80 Participants | 7 Countries
11 Partners | 8 Ideas | 2 Awards
The 10th KreNI Conference was successfully held on December 6th and 7th, 2024, at Hotel Ambasador in Niš!
We celebrated a decade of supporting creativity, innovation, and youth empowerment!
This year, the conference gathered esteemed international experts to explore the theme of the #Proximity concept, its impact on modern times, and practices that can shape the creative present of Niš.
Over 80 participants had the opportunity to collaborate with experts from Portugal, France, Sweden, Austria, and Italy for the first time in Niš and, with mentorship support during the conference, design and present their initiative or project draft to a jury!
At the official opening, participants and organizers were welcomed by Snežana, President of Young Ambassadors; Mr. Dragoslav Pavlović, Mayor of Niš; Ambassador H.E. Charlotte Sammelin (Sweden), H.E. Pierre Cochard (France); and representatives of partner organizations, such as Ms. Clare Sears Wood (British Council), Ms. Madelyn Mahon (U.S. Embassy), Mr. Roberto Cincotta (Italian Institute for Culture), and Ms. Maja Španjević Kešelj (Embassy of Portugal). The opening sparked a dynamic exchange of ideas on sustainable urban development, the #Proximity concept, and urban project management, reflecting on areas such as architecture, arts, and IT that complement or enable #Proximity solutions.
#KreNI10 consisted of three parts: expert masterclasses, workshops, and the idea development process, as well as a panel discussion #KreNItalks, giving participants the opportunity to hear about current best practices and challenges related to the implementation of the Proximity concept in our community while also designing, presenting, and advocating for their individual or team ideas.
The panel discussion, “Is the Proximity Concept from Another Planet?” connected the perspectives of Johanna Alkan Olsson from Lund University (Sweden), Marko Todorović from Semrén & Månsson International, and Ivana Bogdanović Protić from the University of Niš. The discussion was skillfully moderated by Ivana Marjanović, professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Niš. The panelists emphasized that both globally and locally, the focus is on urban sustainability, inclusive urban solutions, and the practical implementation of the #Proximity concept. The panel concluded with the significant potential Niš has in applying the concept of accessibility to public services, sports, and cultural content in urban areas within a 15-minute walking or biking distance.
After two intense days of working on their ideas, each team of 5 to 7 participants prepared a 3-minute presentation to convince the jury that they were the winning initiative of this year’s conference. We had 8 teams and just one jury 🙂 The jury consisted of Andreas Bryngelson, Business Development Expert from Lund University, Lidija Stefanović Nikolić, Chief Urban Planner for the City of Niš, Tijana Jugović, Public Diplomacy Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Serbia, Vladimir Jovanović, representative of the Tourism Office Niš, and Sandra Dejanović, Director of the Alta Bank branch in Niš.
All teams focused on segments of the Proximity concept and found ways to make everyday life more accessible and easier for citizens, especially vulnerable social groups, shaped by their ideas.
The winning idea of the 10th KreNI Conference was “E-ride”, and the award for the team will be a study visit to the Startup Weekend Festival in Ohrid, along with mentorship support for further developing their idea. The special award from the City of Niš was given to the team “Take it back”!
After nine successful conferences, Young Ambassadors and all KreNI alumni have witnessed more than 50 successful projects, and this year we welcome 8 new ideas!
KreNI is the first and most influential creativity festival in southeastern Serbia, bringing together innovative creative professionals and experts from around the world. KreNI contributes to empowering young people and engaging them in mapping and solving challenges in their communities.
Stay with us as we continue to inspire, innovate, and create change!
P.S. In the upcoming period, we will share more about the KreNI Startup project, which we are implementing with partners from North Macedonia. This project aims for the co-production of two festivals and connecting the entrepreneurial sectors of both countries. This year, at the 10th KreNI conference, we hosted 10 participants from North Macedonia, networked them with young people from Serbia, and encouraged them to realize that good ideas have no borders, only our support! 🙂