Slovak students also competed with their own projects at Huawei Seeds for the Future

This year, Rome has become a meeting place for promising young talents interested in digital technologies. International event Huawei Seeds for the Future was held from 1 to 5 July 2024 and was attended by almost 150 students from 23 European countries. There was also a representative from Slovakia.

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It consisted of three young Slovak students: Silvia Hadusovská from TUKE (study program – Smart technologies in industry), Daniel Floriš from STU in Bratislava (study program automation and computerization of processes in industry) a Khrystyna Bindiuk also from STU in Bratislava (study program – informatics and information technologies).

“I learned about the event at my school and thought it was a good opportunity to meet new people and get up-to-date information in the field of digital technologies. It’s what I’m studying, so I applied,” says Daniel Floriš.

Seeds for the Future is a globally recognized flagship program Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of Huawei. It is the longest running CSR initiative in the world. Running in six different regions around the world, the program seeks to develop local talent, share knowledge, raise awareness and enthusiasm in the ICT sector and support digital community building.

The Slovak trio formed a joint team with the Czech delegation, and so, three decades after the division of our two countries, they joined forces to create a proposal, competing for the opportunity to put their idea into practice. It was an important aspect respect for the environment and the emphasis was on sustainability.

They presented their project in front of an expert jury and it must be said that the competition was really strong. Their idea for EcoCooler I was personally very excited and I believe that, despite the fact that they did not fight for a pair of winning teams, they can fridge for sharing food contact a company that will implement the idea.

EcoCooler could serve especially in dormitories, where many students travel away for weekends and their purchased food remains unused or may spoil in a few days. Food in the refrigerator could be given for a smaller amount buy via mobile app. After payment, a password would be generated to unlock the device and the money from the sale would go to the original owner. The goal of the project is not to waste food and use them before they end up in the trash can.

“Cultivating ICT talent is more important than ever as we navigate the complexities of the digital age. Europe is at the forefront of technological progress and it is essential that we invest in the education and development of our young professionals. By developing their skills and providing them with the right tools and opportunities, we ensure that Europe remains a leader in the global digital environment”he said during his opening remarks Radoslaw KedziaSenior Vice President Huawei Europe.

All student teams consulted their ideas with an assigned expert. Part of the program European Seeds for the Future there were workshops, panel discussions and interviews with representatives of the academic community, which enriched them with new knowledge and insights. They had the opportunity to improve their digital skills.

“We had moments here when we didn’t know what we were going to prepare, but then we got such a spark and were so passionate about our idea that we worked on it in the morning, through lunch and in the evening. It really caught us and we believed that we could win”. adds Daniel.

At the closing ceremony, the two best teams were announced – the team Anaphero from Ireland and the team BioBuddy from the Netherlands. They got the opportunity to participate in the Tech4Good global competition in China next year. The team won the People’s Choice Award Nordic Shine from Finland.