The Fund for Innovation and Technological Development today awarded the prizes from the call “Competition for Successful Initiatives from the Western Balkans” in which six most successful initiatives received a prize worth 18,000 euros, in recognition of their efforts and success in creating values and new opportunities for young people in the Western Balkans.
In addition to the cash prize, the six awardees will be included in a five-month communication campaign through social media, with the aim of raising public awareness of the role and importance of young people in innovation processes. The prizes are part of the European project POLICY ANSWERS in which the Fund was given the main role in piloting measures to support research, development and innovation in all economies in the Western Balkans.
The main winner of a prize worth 8,000 euros is the initiative “Sustainable e-waste management – a service for the repair and proper disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment in Eastern Macedonia”. It is a platform that allows young people to gain knowledge, skills and practical experience in the field of circular economy and encouraging environmental responsibility.
During the project, 1500 kg of waste from electrical and electronic equipment were collected, of which 90% were diagnosed and selected, and 10% were returned to use. The public awareness campaign contributed to an increased participation of 50% in local actions for cleaning and selection of electronic waste. 6 young people were trained in electronic repair of various electronic devices, which opened up opportunities for employment and internships in green jobs.
“These awards are part of FITR’s broader vision to support youth potential and regional cooperation. Today we celebrate your courage, hard work and belief that innovation can make a real difference. To all the teams and young leaders who were part of this journey – thank you for your passion. I am sure that your ideas will have a significant impact in the future,” said Nikola Dodov, Director of the Fund for Innovation and Technological Development, in his address to the finalists of the competition.
In addition to the main award, five other awards of 2,000 euros were awarded to initiatives that demonstrated the impact and engagement of young people in key societal challenges, namely: “Career Launch”; “Introduction to Industry 4.0 in Bosnia and Herzegovina through Knowledge”; “YourJob II – Youth Overcome Regional Unemployment through Job Opportunities in the Balkans”; “Social Impact Award (SIA)” and “Fashioration”.
The competition was organized in the period from February 18 to April 18, 2025, and a total of 65 initiatives from the economies of the Western Balkans were submitted. In the final selection, 12 initiatives were selected and presented their projects to a jury, which made the final decision on the selection.