EIT Manufacturing is supporting future innovators in Europe

GEN-E 2024 by Junior Achievement Europe (JA Europe) is Europe’s premier entrepreneurship event, bringing together thousands of young entrepreneurs, aged 15 and older, to present their innovative business ideas and compete for the prestigious titles of Best Company and Best Start-Up of the Year.

Throughout the 2023-24 school year, JA students across Europe participated in virtual Gen-E activities, developed their Virtual Expo stands, and applied for esteemed awards. This year, JA Italia hosted the Gen-E 2024 European Entrepreneurship Event in Catania from 2-5 July 2024.

EIT Manufacturing South Director, Gian Mario Maggio, was one of the distinguished jurors for the Main Awards: “Attending the Gen-E 2024 European Entrepreneurship Festival in Catania as a judge was an energising experience, filled with the dynamic spirit of young entrepreneurs showcasing their innovative business ideas. It was also interesting to connect with the members of the JA organisation and fellow jury members, sharing insights and fostering a collaborative atmosphere that truly celebrated entrepreneurial achievements.”

We would like to congratulate the winners of the Main Awards:

• JA Europe Company of the Year 2024: Treberei, Austria
• JA Europe Innovation of the Year 2024: 99Robotics, Denmark
• JA Europe Innovation of the Year 2024: Oculare, Denmark
• JA Europe Start Up of the Year 2024 : LeakTrack.ai, Türkiye

In addition to the Main Awards, various organisations sponsored Online Awards across different topics. This year, EIT Manufacturing honoured teams that created innovative products or services aimed at using fewer natural resources, reducing pollution and waste, recycling and reusing materials, and developing new processes to reduce manufacturing resources and emissions with the Green Manufacturing Award. This award was open to both Upper-Secondary and University levels.

The winners of the 2024 EIT Manufacturing Green Manufacturing Award are:

• Upper-Secondary Level: EM-PAX-Bulgaria from Bulgaria for their E-MOSS solution, an innovative chimney filter made from living organisms designed to decrease carbon dioxide levels in the air.
• University Level: Arctech Robotics from Norway for their exceptional solution combining an x-ray sensor and a delta robot to efficiently and safely remove batteries from a conveyor belt.

Find more information about the Online Award winners here: JA Europe: EIT Manufacturing awards the Green Manufacturing Award 2024.

Additionally, 99Robotics from Denmark received the JA Europe Innovation of the Year award. Previously, 99Robotics won the EIT Manufacturing East award at the JA Austria Marketplace.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations not only to the award-winning teams but to all the students who participated in JA Europe’s exceptional program.

EIT Manufacturing’s partnership with JA Europe is crucial as we strive to support and foster youth entrepreneurship. This event represents the culmination of the hard work and dedication shown by students throughout the school year.