Think Tank Award

young ideas for retail

Il contest universitario per rivoluzionare il retail

Who will earn the RFactor? The new edition of the Think Tank is coming

Organized by Gdoweek, the Tecniche Nuove magazine that serves as a benchmark for the retail world, this contest is a laboratory of ideas where you can put your creativity to the test and make your mark.

Promoting culture and innovation is part of Gdoweek’s DNA, and there’s no better way to do that than involving the freshest and brightest minds: yours! The Think Tank project was launched in 2008 in collaboration with Bocconi University and, over the years, has welcomed enthusiastic participation from many other universities, becoming an unmissable event.

What is the R(etail)Factor?

It’s the award that determines the winner of each of the 5 competing categories and the overall gold medalist.

This is your chance to be part of innovation in retail and let your idea shine! Are you ready to take on the challenge and leave your mark in the retail world?

Are you ready to take on this challenge and make your mark?

Eligible classes

Why participating gives you an extra edge

The features of your project

The contest phases

The Hall of Fame

Upload your project

Think Tank 2026: Eligible classes

The contest is open to students enrolled in the Master’s Degree course in Channel Marketing in classes 8, 9, and 10 at Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi and the students enrolled in the Master’s Degree in Science in Management of Innovation and Entrepreneurship of Università Statale di Milano.

But that’s not all! The Think Tank gives you a unique opportunity to engage with the excellence of the industry. It’s not just a course activity—it’s a contest where you’ll compete against the projects of your classmates and students from other universities.

The top 5 projects in each category will be presented to leading managers in the retail sector, who will select 3 to bring to the RFactor: a final round where a popular vote will choose one winner per category. There will also be a vote for the best overall project.

Coaches will be selected from among top retail managers—one for each category—ready to offer valuable advice and support as you develop your project.

Participating gives you an extra edge: your unique opportunity!

Think Tank is not just a contest — it’s a springboard for your professional future. Here’s what you can expect:

VISIBILITY
Your project will be published on the Gdoweek website and on Gdoweek’s LinkedIn page. A selection will also appear in the print edition. A chance to showcase your idea to a broad and qualified retail audience!

TOP-TIER MENTORSHIP
Selected groups will have the opportunity to receive guidance from some of the leading managers in Italian physical and online retail.

THE BIRTH OF NEW VENTURES
Previous editions have proven Think Tank’s concrete impact: some projects evolved into successful startups, others turned into collaborations with major retail brands.

PUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE INTO PRACTICE
Apply your academic skills in a contest that will determine the best among your classmates’ projects.

BUILD YOUR NETWORK
Meet and collaborate with other brilliant students, professors, and industry professionals.

The project: invent the retail of tomorrow!

Each working group must design and develop an innovative store format, thinking through every detail—from the brand name to the layout, to the assortment strategy.

To present your vision at its best, you will be asked to prepare:

A PowerPoint presentation
A written description of the project in Word format, to be uploaded to the Gdoweek website
The project’s financial statement
A layout