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The Western Balkans R&I Youth Awards and R&I Youth Online Campaign, a key POLICY ANSWERS pilot programme, opened its call on 18 February 2025 to identify and celebrate outstanding youth-focused success stories in research and innovation across the region. The call closed on 18 April 2025.
Upon receiving 65 participants, 41 success stories were sent to the jury as eligible for evaluation. Phase 2 involved a careful judging panel selecting 12 finalists, two from each Western Balkan economy, announced on 30 April 2025. While contracts are sought with all 12, only six will ultimately be rewarded. These finalists then advanced to Phase 3, the Live Pitching and Award Ceremony held in Skopje on 29-30 May 2025.
The aim was to deeply engage with forward-thinking, brave, and passionate individuals from across the Western Balkans. An environment was meticulously cultivated to ensure they felt genuinely welcomed, appreciated, and recognised for their invaluable past contributions and future endeavours. Furthermore, a platform was successfully facilitated for forging new connections and significantly enhancing their understanding of the dynamic regional research and innovation ecosystem.
The pitches were evaluated immediately following their presentation, without a dedicated follow-up Q&A session. This methodology was precisely aligned with identifying and rewarding success stories that demonstrated proven impact.
Subsequently, all participants received certificates, and a concise overview of the POLICY ANSWERS project was provided to contextualise their efforts within its broader objectives. The jury members then offered their reflections, expressing gratitude for the participants’ significant contributions in engaging youth within the research and innovation (R&I) field, before the winners were announced.
The winners are listed below:
| Price | Economy | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Winner | North Macedonia | Regional Advocacy Centre |
| Winner | Serbia | Career Launch |
| Winner | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Fondacija za inovacije, tehnologiju i transfer znanja |
| Winner | Kosovo* | Caritas |
| Winner | North Macedonia | NGO Center for youth education |
| Winner | Albania | Together for life |
We are highly confident in our jury’s selection, which has provided an exceptionally diverse portfolio of initiatives.
Building on this strong foundation, we are now focused on developing and delivering a vibrant, engaging, and impactful campaign.
