9th Annual EUSAIR Forum

POPRI EUSAIR Youth 2024 WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Šibenik, Croatia –May 16, 2024 - POPRI EUSAIR Youth, the esteemed international competition fostering entrepreneurial innovation among young talents across the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region, concluded on a high note, celebrating the outstanding achievements of the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Following two days of intense competition and innovation, we are thrilled to announce the winners of the Youth Business Model Competition. The top three teams from both the high school and university categories have demonstrated exceptional creativity, vision, and commitment to addressing societal challenges through entrepreneurial endeavors.

HIGH SCHOOL CATEGORY WINNERS

1st Place: SLUGUARD, Slovenia

Team members: Maja Jernejc, Renata Jereb

Mentors: Mitja Turk, Jana Goršin Fabjan

SLUGUARD is a completely natural and innovative organic product used to control slugs and aphids. The main ingredient of the pest control is a mixture of alien invasive plants growing in Slovenia. The natural SLUGUARD preparation is suitable for gardeners and farmers (including organic growers) who want to use effective and environmentally friendly products on their cultivated surfaces.

2^nd Place: KERAGLOW, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Team: Anja Maričić and Smiljana Atlagić

Mentors: Suzana Gotovac Atlagić and Marija Stojaković

KERAGLOW is a completely natural product that supports the maintenance of the quality of our health, or to be more precise skin and hair health. The most interesting fact is that this product is based on pure keratin paste that may be obtained by washing and processing sheep's wool or chicken feathers that are acquired from local households in unique salts that are non-toxic to the environment. KERAGLOW is not only based on green production, but it is focused also on safe and healthy usage for people, smart ways to protect our environment, and better usage of Bosnian raw materials that are completely compatible with the circular economy.

3^rd place: TERRAMEA, North Macedonia

Team members: Matej Tanaskovski, Marko Petrovik, Jane Mitev , Franc Dolenc Mentors: Emilija Ampeva, Dusica Krango - Markoska

TERRAMEA toys are made from completely natural wood materials and organic textile elements (wool, cotton, silk), with ecologically certified glues. Ash, walnut, cherry, maple, birch, bamboo is some of the types of wood used to give the toy its shape. TERRAMEA toys stimulate the youngest to be creative and enter the world of imagination. The touch of natural materials, without harmful and chemical substances, color and without sharp edges, is a real refreshment for children surrounded by electronics, gadgets, tv screens and mobile phones. Our toys are not just instant entertainment, they are an endless source of fun and creativity.

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS CATEGORY WINNERS

1st place : Trash Feaster Vessel, Greece

Team members: Ernesto Sigalas, Marios Konstantoudakis

Mentor: Diomidis Katzourakis

The Trash Feaster Vessel is an autonomous vessel which aims to be used in marinas, harbors and other geofenced environments to collect floating trash and debris with minimal human intervention.  Trash floating on harbor water is not a rare sight. Quite often it happens due to drift of trash from the sea and possibly it has nothing to do with the actual environment that the trash accumulates. Still, besides the social economic impact and the visual impairment of tourist attractions, there is a biological downside for the environment that can be addressed with present engineering means.

2nd place: Humorganics: Modern approach to Vermicomposting

Team members: Strahinja Vasiljević, Nenad Lazić

Humorganics is an innovative venture that significantly enhances the efficiency of organic fertilizer production. By leveraging advanced composting technology, Humorganics reduces the traditional composting period from 6-12 months to less than a month, allowing farmers to apply high-quality, nutrient-rich organic fertilizer exactly when needed.

3rd place:  WILDFIRE DETECTION SYSTEM, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Team members: Filip Beštić, Danilo Blažić, Dejan Simić, Dejan Ikić, Branislav Zorić

WILDFIRE DETECTION SYSTEM business model revolves around a system that utilizes drones equipped with cameras and neural networks to detect forest fires. These drones are capable of identifying fire outbreaks in natural environments and promptly sending signals for necessary actions to be taken. Our Wildfire Detection System features automated drone flights over a designated region, enhancing efficiency and coverage. Our potential customers include firefighter stations and forestry departments, who benefit from early and accurate fire detection to prevent and manage wildfires effectively. Depending on the neural network used, our system could potentially be adapted for other uses. This versatility allows us to offer additional value beyond wildfire detection, catering to a broader range of environmental monitoring needs.

AWARD:

These winning teams have not only showcased their entrepreneurial acumen but have also earned the exclusive opportunity to participate in FOOD-athon, a hackathon focusing on sustainable food supply, scheduled for October 16-18, 2024, in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

"We are immensely proud of all the participants and congratulate the winning teams for their outstanding achievements," said Tanja Kožuh, CEO of Primorski tehnološki park, the main organizer of POPRI EUSAIR Youth. "Their innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit are truly inspiring and demonstrate the immense potential of youth-led initiatives in driving positive change."

POPRI EUSAIR Youth continues to serve as a catalyst for entrepreneurship and innovation, fostering collaboration and creativity among young talents across the region. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and express our gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of this event.

For more info and photo material please contact:

Marjana Simčič Humar

Marjana.simcic@primorski-tp.si