On October 25 and 26, Climathon Skopje 2024 took place and was organized by CEED Hub Skopje as part of the USAID’s Youth Actively Create Opportunities activity. At this two-day climate hackathon, 10 teams tackled environmental challenges in Skopje, including air pollution, energy efficiency, and waste management. Guided by expert mentors, each team presented their innovative solutions to a panel of judges.
This year, two teams shared the top prize: My Terrarium – from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at “Ss. Cyril and Methodius” University and Carbo Nova Tech from the high school “Metodi Mitevski Brico” in Delčevo will split the €6,000 prize provided by Sparkasse Bank AD Skopje. Their projects target air purification with unique approaches:
My Terrarium developed a terrarium that doubles as an air purifier and helps save electricity compared to conventional air purifiers.
Carbo Nova Tech created a CO₂ “scrubber” that collects carbon dioxide and transfers it to a thermally-sealed algae garden, converting CO₂ into pure oxygen.
“We plan to use the prize to assemble, test, and refine our product to bring it to market,” said a representative from Carbo Nova Tech, adding that they encourage everyone to participate in events like Climathon for the invaluable experience.
Second place went to Savonum from “Georgi Dimitrov” high school in Skopje, which developed eco-friendly soap made from coffee grounds. With two teams sharing first place, no third prize was awarded.
The top three teams will receive six months of support from CEED Hub Skopje, including mentorship, access to the national startup network, funding opportunities, expert consultations, and media promotion.
Climathon is a global initiative led by EIT Climate-KIC, connecting over 60 cities to solve key climate challenges.
This event was organized within the USAID’s Youth Create Opportunities activity, implemented by IESC in partnership with CEED Hub Skopje and Youth Educational Forum.
Congratulations to all the participants and winners for their dedication to a greener future!
