European Young Innovators Festival – Graz

ArtificalXHuman: Boosting Innovation with Ethics

The European Young Innovators Festival 2024: A Celebration of Innovation and Collaboration

From November 27-29, 2024, Graz, Austria, once again became the hub of innovation, impact, and European cooperation as the European Young Innovators Festival 2024 brought together young changemakers, thought leaders, and organizations from across Europe. With over a decade of history, this year's festival continued its tradition of fostering meaningful exchange, mutual learning, and purposeful collaboration.

Participants boldly tackled societal challenges alongside their European peers, engaging in deep discussions on Ethical AI, impact entrepreneurship, and the transformative power of social tech—especially innovations led by women. Workshops, keynotes, and panel discussions highlighted cutting-edge digital impact innovations that are making a real difference, all with a strong commitment to responsible innovation for society and the planet.

The inclusive and purpose-driven environment fostered lasting professional friendships, inspiring conversations, and a vibrant sense of community. Local Styrian organizations partnered with international guests, further enriching the exchange of ideas and showcasing the potential of regional and European collaboration.

This year’s event was more than just a gathering—it was a celebration of shared purpose and a testament to the power of innovation to drive meaningful societal change. We look forward to continuing the conversation and building on this momentum in the years to come!

Stay tuned for updates on future editions of the European Young Innovators Festival and join us in shaping a better, more connected Europe.

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Key Participants

Izabella Khanzratyan

Project Coordinator

Enterprise Incubator Foundation

Armenia

Ulrike Bertsch

Innovation Manager

Physiozentrum für Weiterbildung

Austria

Daniela Bock

Social Banking

Erste Bank

Austria

Andrea Dapra

Austrian Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology

BMK

Austria

Gerhard Dorn

CTO & Co-Founder

Konomondo

Austria

Sophie Kaitlin Drescher

Austria’s Youngest Moderator, Speaker, Entrepreneur

Green

Austria

Sevgi Duman-Wolf

Social Banking

Erste Bank

Austria

Hannah Egger

Project leader Green Startupmark

Green Tech Valley

Austria

Mathias Haas

Founder and CEO

SuperSocial

Austria

Eva Hiesmair

Co-Founder & COO

Content Creation School, WSA Austria

Austria

Andreas Jurdak

Social Business & IT Project Management

Volkshilfe Wien

Austria

Michael Karre

Managing Director/Partner

BDO Austria

Austria

Angelika Kaufmann

AustrianStartups Local Representative Styria

Stadt Graz

Austria

Elisabeth Kaufmann

Research Assistant | Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Universität Graz, Zentrum für Entrepreneurship

Austria

Roman Kern

Chief Scientific Officer

Know-Center

Austria

Christian Kittl

CEO & Consultant

REVOLISE GmbH

Austria

Christa Kloibhofer-Krampl

Marketing & Kommunikation

Next Incubator - Energie Steiermark AG

Austria

Diether Kramer

CEO, Founder

Predicting Health

Austria

Matthias Landgraf

CEO and Founder

evias

Austria

Darya Makshyna

Venture & Program Manager

Impact Hub Vienna

Austria

Diana Materi

Urban Economic Development Specialist | International Relations Aficionado

Stadt Graz

Austria

Hannes Meixner

Chief Intrapreneur

Raiffeisen-Landesbank Steiermark

Austria

Anna Theresa Micheler-Hofer

Operations Manager

UniCorn, UniGraz

Austria

Hermann Moser

Co-Founder & CEO

Arterioscope

Austria

Martin Mössler

Managing Director | SPG & Ambassador | ESA IAP Austria

Sciencepark Graz

Austria

Jasmo Nickol

Design & Innovation

Basisprogramme, FFG

Austria

Dr. Günter Riegler

City Councilor for Economy, Tourism, Culture, Science and the Building and Facilities Authority

Austria

Mathias Schaffer

Head of R&D

Next-Incubator

Austria

Eberhard Schrempf

Managing Director

Creative Industries Styria

Austria

Ian Scott

Economic Governance Intern for the OCEEA

OSCE

Austria

Tanja Spennlingwimmer

Head of Deep Technology, Innovation Protection, and Entrepreneurship

AWS Austria Wirtschaftsservice

Austria

Michael Stadlmann

European Youth Delegate

Bundesjugendvertretung

Austria

Bernadette Triebl-Wurzenberger

Head of Corporate Communications & Sustainability Coordinator

Saubermacher

Austria

Paul Jakob Walch

Student at University of Graz

Kenne deine Rechte

Austria

Katrin Susanna Wallner

Founder

Lanbiotic

Austria

Bernhard Weber

Managing Director

UniCorn, UniGraz

Austria

Johanna Weiermann

Digital Media Professional | Innovating Across Media and Fashion

Akademie für KI und Digitalisierung

Austria

Rüdiger Wetzl-Piewald

CEO

SBCS

Austria

Christian Wigand

Acting Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Austria

European Commission

Austria

Paul Zwölfer

President

Ideentriebwerk

Austria

Ines Šuh

Senior Innovation Consultant and Project Manager

Science Park Graz (SPG)

