3 Days of Innovation and 12 Teams Advancing to Acceleration
The Circular City Lab Shkodra Hackathon, held over three dynamic days at the ARKA Youth Center, brought together innovators, young professionals, and community leaders to tackle the challenges of the circular economy.
Day 1: Kick-Off & Inspiration
The Hackathon started with welcoming speeches from Edvin Pacara (EU Delegation to Albania), Thilo Schroeter (German Embassy Tirana), and Bekim Mema (Municipality of Shkodra). Their remarks highlighted the importance of the circular economy for a sustainable future in Albania.
Participants were then inspired by Marcel Thomkins, who presented key insights into the goals and expectations of the hackathon. Eduart Cani followed with an impactful keynote on circular economy innovations. Workshops led by Eric Schuetz helped participants understand successful circular solutions, while the first day concluded with a lively pitching and team-building session that set the stage for the following days.
Day 2: Ideation & Problem Solving
On the second day, the teams dove into ideation and problem-solving. The morning was spent identifying key challenges in their focus areas, supported by their mentors. In the afternoon, they began prototyping their solutions during a dedicated workshop session, followed by an engaging discussion on business model innovation to help make their circular economy solutions both sustainable and profitable.
Later, teams refined their ideas during a fast-paced mentorship round, receiving valuable feedback to enhance their projects. The day ended with a reflection session, where participants shared their progress and prepared for the final day.
Day 3: Final Presentations & Announcement of Winners
The excitement reached its peak on the third day, as teams prepared their pitches and practiced their presentations with the support of mentors. Each team then had the opportunity to showcase their innovative ideas before a jury, highlighting the impact their projects could have on the community and environment.
After much deliberation, the jury announced the 12 winning teams that will move on to the next phase of acceleration. These teams demonstrated outstanding innovation and practical solutions for promoting a circular economy in Shkodra:
- Antika Solution: Rescuing, restoring, and reselling household items through a partnership with a decluttering company, aiming for increased recycling and reduced waste.
- Trast Me: A solution for textile waste management for furniture factories, transforming waste into economic value while creating jobs and protecting the environment.
- Plot Shije: Bringing handmade products to consumers using overproduced fruits and vegetables, reducing food waste while providing opportunities for middle-aged women.
- EcoCycle Connect: A digital marketplace connecting restaurants and shops with farmers and composters, enabling sustainable organic waste repurposing.
- 1998 Studio: Reusing old clothes to create new, personalised items, aimed primarily at tourists in Shkodra.
- Eco Clean Buckets: A business solution for collecting and reusing empty paint and sauce buckets, reducing environmental harm and providing discounts to customers.
- Eggcellent Recycle: Recycling cardboard waste from businesses to produce egg trays and coffee cup holders, addressing waste disposal issues.
- The Galley Hostel: Implementing sustainable practices such as reusable cups shared among hostels and bars in Shkodra, reducing the use of single-use plastics.
- Alpine Bees Bee Wax Clean and Recycle: Collecting and recycling used beeswax to provide clean, new frames for beekeepers, addressing contamination issues.
- Gojë Gaditëse: Providing reusable packaging for take-out and catering services, focusing on sustainable and zero-waste solutions.
- Bed Station: Turning textile and wood waste into functional products such as furniture and accessories through workshops and community engagement.
- Circa: A platform for buying, selling, and recycling textiles, promoting eco-friendly consumption and reducing fashion industry waste.
With 12 teams now moving into the acceleration phase, we are excited to see their projects further develop and contribute to a greener and more circular future for Shkodra.
CCL Shkodra is an acceleration programme powered by EU for Circular Economy and Livable Cities and EU4Innovation, implemented by YSB Balkans, in collaboration with Deep Ecosystems, Arka and the Municipality of Shkodra.
