YEB: The Young Entrepreneurs in the Balkan Region Project Begins

Continuing our “Research in Innovation” series, we are pleased to present the international project “Young Entrepreneurs in the Balkan Region: Social Innovation for the Common Good” (YEB).

Funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic, the project involves young people, universities, and innovation centres in Italy, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Serbia.

In Italy, the project is led by the Politecnico di Torino and the Social Innovation Monitor team, in collaboration with partner institutions from the Western Balkans: University of Shkodra (Albania), BIT Center (Bosnia ed Herzegovina), Science and Technology Park - STP MNE (Montenegro), Innovation Centre Kosovo - ICK (Kosovo), Business Technology Incubator of Technical Faculties Belgrade - BITF (Serbia).
The project coordinator is Prof. Paolo Landoni, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Politecnico di Torino.

Running for 12 months (December 2025 – December 2026), the project aims to strengthen the entrepreneurial skills of young people aged 21 to 28, supporting them in developing innovative initiatives with social and environmental impact.

YEB promotes entrepreneurship as a tool for positive change, capable of addressing social, environmental, and economic challenges while fostering closer integration between the Western Balkan countries and the European Union. At the same time, it seeks to strengthen transnational networks and collaboration opportunities among young entrepreneurs from different countries.

Participants will have access to:

Online training on impact entrepreneurship (March – May 2026)

One-hour video lessons in English focused on developing business ideas, sustainable business models, and social and environmental innovation.

Structured mentorship programme (June – July 2026)

Personalised support from experienced professionals and entrepreneurs to help participants refine and consolidate their business ideas.

Study visits (April and September 2026)

Hands-on experiences in Italy and Albania, visiting incubators, accelerators, and innovative startups.

Pitching sessions (October 2026)

Opportunities to present entrepreneurial ideas to stakeholders and experts, receiving feedback and enhancing communication skills.

In conclusion, the project aims to create a structured and progressive entrepreneurial pathway, transforming ideas into concrete projects that generate economic and social value.
Updates and results from the project will be shared throughout its duration. Stay tuned for updates on its progress!