Two ecological ideas, one focusing on raising awareness about the value of recycling, and the other emphasizing customized and rapid afforestation in Montenegro, have been declared the best ideas of the fourth cycle of the RISE program, at yesterday’s held Demo Day.
Team Revive contributes to the circular economy through the production of high-quality recycled paper, suitable for use in artistic, industrial, and commercial purposes.
Dejana Dizdar, a team member, emphasizes their satisfaction in being part of the RISE (Regional Incubator for Social Entrepreneurs) program, which is exceptionally enriching and has helped them develop their idea into a social and business model that has its place in the market. “We are very pleased that the jury representatives recognized the value of our idea among ideas that are each worthy of attention,” Dejana states.
From the Eko bomba team, the message is that if paper comes from trees – trees can grow with the help of paper. Their product is a bio-ecosystem, composed of carefully selected recycled and bio-materials that preserve and protect geographically adapted and treated seeds, increasing their potential for survival and growth in the natural environment. “This day was a great opportunity for us to present the idea we have been working on for several years and to receive support for its realization. We have already received positive comments and criticism and connected with people who can be our future collaborators and partners. The most exciting part is yet to come as we get to know eight new teams from the Western Balkans, who will present their ideas and with whom we can find opportunities for collaboration,” says Jovana Djokic, a team member.
The two top-ranked teams received financial support of € 3.000 each for the realization of their innovative social ideas, and their RISE journey continues through the regional INCUBATION program, where they will develop their ideas together with selected teams from the Western Balkans. The third-ranked team, M.I.Art Gallery, was awarded € 500 for regional mobility. In this team, they are developing an authentic artistic brand based on Montenegro’s cultural heritage, promoting the employment of women in rural areas through the production of traditional handicrafts.
Demo Day was the culmination of four months of work by seven RISE teams, who worked with national and international mentors in the previous period to develop their innovative social ideas.
Their ideas aim for sustainability, equality, and positive social change, combining economic goals with solving social problems. Four more teams presented their conceptual solutions.
Team Zanati.me contributes to the sustainability of crafts and craftsmanship in Montenegro through a digital platform that makes craft services easily accessible to users, while simultaneously strengthening the digital literacy skills of craftsmen.
In the MyTurn team, they are developing a gamified application that encourages children to take responsibility for household chores, improves communication between parents and children, and indirectly promotes gender equality in performing household tasks.
The EdukacijaNacije.me team addresses the problem of inadequate information among young people about opportunities for non-formal education in Montenegro through an online platform that offers a unique space for advertising educational content.
The Conway team recognizes the problems of public transport passengers in Montenegro and through an online platform enables real-time tracking of transportation lines.
The members of the jury were Jelena Miljanic from UNDP, Rosanda Jocovic from the Ministry of Economic Development, and Haris Redzepagic from RYCO.
In the RISE project, IPC Tehnopolis has been a strategic partner from Montenegro for the fourth year in a row and one of the six strategic partners implementing the program in the Western Balkans in cooperation with ARNO, Balkan Green Foundation, Something More, Smart Kolektiv, and Yunus Social Business. The RISE program aims to develop the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Western Balkans and support young people in developing innovative solutions to social problems, thereby contributing to reconciliation and cooperation in the region.
The project is co-financed by the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Union, the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), and the Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ).
