Four students from the University of San Marino in Greece to represent the Titan at the Popri International Youth

In collaboration with San Marino Innovation, they will present a project within the framework of an EU macro-regional strategy

It will be a project for a startup engaged in the production of sustainable packaging dedicated to the cosmetics sector and made with alternative materials to traditional plastic, specifically using algae otherwise destined for incinerators with consequent polluting emissions, to represent the Titan at the next edition of the Popri International Youth Business Model Competition, scheduled for May 6 and 7 on the island of Crete, in Greece.

The international competition scheduled for about a month, dedicated to young entrepreneurial ideas, is open to the countries of the Adriatic and Ionian area within the framework of the European Union's EUSAIR macro-regional strategy, which gives priority to issues such as environmental quality, sustainable tourism, relations between different areas of the territory and the protection of the seas.

The idea that will represent the Titan emerged from a contest organized by the University of the Republic of San Marino together with San Marino Innovation (SMI). Two phases were involved: from an initial evaluation of all the applications, open to University members and San Marino citizens between 18 and 29 years of age, a selection of five projects was established, presented by the authors on Friday 28 March at the headquarters of the San Marino University's Engineering degree courses, in Dogana. In each business plan, market analyses and plans relating to organization, marketing and finance were proposed, among other things. A jury composed of academics and representatives of bodies and institutions established the final results.

The first prize was awarded to four students from the University of San Marino: Chiara Avdullai, Giulia Bisacchi, Vittoria Cesaroni and Shams Bedeir, currently enrolled in the Design degree course.

In their proposal, entitled “Algaepack,” they point out that “over 90% of the polluting materials that end up in the seas and oceans are plastic. Every day, eight million pieces of plastic flow into our oceans and irreparably damage some of the most important marine ecosystems in the world.”

Second place was awarded to “Waunter”, a project for the development of a service to monitor water consumption in homes, raising awareness of responsible use, based on a digital meter with integrated software and a free app with personalized graphs and measurements. Third place went to “Rescued-bites”, which proposes the development of an online platform where unsold food products can be purchased and delivered to your home after closing time in shops and restaurants, at a discounted price and thus reducing waste. The first three winners divided, in different shares, a prize pool of 3.000 euros made available by the University of San Marino, by San Marino Innovation, by the Secretariat of State for Education and Culture, by the Secretariat of State for Foreign Affairs and by the Secretariat of State for Industry.

"The business plan competition in San Marino - explains Giovanni Righi, coordinator and business relations at SMI - is increasingly becoming an opportunity for growth for young aspiring entrepreneurs, with mature and competitive projects. It is great to see so much enthusiasm and creativity, a sign of an environment that favors innovation. We are very satisfied with the level achieved and confident that the winners will be able to assert themselves also at Popri Youth 2025, bringing San Marino to an important international showcase".

“The ways in which the students have faced the challenges of the present and the future by proposing innovative, ambitious and timely solutions, characterized by a strong sensitivity to environmental and social issues, reflect the commitment expressed by the University to prepare our students for their future not only from a professional point of view, but also with regard to a complete vision of the communities to which they belong and the complexities of the world”, adds Karen Venturini, professor at the University of San Marino. “The winners will face the competition scheduled in Greece with an excellent project, living an experience that is certainly precious and of further growth”.

San Marino has been part of the EUSAIR macro-regional strategy since 2022. Ten countries in total are involved: in addition to San Marino, there are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia. Among the objectives, sustainable economic and social prosperity.

Consolidated in about two decades of activity, the Popri International Youth Business Model Competition, in which the Titano participates for the third consecutive year with projects conceived by the students of the University and which in the next edition will take place in the framework of the tenth annual EUSAIR Forum, has involved over 3 thousand participants creating stimuli and relationships for young people committed to innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.