PRESS RELEASE: First ever HackaTEEN in the South Moravian Region: pupils and students searched for smart solutions for their cities

"The young participants of HackaTEEN managed to surprise us. They come up with ideas that would never have occurred to me and my colleagues because they look at the world differently. HackaTEEN clearly showed that the young generation can be a great source of inspiration and innovation," said the Governor of the South Moravian Region, Mgr. Jan Grolich.

"We needed an event like HackaTEEN like salt. We need to support the new young generation, which is our future, to look at the problems in society with young eyes and find new, novel solutions," said Jana Krutáková, Member of Parliament of the Czech Republic.

More than 30 participants, led by six experienced mentors, worked on solving problems in five key areas: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies, New Materials and Technologies, Creativity and urban vibrancy, Ecology and Environment, and Mobility.

HackaTEEN was not just about competing. Participants gained valuable experience in teamwork, project management and presenting their ideas. Mentoring support from experts such as Petra Korlaar, Deputy Mayor of Mikulov, and Jan Bízik from the Mobility Innovation Hub proved to be a key factor in the success of the event.

"HackaTEEN, which is organized by JINAG for primary and secondary schools with the participation of their student parliaments in coming up with ideas on how to improve the city's functioning in key areas such as AI, New Materials, Creativity, Mobility or Ecology, is a great example of young citizens getting involved in actively creating a smart city environment. I am glad that with the Entrepreneurship Support Programme and the Technology Incubation we can be there to help," said Jan Bízik, Director of the Mobility Innovation Hub and Hackateen's Mobility Mentor.

Each team brought a unique perspective to improve life in their neighborhood. Among the proposals, there was for example an idea for an app connecting customers with proven craftsmen, professionals, as well as DIYers from the surrounding area from representatives of the Kyjov Polytechnic High School. SZŠ and VOŠ Znojmo presented their vision of how to connect AI and the integrated rescue system to increase safety in cities, facilitate the work of the Integrated Rescue System employees, and save costs and emissions. The student assembly of Gymnasium Břeclav presented an idea for the renovation and revitalization of city parks and the conversion of old buildings located in parks into community centers. 

"Smart city helps people and the pupil and student teams presented many great ideas and good examples to inspire others. The South Moravian Region has many innovators among the young generation," added Petr Novotný, Chairman of the South Moravian Region's Committee for Education, Training and Employment, who came to support the students.

The jury of experts in the field of SMART CITY, public administration, and technology had a difficult task - to select the three best projects. The winner was the Children's Parliament Hodonín, which presented its idea for the revitalization of Redlich Park in Hodonín. The students proposed transforming a polluted and neglected space into a modern, safe, and representative place for all generations. 

"We didn't expect it at all, but we would like to thank all the judges and all the organizers for allowing us to be here at this event and we are looking forward to seeing what the prize money will buy," said Vojtěch Šurýn, chairman of the winning parliament. 

Second place went to the Olomoucká On Top team from the Secondary Technical and Economic School Olomoucká Brno for their innovation in the field of parking. The students offered their solution to Brno's parking problem through an app that would allow for parking space reservations, information on how full the parking lot is, or recommendations on the best route. They would move cars to parking houses on the outskirts and use the vacated streets to plant urban greenery.

Third place went to the Hroznovka team from the Hroznova 1 Primary School in Brno. It is a smart office for all those who want to work outdoors. The office will allow people to work in the fresh air, which will have a positive effect on their physical and mental health.

The Hrancl team, formed by the school parliament of the Hraničářů Primary School in Mikulov, won a special sympathy prize for the project Na vzduch. This was a proposal to convert an inadequate bus stop in Mikulov into a smart bus stop and clubhouse in one, using sustainable elements.

"It was fascinating to see how far the younger generation has come in their ability to present, create, and collaborate. Compared to our generation, they have a huge head start, and this gives me confidence that this country can succeed where we are still lagging, especially in business advocacy," said Petr Střelec, Director of Thermo Fisher Scientific Brno and judge of the competition. 

The jury was impressed by the teamwork, responsiveness, and ability to react to unexpected questions. What impressed the jury about the winning proposal was its ability to combine landscape architecture with digital technologies for the benefit of the local community and the revitalization of public space. "We appreciated the way they handled the funding proposal and that they involved the public in the decision-making process, which is important to the success of the project. It was inspiring," added Petr Střelec.

Each of the award-winning teams received a contribution towards school electronics to help them further develop their skills and technical abilities.

The first edition of HackaTEEN showed that young people have great ideas and a desire to change the world around them. The organizers are already planning the next edition, which should offer even more opportunities for involvement and collaboration.

"It was amazing to see the enthusiasm and creativity with which young people approached real-world problems. Their ideas have a real potential to change our cities and municipalities for the better," said Dagmar Peřinová, Head of JINAG's Participation Team.

The event is supported by the Supporting Entrepreneurship project, which is part of the National Recovery Plan, Component 1.4 Digital Economy and Society, Innovative Start-ups and New Technologies, funded by the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility.