Young people have always been the focus of innovation camps in Gabrovo, but this year, at Gabrovo Innovation Camp 2024, there will be 4 groups specifically aimed at young people. In them, they will be able to actively share their opinions and seek innovative solutions to challenges related to the youth community, its inclusion and greater participation in the life of the city in general.
The eighth edition of the camp will be held from November 25 to 27, 2024, in partnership with the Committee of the Regions of the European Union, Regional Information Center - Gabrovo, Youth Center - Gabrovo, Technical University - Gabrovo and Regional Innovation Center "Ambitious Gabrovo".
There are six challenges in total, united under the name "Stimulating Competitiveness". Participants will work in groups that include people of different ages and with different expertise– exceptional specialists in the given field, those who have an interest in the topic and those who are like a blank sheet, unbiased and looking at the task with a non-professional eye. The goal is to present innovative solutions to the topic/problem they are working on after three days of work. The ambition is for the best of them to be supported and implemented.
Тhe camp will include young people from the "Acad. Ivan Gyuzelev" High School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, the Aprilovska National High School, the "Dr. Nikola Vasiliadi" PGMT, the Technical University - Gabrovo, young people from the Youth Centers in Gabrovo, Vratsa and Montana, and the Sofia Student Council.
The entire event will be moderated by Petar Ivanov – an international manager, bestselling author and expert in artificial intelligence and virtual teams. The teams led by Petar have won numerous corporate awards, including the global “IT Connect Award” in 2012. His book “Virtual Power Teams” has been translated into 6 languages and reached the Top 3 on Amazon in the international management category.
And here are the challenges:
Young people will have the opportunity to work on the youth platform https://youthnavigator.gabrovo.bg/ It brings together all events and services aimed at young people in Gabrovo, giving them the opportunity to locate themselves and the event, provide feedback about it, connect in chats and look for like-minded people for their ideas.The challenge includes optimizing the platform to make it more interactive, more useful and attractive to young people, to effectively encourage their participation in the life of the city.
The second challenge is inspired by the success of the festival "Rivers of the City - Gabrovo - Youth Events Against the Current". It will seek sustainable solutions for cultural and youth initiatives in the context of the river, and will also look for opportunities to enhance the space around the river, to become a center of attraction for the community.
"Gabrovo 2030: Youth Create the Future" is the name of the third challenge and it asks the question how Gabrovo can retain young people and become a city of opportunities? Participants will develop policies and measures to stimulate youth participation, entrepreneurship and cultural development.Strategies for creating a more attractive living and career environment will be discussed, while leveraging existing cultural and social resources.
The fourth challenge will explore how artificial intelligence can modernize Gabrovo's industrial heritage. Participants will explore ways to use AI and smart technologies to inspire young talent and introduce innovation into traditional industries that are the foundation of the city's economy.
Although not directly addressed to young people, the remaining two challenges rely heavily on their creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.
The challenge "Mission Climate Neutral Gabrovo 2030" is aimed at the aspiration of our city to achieve climate neutrality by 2030. Participants will develop specific solutions and mechanisms to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable development. Topics discussed will include energy systems, green infrastructure, circular economy and mobility. Participants will propose action plans that will improve the quality of life and engage the community in sustainable practices - including youth.
The latest challenge is called "Innovation Valley with a focus on circular economy."
The group will work to build sustainable industrial partnerships that support the circular economy by optimizing resource use and reducing waste. It will discuss strategies for cooperation between business, the public sector and citizens aimed at creating an innovation valley in the region.
The groups also include municipal and state experts, university professors, teachers, representatives of business, the cultural sector, ecologists, etc.
