Category: Events

For the third year in a row, a high school entrepreneurial competition was held in Rijeka "Business challenge", carried out as part of the European project Re-Value (Re-Valuing Urban Quality & Climate Neutrality in European Waterfront Cities).

The aim of the competition is the development of entrepreneurial competences in young people through work on concrete solutions for urban development and sustainability. About 60 students from Rijeka and Opatija secondary schools participated in the competition, divided into ten teams, and they all competed in designing innovative business solutions with the aim of developing a sustainable city district. Through a full-day programme, students developed their ideas – from the concept, through the business plan, to a presentation in front of an expert jury.

Porin has played a multiple role this year, Emira Brkić Karninčić i Maria Grbac participated as mentors to student teams, providing them with support and expert guidance in the elaboration of business plans, while the director Nenad Antolović was a member of the expert jury that evaluated the presentation of the idea, analysing their innovative aspects, feasibility and potential to contribute to urban sustainability.

Competition with European character and local significance

The "Business Challenge" has been implemented since 2013 with the aim of developing young people's entrepreneurial competences. The Rijeka edition of the competition was held in partnership with the European organization Junior Achievement Europe i the Delta Association, It is part of the European project Re-Value, which brings together nine European coastal cities and organisations dedicated to finding solutions that simultaneously improve urban quality and enable climate neutrality. The project is coordinated by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and funded by Horizon 2020.

Mayor of Rijeka Marko Filipović opened the competition and presented the challenge to the students – to come up with a proposal for a new urban district with sustainable infrastructure that responds to the needs of future generations and fosters environmental conservation, waste reduction and active community participation.

Creative ideas for a sustainable future

During the day, students analyzed urban trends, city identity, community needs and existing challenges, and then developed their own business ideas. Each team designed a product or service, defined the target market and financial model, and presented their project to an expert jury.

The following teams were awarded:

• 1st place - Association "Za moj kvart" – our Emira team: Application for connecting young people and local committees of the City of Rijeka, with the aim of strengthening the participation of young people in decision-making and connecting with the local community with members Jan Rebić (Technical School Rijeka), Maro Bratonja (Salesia Classical Gymnasium), Klara Krizmanić (Economic School of Mijo Mirković), Nora Džubur (Hotel-Tourism School Opatija) and Sara Bezjak Brozović (Transport School Rijeka)
• 2nd place - Urbanova d.o.o.: The concept of a self-sustaining neighbourhood with accompanying waste monitoring applications and the Voice of the Quarter platform with members: Tara Bilen (Secondary School of Andrija Ljudevit Adamić), Mila Paparić (Hospitality School Opatija), Lea Grubešić (Transport School Rijeka), Mia Sablić Bočina (Economic School of Mijo Mirković Rijeka), Doris Kurelić (Natural and Graphic School Rijeka), Darko Grozdanić (Economic School of Mijo Mirković Rijeka) and David Mijolović (Hotel and Tourism School Opatija).
• 3rd place - Greenloop: The idea of social entrepreneurship to help the homeless through sustainable support and employment models with members: Dorotea Korica (Hotel-tourist school Opatija), Tin Gorički (Technical school Rijeka), Dora Frančišković (Transport school Rijeka), Luka Harkanovac (Transport school Rijeka), Nika Šimić (Economic school Mije Mirkovića Rijeka) and Fran Host (Hotel-tourist school Opatija).

Porin – partner for youth and innovation

As an organization that continuously supports the development of entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainable solutions, the Rijeka Development Agency Porin proudly supports such projects in which young people have the opportunity to learn, cooperate and shape the future of our city.

By participating in the "Business Challenge", Porin continues its activities in the local community through mentoring, education and active involvement in projects that encourage innovation and sustainability. These experiences provide young people with the basis for further professional development, but also create valuable opportunities to connect with local institutions, the market and European partners.

The second official transnational meeting of the URBANFLOODS project was held in Rijeka, on 8 April 2025, in the RiHub space, organized by the Rijeka Development Agency PORIN. The meeting brought together a total of 38 participants – 23 physically present and 15 online – from eleven partner organisations dedicated to strengthening climate resilience in the Adriatic region.

Following the welcome speeches by the hosts, the lead partner – the University of Western Macedonia (Greece) – presented an overview of the current status and financial management of the project.

