lnnowave Summit 2023 - Youth Entrepreneurship Gateway

ended

The project further strengthens the cooperation and exchange of practices between the towns of Varna (Bulgaria) and Cluj-Napoca (Romania) in the areas of start-up ecosystems, digitalization and youth engagement. It aims to create favourable environment for innovation and entrepreneurship as key drivers for economic development in the region and EU, thus promoting the values of freedom, democracy and solidarity. The two cities have long-lasting cooperation in those areas, dating since 2015 when Cluj was the EU Youth Capital and Varna was a candidate. It continued during 2017 when Varna became EU Youth Capital with joint activities. In the period 2018-2019 there were several partnerships along the Bulgarian and the Romanian presidency of the Council of the EU. The cooperation grew over the years, focusing on establishing links between the businesses, the people from the two cities and with the international business communities. Varna and Cluj have agreed to focus on the Start-up Ecosystems as main driver for economic and social cohesion in the cities, regions and the EU. This process has already started via the implementation of the project New EU Innovation Ecosystems Cluj-Varna Pilot project (Innovation Camp 2020 Cluj-Napoca), endorsed by the EU commissioner Maryia Gabriel (Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth). The present project proposal will contribute to the realisation of the 7th edition of the Innowave Summit in Varna planned for 2023, which will have a specific focus on the role of the local authorities in the process of enabling the environment in strengthening the Start-up Ecosystems, boosting youth entrepreneurship and innovation. The Summit will also be the venue where official Twining Memorandum between Cluj-Napoca and Varna will be signed so to institutionalise the already established framework of cooperation in the area of Start-up Ecosystems - digital transformation, youth, innovation and entrepreneurship.