The 6th edition of POPRI EUSAIR Youth concluded on May 20, 2026, in Skopje, North Macedonia, marking another milestone for this esteemed international competition dedicated to cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset across the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region.
Hosted as part of the 11th EUSAIR Forum, the event brought together the most promising future entrepreneurs from 10 countries to demonstrate how their competencies can address the region's most pressing challenges. This year's competition was particularly significant as the POPRI program entered 2026 as a proud winner of the 2025 European Enterprise Promotion Award (EEPA) in the category of "Supporting the Internationalisation of Business. Entrepreneurial Competencies as a Tool for Social Change.
The event kicked off with the EUSAIR Talents panel, titled "Can Purpose and Profit Coexist? Social Entrepreneurship is the Answer". Moderated by Samanta Brahaj, the discussion explored how entrepreneurial thinking can drive social change, addressing environmental sustainability and social inclusion.
“You are not only the leaders of tomorrow—you are already shaping today. And this is exactly what the Adriatic-Ionian Strategy is about: connecting people across the region.” — Gaby Hagmüller, Programme Manager at the European Commission.
The Champions of 2026: Meet the Winners
After intense pitching at the Millennium 1 hall, an expert jury—including Jana Birsa, Prof. Dr. Radmil Polenakovikj, and Stefan Trajkov for high schools, and Matjaž Kljajič, Elizabeta Jovanovska, and Dejan Zlatkovski for university students—selected the top business models.
High School Category
🥇 1st Place: Reevo (Slovenia) – A smart RV security system combining a digital rearview mirror with AI-powered anti-theft protection.
Team: David Nograšek, Luka Perme, Urban Bukovec
Mentors: Kristjan Stopar, Uroš Nosan
🥈 2nd Place: EconomySwitch (Serbia) – A hybrid EdTech solution (board game + digital platform) that teaches financial literacy and circular economy.
Team: Djordje Jankovic, Masa Vukojevic, Marko Andjelkovic, Tamara RajicJana Pavlovic
Mentors: Marija Urosevic
🥉 3rd Place: Fleeve (Italy) – An innovative modular bottle system (Mobble) designed to simplify everyday essentials and reduce waste.
Team: Bortolussi Sara, Pasqualetti Tania
Mentor: Tiziana Tibalt
University Students Category
🥇 1st Place: SILA (Serbia) – A B2B SaaS face-recognition layer for luxury retail that identifies VIP customers to personalize their shopping experience.
Team: Lana Radmilović, Novica Trifković
🥈 2nd Place: SeaSense (Montenegro) – An AI-based coastal monitoring solution that detects marine pollution in real time through smart sensors and GPS.
Team: Đuro Radonjić, Stefan Knežević
Mentors: Vladan Mašanović, Radivoje Drobnjak
🥉 3rd Place: Nitrio (Slovenia) – A nutrition support platform for training centers that utilizes an AI assistant to provide coaches with client progress insights.
Beyond international recognition, the winning teams in both categories were awarded exclusive study tours:
- 1st and 2nd Place Teams: An exclusive study tour to Brussels (July 8–9, 2026) to participate in the Macro-regional & Sea Basin Strategies Days 2026.
- 3rd Place Teams: A hosted visit to Izola, Slovenia (September 15–17, 2026) for the Mediterranean Coast and Macro-regional Strategies Week.
These prizes connect young changemakers with international experts and the European entrepreneurial ecosystem, ensuring their bold visions transition from ambitious dreams into realistic business models.
Closing reception photo at the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Skopje
The event concluded with a reception hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Skopje, where Nika Rotar, Deputy Head of Mission, welcomed the young innovators.