Project partners – Hydrowater-Albania (Albania), Kozani Municipal Water and Drainage Company (Greece), Associated Partner Ministry of Environment and Energy (Greece), Sveti Ćirilo i Metod University in Skopje (North Macedonia), SVI.MED. The Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Sustainable Development (Italy), the Bačka Regional Development Agency (Serbia), the Sarajevo Hydrotechnical Institute (Bosnia and Herzegovina), the Municipality of Macerata (Italy), the Knowledge Management Centre (North Macedonia) and the host, RRA PORIN – exchanged data on their pilot areas, presented national regulations relevant to flood prevention and actively participated in planning future activities and strengthening regional cooperation.

On the second day, 9 April 2025, JU Priroda, associate partner of RRA PORIN, gave a presentation presenting the biodiversity of the Rječina River – the pilot area of the City of Rijeka – and its importance for the local ecosystem. Further discussions led to an agreement on communication strategies, important dates and deadlines for the completion of the activities. After the meeting of the Management Board, the participants took part in the on-site visit ’Walk & Talk“ along the river Rječina, visiting the source Zvir and the newly built Sinergan incubator – a symbol of the innovation potential and green transition of Rijeka.

The event marked another important milestone in the implementation of the URBANFLOODS project, confirming the joint commitment to strengthening flood resilience through smart data management systems, environmental protection and transnational cooperation.

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Project URBANFLOODS It was co-financed under the first call of the IPA ADRION programme 2021-2027, with the aim of supporting a greener and more climate-resilient Adriatic-Ionian region. It focuses on climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention through ecosystem-based approaches. The project runs from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2027, with a total budget of EUR 1,747,583.17, of which EUR 1,485,445.68 is co-financed from Interreg funds.

On the 11th. 2. In 2025, accidentally or not, on the Day of the Single European Emergency Number 112, in person and online, more than twenty participants gathered at the 1st National Meeting of Project Stakeholders URBANFLOODS, initiatives aimed at strengthening urban resilience to the increasing flood threat.

The meeting, which we hosted, brought together experts, local authorities and national stakeholders from different sectors (civil protection, environmental protection, water management, geodetic institute, spatial planning and construction, Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, etc.) to discuss flood management strategies and exchange insights on urban resilience in Croatia and the Adriatic-Ionian region. The meeting provided a detailed insight into the work plan of the project and its progress so far.

Key areas in the focus of the URBANFLOODS project include raising public awareness, recommending public policies for flood prevention and developing action plans to protect urban areas from future floods. Project partners from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia are working together to make these goals a reality. By creating an integrated decision support system (DSS) based on the EU Floods Directives, the URBANFLOODS project aims to transform flood management, improve response readiness and increase resilience in cities across the region.

Furthermore, the presentation of a test (pilot) area for the city of Rijeka – the lower course of the river Rječina, which will serve as a model for flood risk simulations, initiated an interesting discussion between local and national stakeholders on institutional roles and responsibilities. Prof. dr. sc. Nino Krvavica from the Faculty of Civil Engineering - Institute of Hydrotechnics ​​u Rijeka, led the session, providing valuable insights from his experience on the use of data needed for the digital model for flood management and the applicability of current national policies related to flood reporting and mitigation in practice.

The first national stakeholder meeting marked an important step forward with the implementation of the URBANFLOODS project, where the contribution of the participants is crucial for the finalisation of the National Report for Croatia on a common knowledge base on current flood prevention and mitigation policies and measures.

URBANFLOODS is financed by INTERREG, with a total budget of EUR 1.75 million, of which EUR 1.49 million is provided by EU funds. The project, which lasts three years, is expected to have a lasting impact on the region’s ability to respond to and manage flood risks.

Burnout – a topic that requires your attention

Why do we work regularly to the point of cracking? Why do we not set boundaries in work and life that are there to protect us, but we draw our body and mind to the maximum, when and when it should not? The body reports that something is not right through migraines, heart palpitations, stomach cramps, hormone problems, and a small million other things. But we often don't react in time. We wait to burn out and then repair the consequences, sometimes for years. Can we be smarter, even in spite of the brutal pace of modern life?

Learn how to work and live more unburdened, successful and healthy at a burnout conference!

Who is this conference for?

Entrepreneurs and all enterprising persons who want to preserve health, nerves and enterprising(čk) and elan in work and life.

What is the aim of the conference?

Show enterprising people how they can effectively do what they love without getting overwhelmed.

Where and when does the conference take place?

The conference will take place on April 10, 2025 in the Torpedo Production Park Conference Hall at Milutina Barača 60 (1st floor).

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More information is available at the official website of the event.