Yesterday, on September 13, the Zero City Lab Hackathon successfully concluded its journey in the city of Korçë.
Built on the framework of the Urban Partnership Accelerator, Zero City Lab aims not only to include all stakeholders in decision-making processes but also to empower local businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators in Korçë, Pogradec, and Prrenjas. The goal is to design, prototype, test, and pilot sustainable solutions for the circular economy—solutions with the potential to be further developed, replicated, and scaled to generate lasting social and environmental impact.
The Hackathon kicked off with great energy, bringing together 20 selected teams from diverse sectors such as agriculture, food processing, tourism, and woodworking. The opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Kushtrim Shala, Executive Director of ALBICT, followed by Mr. Kletjon Kita, Deputy Mayor of Korçë, and Mr. Marcel Thomkins, Team Leader of the project “EU for Circular Economy and Liveable Cities (EU4CELC)”, who shared the vision of Zero City Lab to make cities more sustainable.
The teams then engaged in dedicated workshops that helped them solidify their business models, while also receiving mentorship from experts including: Ms. Albana Cule, Ms. Sonela Stillo, Ms. Mamica Nene, Mr. Gjergji Mero, Ms. Ada Permeti, Mr. Besnik Skenderasi, Ms. Eleni Vangjeli, Mr. Paskal Vogli, Ms. Vjollca Zabërgja, Mr. Rubin Haxhiymeri, Ms. Megi Koleci, Mr. Joan Deli, and Ms. Ina Cini.
On the second day, the teams continued refining their solutions and concentrated on preparing for the final presentations. They worked intensively with mentors through dedicated sessions and workshops to strengthen their concepts and pitching skills.
The third and final day took place at the Korça Innovation Hub and was honored by the presence of Ms. Ledia Bonja, Head of the Department for Monitoring Local Competencies and Delegated Functions at the Prefecture of Korçë. Seventeen finalist teams presented their ideas in the format of 3-minute pitches + 2 minutes of Q&A before a distinguished jury consisting of: Mr. Kushtrim Shala, Ms. Valbona Koçi (Advisor to EU4Innovation), Ms. Vjollca Misini Zabërgja (Director of Strategic Projects at DEA Group), Mr. Jon Baboçi (Founder of Layer), and Mr. Rubin Beci (Advisor to EU4CELC).
After a competitive evaluation process, among many high-quality and promising solutions for Korçë, Pogradec, and Prrenjas, 11 teams were selected to move forward into the acceleration phase. This program will run until October and will conclude with a Demo Day, where pilot solutions will be chosen for financial support.
The 11 Winning Teams of the Hackathon
- Back2ValueLab – An integrated circular economy solution that redefines how batteries are used, reused, and recycled in Albania.
- EKOPROD ltd – A solution that transforms by-products from snail processing and medicinal-aromatic plants into high-value secondary products.
- Pam Plast – A closed-loop system for recycling and plastic packaging production, combining modern technology with recycled raw materials to reduce plastic waste.
- Gjelbërimi shpk – Collection, processing, and recycling of plant waste (leaves, grass, branches) to produce organic humus for agricultural and urban use.
- Boulevard Boutique Hotel – A turnkey system of refillable hospitality amenities, replacing disposable products with durable, plastic-free alternatives.
- Legacy Hill – Turning organic waste into compost and replacing single-use plastics with reusables, while educating the community on circular economy practices.
- m2 furniture – A solution that optimizes wood panel cutting to reduce material waste from 20% to 8% through automated precision.
- Thomas Enkelana shpk – Transitioning from plastic coffee capsules to biodegradable ones, as a core strategy for reducing waste.
- Design Food – Thomo’s Lab – A micro-hub for sustainable gastronomy and cultural heritage, applying circular economy principles in the food sector while expanding on the success of Thomo’s Drink.
- EcoSofra – Zero Waste Restaurant (Sofra E.Don) – A comprehensive food waste reduction system in a restaurant and pastry shop, turning leftovers into valuable resources.
- Agrofarm shpk – Processing livestock waste into ready-to-use organic fertilizer for trees and crops.
