European Young Innovators Jury 2024

When: September 22 - 25

Where: Vilnus, Lithuania

On September 23-24, the WSA European Young Innovators Jury meeting was hosted in Vilnius by the State Digital Solutions Agency (SDSA). 12 Grand Jury members, came together to review, compare, and discuss an impressive array of projects, ultimately selecting 15 winning solutions that showcased innovation and impact across Europe.
The jury meeting was opened by Erika Kurockina (Vice-Minister for Economic Affairs and Innovation of Lithuania) and Ieva Žilionienė, WSA National Expert Lithuania, providing valuable context and insights about Digital Lithuania, trends, recent developments and strategies, from providing digital services to narrowing the digital divide.

The jury’s presence in Lithuania also provided a valuable opportunity for engagement with local impact entrepreneurs. Representatives from WSA alumni, including Citify, Teachers Lead Tech, ManoSeimas, and Every Tree Matters, shared how their projects have evolved since winning the WSA award. These entrepreneurs presented their remarkable growth journeys and highlighted how their solutions continue to contribute to social and digital change both locally and globally.

In addition to the Jury deliberations, the event featured participation in the GovTech Leaders Conference, where the jurors delved into emerging trends around artificial intelligence (AI) in the public sector. The conference offered a platform for multi-stakeholder discussions, with best practices from the region providing insights into how AI is shaping government innovation and digital transformation across Europe.

WSA jury member Connor Sattely shared insights about Impact Measurement in the Public Sector. He encouraged the audience to have the courage to put impact measurement at the beginning of each project, measuring a baseline, introducing the intervention and measuring again.
WSA chairperson Dr. Peter A. Bruck talked about AI in the public sector, calling for value based engineering and integrating ethical standards when introducing AI solutions.

The WSA European Young Innovators Jury meeting in Vilnius was not just an occasion to celebrate young talent, but also a hub of collaboration, learning, and inspiration, paving the way for future innovation in Europe.

A citytour by @Guide in Vilnius and Lithuania (Facebook) provided the opportunity to discover the beauty, history and culture of Vilnius.
Our hosting partners spoiled the jury during two networking dinners at Eritlo Namas (Michelin recommended) and Nineteen18, which was awarded a Michelin star in June 2023, marking the debut of the Michelin Guide in Lithuania.

Meet the winners

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