultimately identifying the innovators who lead this transformative race.

The CEE Perspective Student Challenge is an annual initiative dedicated to nurturing rigorous academic and strategic analysis among students across Europe. Its primary objective is to engage participants with the complexities of European financial regulation and the dynamic market transformation occurring within Central and Eastern Europe.

Participants are invited to delve into current regulatory frameworks, analyze their profound impact on corporate strategy and market dynamics, and present innovative insights. This challenge offers a unique platform to develop and showcase advanced analytical skills, strategic foresight, and compelling presentation abilities, contributing valuable perspectives to the ongoing dialogue about the region's financial future.

Select one CEE market and examine how DORA, CSRD or SFDR influences corporate behaviour and market dynamics. The core objective is not to summarise legislation, but to analyse how regulatory requirements translate into strategic decision-making, competitive positioning, product development, investment choices or transparency practices.

Key Questions to Explore

• How do regulatory obligations reshape companies' approach to risk, innovation or value creation?

• Which types of firms or sectors adjust most rapidly, and why?

• Are regulatory changes altering the competitive balance between domestic and international actors?

• Do these developments enable new financial or technological opportunities, or introduce disproportionate burdens?

• How do regulatory incentives influence long-term sustainability, digitalisation or market trust?

Analytical Approaches

Qualitative, quantitative or mixed-methods approaches are welcome, including case studies, comparative analysis and original datasets.

Choose one of the formats

Research Paper

6,000–8,500 words

• Introduction and contextual profile of the selected market

• Analytical focus on DORA, CSRD or SFDR

• Methodological description

• Evidence-based analysis of market and corporate responses

• Findings, limitations and implications

Strategic Project Proposal

Slide deck (maximum 25 pages) + executive memo (1–2 pages)

• Clear articulation of market problem or opportunity

• Link to relevant regulatory framework

• Proposed strategic response for a defined business segment

• Expected effects on competitiveness, transparency or innovation

• Implementation pathway and possible risks

Who Can Apply

• Open to Bachelor, Master and PhD students

• Enrolled at a recognised university in any CEE country at time of submission

• All academic backgrounds eligible

• Demonstrated interest in financial regulation, EU integration, economics, digitalisation, sustainability or business strategy is advantageous

How We'll Evaluate Your Work

• Analytical depth and conceptual clarity

• Coherence and structure of argumentation

• Accuracy and credibility of evidence

• Relevance to the selected CEE market context

• Contribution to understanding regulation as a driver of competitiveness, transparency or innovation

Deadline: 28 February 2026

Required materials:

• The complete submission (research paper or strategic project proposal) in PDF format

• A one-page abstract outlining the purpose, scope and key findings

• A signed declaration of authorship, confirming original and individual work