Austria

Denby Elizabeth Royal

Branding & Partnerships Lead

Arbor

Canada

Ana Brigovic

Business Development Manager

ACT Group

Croatia

Adam Montandon

WSA Online Jury 2023

Curator & license holder TEDxOdense

Denmark

Philippine Leclerc

Project Manager

EMERGING Valley

France

Sarah Klein

Managing Partner, Publisher/Chief Editor

Bunny Island, Tea after Twelve

Germany

Marvin Ottersberg

Junior Web3 Developer

Softstack GmbH

Germany

Bence Bódis

Vice President of ECC, Budapest Project Leader of OKPV

Entrepreneurship Club of Corvinus

Hungary

Bálint Dobai

Founder & President | Managing Director | Financial Coordinator

Entrepreneurship Club of Corvinus, Miratia, BME Aerospace Team

Hungary

Abner Manzar

Communication Professional

Digital Empowerment Foundation

India

Afërdita Pustina

Civil Society and Civic Tech Expert

Kosovo

Odeta Iseviciute

Juror | Mentor | Advisor | Host | Moderator

WSA

Lithuania

Aleksandar Maskovic

Head of Governance in Economic and Environmental Department

OSCE

Montenegro

Josine Bakkes

Coach, University Lecturer & Community Architect

Netherlands

Connor Sattely

Independent Consultant

Connor Sattely Consulting

Netherlands, United States of America

Nikola Dodov

Acting Director

FITD

North Macedonia

Dimitar Jovevski

Associate Professor

University “Ss. Cyril and Methodius”

North Macedonia

Marko Paloski

System Engineer / Coordinator

Netcetera / IGF MKD

North Macedonia

Gabriella Chihan Stanley

Co-founder & CCO

vrisch

Paraguay

Diogo Paciência

Online Marketer

European Travel Commission / Visit Europe

Portugal

Joel Sadio

Entrepreneur in Residence

Portugal

Petronela Ďureková

Assistant Project Officer

OSCE

Slovakia

Vera Strobachova-Budway

Senior Economic Officer and Head of the Economic Governance Unit

OSCE

United States of America

Topics

  • Ethical AI by Young Innovators
    AI offers immense potential across all fields, potentially rivaling the impact of electricity. But what about the ethics? Who controls it? Join us to explore solutions from young entrepreneurs and hear insights from international experts on integrating AI to improve society and the environment.
  • Social Tech by Women
    In social tech, women are catalysts for transformative change. They identify challenges, confront pain points, and take decisive action, using technology to deliver meaningful solutions. But are ventures founded by women inherently more sustainable and ethical? What implications does this hold for the future of startups and society? Meet young women who have launched social tech ventures and learn about their entrepreneurial journey.
  • European Cooperation through the WSA community
    Europe confronts urgent challenges such as the rise of populist and Eurosceptic parties, inflation, and the conflict in Ukraine. Connect with peers from across Europe, exchange ideas, and build lasting professional friendships to shape a united and resilient Europe together!

A Recap of the European Young Innovators Festival 2024

The European Young Innovators Festival 2024 in Graz was an unforgettable three-day journey of connection, innovation, and collaboration. Here’s a look back at the highlights:

Nov 27 - Connect4Impact

Murinsel, Burg Graz

The festival began with a warm welcome to international attendees as they arrived in Graz, setting the tone for three days of impactful exchange. The Connect4Impact networking sessions provided participants with the chance to meet their peers, share ideas, and dive into the Styrian innovation ecosystem. These initial connections laid the foundation for meaningful collaborations throughout the festival.

Nov 28 - Artificial X Human

Helmut List Halle, Cityhall

Day two brought a deep dive into the intersection of technology and humanity. With thought-provoking keynotes and interactive discussion formats, participants explored the role of Ethical AI, social tech, and responsible innovation. Young entrepreneurs showcased their ideas through inspiring innovation pitches, supported by mentoring sessions designed to elevate their initiatives. The energy and creativity in the room were palpable, making it a day to remember.

Nov 29 - Skills & Knowledge

UniCorn, Lendhafen, Dom im Berg

The final day of the festival focused on building skills and expanding knowledge. Roundtable discussions fostered in-depth dialogue on critical topics, while skills workshops equipped participants with practical tools for their journeys as changemakers. The UniVation Student Poster Presentation spotlighted groundbreaking projects from young academics, and the day concluded with a celebratory Award Ceremony & After Party at the iconic Dom im Berg—leaving attendees inspired and energized for the future.

This year’s festival was a resounding success, uniting diverse perspectives and fostering a strong sense of community among young innovators and seasoned experts alike. Graz once again proved to be the perfect setting for this unique European platform.

View program

By attending the EYI Festival, participants agree to the production of photo-, audio- and film material as well as to its publication. Images can be viewed and downloaded for free from https://www.flickr.com/photos/worldsummitaward/.

Winners

Have a look at the festival 2023

Champions

Winner Photo

SignAvatar | Serbia

An AI-powered software solution that converts audible public announcements into sign language and spoken languages in real-time

Winner Photo

Independo. Enabling everyday. | Austria

A digital calendar that uses symbols and audio instead of text supporting people with learning difficulties to manage their daily routines

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