About us

About Brand Institute

Brand Institute is a non-profit, apolitical organisation based in Bratislava, founded in 2009. We are a platform connecting research, innovation and strategy with the goal of strengthening brands, public policies, digital participation and social development — particularly in favour of disadvantaged groups.

Our key initiatives include the Rashori Platform, which supports entrepreneurial ideas by connecting innovative creators with investors, and Smart City Explorer, a digital participatory platform for municipalities and young people. Both applications are also available as mobile versions for Android and iOS.

We are also engaged in analytics and data-driven decision-making through projects such as the Smart City Index Slovakia, which supports effective strategic planning at municipal and regional level.

We organise training courses, public consultations, mentoring and research activities that support professional growth and the visibility of people who are normally excluded from decision-making processes — including young people, senior citizens, those with limited digital skills, and women in innovation.

Brand Institute is registered under registration number (IČO) 42174180 and operates on the principles of openness, collaboration and social responsibility.

Annual Reports

Year 2021
Year 2022
Year 2023
Year 2024
Year 2025

Mission & Focus Areas

The civic association Brand Institute (BRIN) is a professional and public-benefit platform connecting research, innovation and digital technology in the field of brands, strategies, public policies and social progress. Since its founding in 2009, we have operated as an independent and apolitical association of experts and innovators developing sustainable solutions for individuals, municipalities, public institutions and the business environment.

Our activities focus on:

• Support for innovation, entrepreneurial ideas and strategic planning — connecting experts from economics, public administration, education and technology to create brands and strategies with real social impact.
• Education, research and mentoring — organising courses, training sessions, workshops and research activities focused on improving competencies in branding, public policy, planning and management.
• Digital participation and mobile technologies — since 2022 we have been developing the mobile application Rashori, supporting the creation of innovative projects and collaboration between creators and investors. Since 2023 we have also been co-creating Smart City Explorer, focused on digital participation of young people and citizens in municipal decision-making.
• Data presentation and analytics — we are the authors of the Smart City Index Slovakia portal, which since 2019 provides benchmarking data for municipalities and the professional public.
• Support for disadvantaged groups — our activities include inclusion of people with limited digital skills, young people, women, senior citizens, and socially or physically disadvantaged communities through education, digital tools and mentoring.
• Collaboration with public administration and the civic sector — we participate in projects, calls and public procurements at the level of cities, regions and the state, offering expert solutions in strategy, branding, participation and digitalisation.

Extract from the Register of Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organisations — Brand Institute, o.z.

Project Activities

Brand Institute has been initiating and implementing projects focused on promoting innovation, digital inclusion and smart local governance since its founding. Our main project activities include:

• Smart City Index Slovakia (since 2019)
  Independent evaluation platform for municipalities in Slovakia, focused on benchmarking smart solutions and analytics. Web: indexinteligentnychmiest.sk
• Rashori – Support for Innovative Entrepreneurship (since 2022)
  The Rashori platform connects young innovators and investors to create an inclusive entrepreneurial environment. Available since 2024 as a mobile app for Android and iOS. Web: rashori.com
• Smart City Explorer (since 2023)
  Participatory educational platform for smart city solutions, developed in collaboration with academic and professional partners. Available since 2024 as a mobile app for Android and iOS. Web: smartcityexplorer.sk
• Entrepreneur Index (since 2021)
  Developed for the Slovak Trade Licensing Chamber — a methodology and platform for evaluating economic indicators of sole traders in Slovakia.
• PSK-MIRRI-628-2025-DV-EFRR – Rashori – Digital Inclusion for Disadvantaged Groups (2025)
  Project submitted under the Slovakia Programme to extend Rashori with AI assistance and accessibility features for disadvantaged users. STATUS: UNDER EVALUATION
• SK-NIC 2024: Project No. MP24_072
  Focused on creating digital tools for young innovators and developing entrepreneurial competencies. NOT SUPPORTED
• SK-NIC 2025: Project No. MP25_163
  Continuation of Rashori development — AI assistant implementation, language version expansion and accessible educational materials for disadvantaged groups. NOT SUPPORTED
• Application for support under the Trnava Self-Governing Region call (2024)
  Project supporting digital education and participation activities for young people — the project ranked 20th, just below the funding threshold, and was not supported. NOT SUPPORTED
• Participation in public procurement (2023–2024)
  Brand Institute submitted tenders in public procurements for the Banská Bystrica Self-Governing Region (PROCUREMENT CANCELLED) and SARIO in the field of analytical services and innovation (UNSUCCESSFUL BID).
• Active Youth in the Region – TTSK Project
  Collaboration on a scientific research project in the area of targeted education of young people to develop active and responsible citizenship.