European Young Innovators Festival 2021/22

Part 1, Online: November 24, 2021
Part 2, Onsite: May 3-4, 2022

The European Young Innovators Festival brings together the pan-European community of young innovators who use digital technology to achieve the UN SDGs. The festival offered a truly unique combination of an online program (Nov 24, 2021) as well as a onsite meeting (May 3-4, 2022) - giving an insight into young entrepreneurship from all over Europe, the latest digital trends, and international perspectives on innovation.

Since many years, Graz is hosting the Festival – also this year, Graz is the starting point of a journey for digital young social entrepreneuers from across Europe.

PROGRAMCATALOGUEPICTURES

Festival in Graz | Curation 4 Impact

Locally curated on site events - on invitation only

May 3-4, 2022

Graz as city of design, city of human rights, as startup city, green tech city and university city is the ideal location for the European Young Innovators Festival. The international delegates met and connected with the local ecosystem in diverse formats. 15 European Young Innovators 2021 - young founders of the best digital solutions improving European societies met international speakers, mentors, thought-leaders and ecosystem shakers from the European WSA community.

FESTIVAL RECAPKEY PARTICIPANTS ONSITE

Festival online phase

November 24, 2021

How we can contribute to a united Europe, showing solidarity and learning from each other? Together with the WSA community, we discussed the most challenging topics of our time - climate change, gender equality, youth employment, migration, education, democracy and fake news. Bold, multi-stakeholder and where international experts, thoughtleaders, government representatives, academia and young entrepreneurs met on a level playing field. Event Highlight was the Innovation Pitches by the WSA European Young Innovators 2021 - Digital solutions impacting society by Young Entrepreneurs! Learn more about the European Young Innovators 2021!

MEET THE EYI ONLINE JURY 2021

Welcome statements

Welcome Statement by Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice President of the European Commission for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age

"Innovation starts early, way before the 1st prototypes are even developed. It starts with giving you, the skills, the education needed to develop future ideas and it's especially true for digital skills. Which has become central in almost all innovations today.”

“We want 80% of all adults to have basic digital skills by 2030, and 20 million ICT specialists. And of course, more women taking the jobs.”

Welcome Statement by Alexander van der Bellen, Federal President of the Republic of Austria

“Thank you for all the digital innovations you submitted. It is impressive to see the vast variety of applications that are being honoured. Some, improve the quality of education, or foster CO2 reduction in unexpected ways. Others, reduce inequalities and encourage the disadvantaged or raise awareness for violence against women.”

Leonore Gewessler, Federal Minister for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, Austria

„I'm confident this year's European Young Innovators will teach us, once again, that digitalization can contribute to a more sustainable future. They show us how to turn the digital revolution into climate action. They show us how digital transformation can be shaped, to ensure its forced transitions, towards more sustainable societies, and towards the achievement of the UN SDGs.”

Welcome Statement by Gernot Blümel, Federal Minister for Finance, Austria

“Especially since the start of the pandemic, the digital innovation has been key to many important adaptations and progress in our economy. The European Recovery Fund has therefore, chosen to set up a special focus in this area … I hope that this will enhance European economies and, make us able to grow in a much more sustainable way in the future.”

Welcome Statement by Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, Regional Minister for Economy, Tourism, Europe, Science & Research, Austria

“As member of the Styrian government, I am very glad that Graz is again the venue for this festival and meeting point for young entrepreneurs. Styria is the perfect place for such a festival, because we are a hub of research and knowledge. With a research and development quote of more than 5%, we are the most innovative region here in Austria, and we are also among the innovation leaders in the European Union.”