INVATION CENTRE for YOUTH

Project Name: Youth Innovation Center

Project Partners: Business Incubator Gotse Delchev – Center for Entrepreneurship Promotion, Gotse Delchev, Republic of Bulgaria

Implementation Period: 19/12/2013 to 18/05/2015

Programme: Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2007–2013, Bulgaria – Macedonia, CCI Number: 2007CB16IPO007

Project Objective: Through innovative measures and the establishment of a Youth Innovation Center in Gevgelija, contribute to increased economic development in the Gotse Delchev – Gevgelija cross-border region.

Target Group:
Students from the cross-border region interested in innovation and new technologies; final-year secondary school students; unemployed and socially vulnerable youth (minorities, youth at risk of social exclusion, single mothers, etc.); young entrepreneurs from the cross-border region; and young employees in innovation-oriented companies.

Activities:

• Selection of youth participants in the project
• Creation of a joint Bulgarian–Macedonian Youth Innovation Center
• ICT trainings
• Innovation trainings
• Online team meetings to discuss ideas
• Cross-border innovation camp in Gotse Delchev
• Mentoring and networking in the cross-border region
• Closing conference
• Publicity and information

Results Achieved:

• A joint Bulgarian–Macedonian Youth Innovation Center established
• 40 socially vulnerable and unemployed youth trained with ICT skills
• 40 youth trained in ICT
• 8 business plans developed by the innovation teams
• Capacity building, networking, and joint events for Bulgarian and Macedonian stakeholders in the field of innovation
• Increased capacity of partner teams to provide innovative services
• Promotional materials produced to showcase young people’s innovative ideas
• Stimulated cross-border cooperation and local capacity building through networking and joint events with 120 participants (trainings, seminars, conferences)
• Web portal created: http://icy-project.eu/index.php/en/