European Young Innovators Festival 2020, Graz
November 30th - December 2nd, 2020
This was the European Young Innovators Festival!
The European Young Innovators Festival brought together the pan-European community of young innovators who use digital technology to achieve the UN SDGs.
With the regional initiative of the European Young Innovators (EYI), WSA connects and highlights purpose driven digital entrepreneurship across Europe.
Digital. Purpose Driven. European.
The Festival program offered pitches of the European Young Innovators in front of an international jury, knowledge and mentoring sessions and an interactive workshop program.
Gazette | WSA European Young Innovators Festival 2020, Graz!
International speakers discussed how digital entrepreneurs can help to tackle the global pandemic, the economic crises and other societal challenges of Europe - Climate change, the future of Social Entrepreneurship, and Gaming for Good are only some of the highlights discussed.
European Young Innovators Festival Graz key participants
'We're aiming for more sustainable, more digital, more prosperous economy and society. The transition we strive to achieve needs everybody. And this is why initiatives like the Young innovators are vital. You are the ones who connect, cooperate and who create bonds across Europe and beyond. We need your ideas to drive innovation in which people can trust. To ensure our digital leadership and to shape Europe's future - Your future!' Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission states in her welcome statement to the European Young Innovatrors Festival!
Welcome Statement by Alexander van der Bellen, Federal President of the Republic of Austria
'The global pandemic invites us to consider how important digital innovations are. To address societal challenges, to work together, to access relevant information. To educate, to provide health solutions. And include all parts of society and to foster European solidarity and cooperation.'
Welcome Statement by Leonore Gewessler, Federal Minister for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology
Welcome Statement by Gernot Blümel, Federal Minister for Finance, Austria
Welcome Statements by the hosting partners from the City of Graz
Since many years, Graz is host of the Festival – the perfect festival location with its universities, the green tech cluster, as city of human rights and city of design - turning into a hub for social innovation, entrepreneurship and European youth exchange. In 2020, Graz was the starting point of a virtual journey across Europe. The EYI Festival offered a truly unique insight into young entrepreneurship from all over Europe, the latest digital trends and international perspectives on innovation.
Welcome Statement by Siegfried Nagl, Mayor of the City of Graz, Austria
Welcome Statement by Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, Regional Minister for Economy, Tourism, Europe, Science & Research, Austria
'As Regional Minister for Science and Research I am very pleased that Graz is the hosting partner of the European Young Innovators Festival. With nine universities and a high number of research facilities Styria is an international hub of research and knowledge. The exchange of knowledge across borders is essential and an important component of our success story. With a research and development quota of about five percent Styria is the innovation leader in Austria and one of the leading regions in Europe. The main factors of success are the courageous and innovative researchers and companies in our country...'
Festival Highlights...
- Innovation Pitches by the WSA European Young Innovators 2020 - Digital solutions impacting society by Young Entrepreneurs
- Engaging workshops
- Discussions how we can contribute to a united Europe, showing solidarity and learning from each other
- Ask me anything sessions with international experts
- Collaboration between international students from all across Europe
- The European Young Innovators 2020 award ceremony
- Entpreneurial excellence during the Covid-19 pandemic
- Interactive Discussions about Green Tech
- The latest on Games for Good
UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF
“Under the auspices of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Ms. Marija Pejčinović Burić”
KINDLY SUPPORTED BY:
The WSA European Young Innovators - check out former winners!
EUROPEAN YOUNG INNOVATORS FESTIVAL GRAZ 2020 | EVENT & IMPACT REPORT!