The Regional Cooperation Council announces the winners of the "Regional Butterfly Innovation" Award for 2024

2024-11-27 12:30:00, Politikë CNA

The Regional Cooperation Council announces the winners of the "Regional

The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) announced the winners of the Regional "Butterfly Innovation" Award for 2024, at the ceremony that the RCC organized during the third regional forum last night in Podgorica.

The winners of the Third Prize for Regional Butterfly Innovation are:

Green Innovation Award: Beehold Team from Serbia, for an AI-based assistance to beekeepers, providing real-time analysis and predictions for health and productivity through early monitoring;

• Women's Innovation Award: The Cotton Team from Albania offers an alternative to single-use plastics with woven, ecological, reusable and biodegradable bags, helping consumers reduce their environmental footprint;

• Industry Innovation Award: Team from Montenegro, 3D Soba, turns plastic waste into sustainable and ecological wood alternatives for benches, tables and outdoor furniture, reducing plastic waste;

• Award for Innovation in STEM: The Edufront team from North Macedonia offers quality digital education through an online platform that is accessible even to 8-year-old children, reducing unemployment in technology and increasing opportunities for regional economic development;

• University Innovation Award: The team from Kosovo, Phora, is a traffic management solution based on Artificial Intelligence that optimizes traffic flow, reduces accidents and prioritizes public transport, supporting sustainable urban lifestyles;

• Youth Innovation Award: The PressCoder team from Bosnia and Herzegovina solves the problems of outdated hydraulic press machines in the metalworking industry by modernizing the machines with advanced technology.

Winners will receive a financial reward of up to €5,000, the opportunity to promote their product through the Regional Cooperation Council's network of contacts and media attention to promote them as leading models of innovation.

Elda Kalaja, Chief of Staff of the Secretary General of the RCC, opened the ceremony by congratulating the winners for their outstanding achievements. "Tonight, we celebrate the visionaries who inspire us with their creativity and determination. The Butterfly Innovation Awards highlight not only individual achievements, but also the technology development of our region," she said. Kalaja emphasized that the winning projects represent the transformative potential of regional talent in tackling pressing challenges and redefining industries.

Reflecting on RCC's commitment to supporting innovation, Kalaja noted the importance of collaboration and addressing systemic barriers. "RCC remains committed to supporting the region's talent and advancing strategic partnerships between academia, industry and government. Together, we can build an innovation ecosystem that will benefit all citizens of the Western Balkans," she added. The ceremony concluded with the honoring of six outstanding innovations, showing the great potential of the Western Balkans to drive sustainable growth and progress.

For the second year in a row, we received 66 group entries and 21 individual entries, for a total of 87 entries in six categories. The Industry and Green categories account for two-thirds of all applications, followed by the Women's and STEM categories. Women led with 52% of individual applications and make up 45% of group members. All applicants showed a deep awareness of pressing local and regional issues. Their innovative solutions, ranging from the revitalization of traditional industries to the use of Artificial Intelligence in key sectors, have the potential to redefine our future. The Butterfly Innovation competition highlights the tremendous potential of our human capital to drive change and progress, despite many obstacles. The judges from the EU were impressed by the innovative nature of most of the applications.

"The Butterfly Innovation Award symbolizes transformation, growth and sustainability—qualities that are at the heart of innovation. Tonight's winners demonstrate the vision, courage and commitment required to drive progress, inspiring well beyond their communities. However, success achieved through dynamic ecosystems supported by institutions, startups and global collaboration. Let's continue to build trust, drive innovation and shape a future where our region develops as a center of creativity and opportunity," said Montenegro's Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Filip Ivanovic.

Before the Awards ceremony, RCC organized the third Regional Forum of Butterfly Innovation, which took place yesterday at the Science and Technology Park in Podgorica. The forum brought together leading experts, policymakers, innovators and business leaders to explore the latest trends in artificial intelligence, green growth and innovation-driven competitiveness. With a dynamic agenda that included fast-paced discussions, roundtables and networking opportunities, the event demonstrated the region's potential to drive transformative change through innovation and collective action. More information can be found here: The Third Regional Butterfly Innovation Forum opens in Podgorica.

In addition, RCC, in cooperation with UNDP, is organizing a parallel event today in Podgorica, where a self-assessment platform for measuring the digital maturity of businesses in the region will be presented. The event, entitled Skills4Jobs: Making the Western Balkans business more sustainable, will focus on the critical need for upskilling and workforce development to drive the transition to a green and digital economy. More information can be found here: Skills4Jobs: Making the business of the Western Balkans more sustainable.

The Third Butterfly Innovation Award Ceremony celebrates the region's most transformative achievements in business and sustainability, bringing together influential leaders from the fields of innovation, research and policy for an inspiring celebration of regional talent and creativity./ CNA