Bregu: You have the power to make a difference, this is the time to dream

2024-10-04 12:38:00, Aktualitet CNA

The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) organized yesterday in Tirana the final and award ceremony of the fifth edition of Balkathon, the regional digital competition.

From 80 entries, the jury selected sixteen finalists who competed in yesterday's Balkathon final, presenting their digital ideas to the expert jury consisting of Linda Shomo, Amar Dedovi?, Mergim Cahani, Dushko Petrovi?, Anita Nikova, Nikola Kova?evi? and Evisi Kopliku . The jury selected the six best ideas/teams which RCC awarded with 7000 euros each at the ceremony held last night in Tirana.

The winners of Balkathon 5.0 are:

The DARN team from Kosovo. DARN developed an app that uses smart technology to make waste collection more efficient, saving time, fuel and reducing environmental impact.

The GENITOR team from North Macedonia presented an autonomous robotic painting system powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) that addresses labor shortages in the construction industry by automating large-scale painting tasks.

The COMMUNITY team. Community is an innovative building management platform from Albania that simplifies property management through a centralized dashboard and eco-friendly features.

The LISEC team from Serbia is developing a potential communication tool for individuals with Locked-In Syndrome (LiS) that uses commercially available webcams to capture eye movements and convert them into words or phrases.

The MyTurn team from Montenegro with a gamified mobile app that engages children in household chores while simplifying task management for parents.

The Roadzo team from Bosnia and Herzegovina is developing a renewable energy solution that uses piezoelectric materials on roads to convert vehicular traffic into electricity.

This year the RCC decided to launch a special recognition for high school teams and the three best ideas were awarded 4000 euros each. The recipients of special recognition are:

The CyberScore team from Serbia with an innovative educational solution that uses artificial intelligence to analyze data and provide personalized advice to young people about their digital footprint and online safety.

The InnoGirls team from Bosnia and Herzegovina with a product designed to support the maintenance of quality health.

The DARE team from Albania with IMMAL, an innovative digital platform designed to improve the mental health of individuals with chronic illnesses.

“My heartiest congratulations to all of you who won tonight and thanks to all who participated. This evening marks an important milestone in your journey. Digitalization isn't just about technology - it's about empowerment. You have the power to make a difference, not only in your life, but in the lives of those around you. This is the time to dream and take bold challenges. Don't be afraid to start from the smallest of risks - many of the world's biggest tech companies started in someone's tiny garage. Admittedly, technology in all its forms is neutral until we determine its purpose. We are the ones who can either harness its power for good or misuse it. Let's be mindful and responsible by ensuring that AI and other advanced technologies are used to raise, innovate and solve problems, not create new ones", said Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council in Awards Ceremony.

Bregu: You have the power to make a difference, this is the time to dream

“Balkathon celebrates more than just achievement; it honors the spirit of innovation and extraordinary potential of young creators across the Western Balkans. Balkathon was born 5 years ago, during a global uncertainty of the Covid pandemic. In 5 years, what started as a response to a crisis has since evolved into a platform for transformation. Nearly 400 applicants have participated in 23 different topics, supported by 72 mentors and evaluated by almost 60 experts in digitization and ICT. To date, counting the winners of this evening, we have awarded 31 solutions through Balkathon and this makes me extremely proud to have been a part of it", added Bregu.

Balkathon is RCC's flagship initiative, funded by the European Union, to provide an avenue for the encouragement, development and recognition of unique digital ideas/solutions and products. RCC regional cooperation initiatives such as Balkathon and similar (Butterfly Award, Youth Lab, Regional Network of Women Entrepreneurs, etc.) are our contribution to increasing our human capital and supporting the BP region to move forward, also strive to retain our talented workforce within the region and improve their well-being.

Bregu: You have the power to make a difference, this is the time to dream

Andrea Ferrero, Head of the Section for Economic and Social Development in the EU Delegation to Albania, praised the focus on innovation, emphasizing its vital role in tackling major challenges such as climate change, overpopulation and brain drain.

"Innovation is at the heart of solving problems," said Ferrero. "We need to cultivate mindsets, build an environment and provide funding for innovation in the region. This is the only way to prevent the marginalization of our continent. To stay relevant, we need to innovate – and for that, we need you, the youth of the Western Balkans,” he added.

The Balkathon competition, launched in 2020, aims to empower young innovators from the region. So far it has resulted in 31 new digital products "Made in Western Balkans"./ CNA