Results of the International Ecosys4you Project Presented at the PODIM Conference

As part of the PODIM Conference, held in Maribor between 11 and 13 May 2026, the results of the international Ecosys4you project were presented. Over the past three years, the project has connected entrepreneurial ecosystems from Slovenia, Germany and Bulgaria.

The project was aimed at strengthening cooperation between different European entrepreneurial environments and creating new opportunities for young people who wish to actively co-create the future of entrepreneurship in Europe. Through the project, partners from Maribor, the Ruhr region in Germany and Varna in Bulgaria developed activities that enable young people to gain practical experience, international connections and entrepreneurial knowledge:

• startup internships for young people,
• international mentoring,
• joint training for future entrepreneurs,
• hackathons and student collaborations from these countries.

“At the final conference held as part of PODIM, we were particularly delighted by the great interest from the audience – more than 100 participants attended the presentation of the project results. This confirms that international cooperation, ecosystem networking and support for young innovators play an important role in the development of European entrepreneurship.

Thank you to all partners, mentors, startups, students and supporters who were part of this story. Together, we have shown that connecting different environments can create new ideas, opportunities and friendships that extend beyond borders,” emphasised the project leader at DOBA University of Applied Sciences, Dr Marina Letonja.

More about the project results and story is available at this link.

Photo: PODIM / Marko Pigac