Successful Kick-Off: SMILE Incubator Project Steering Committee Meets in Ljubljana

Ljubljana, Slovenia – 28 May 2025
The School of Advanced Social Studies (SASS) in Ljubljana proudly hosted the first Steering Committee (SCOM) meeting and the kick-off of the SMILE Incubator project, bringing together representatives from 15 project partners and 4 associate partners from across the Danube Region.

The meeting commenced with a warm welcome address from the Assoc. Prof. dr. Simona Kukovič, Project Manager at SASS, followed by inspiring words from Prof. dr. Borut Rončević, Dean of SASS, Mr. Johannes Gabriel, Project Officer from Interreg Danube Joint Secretariat, and Mr. Jernej Grahor, from the Centre for European Perspective.

Setting the Course for the SMILE Incubator

The project overview, led by assoc. prof. dr. Kukovič emphasized the need for timely organization and structured internal deadlines, encouraging partners to nominate Steering Committee members and begin planning upcoming deliverables. Regular monthly meetings will be held on every fourth Friday, with the next scheduled for 27 June 2025, and the next in-person SCOM planned for December 2025 in Sarajevo.

Strategic Objectives in Focus

SO1 – Youth Participation and Leadership Mapping
Led by Prof. dr. Martin Žagar (RIT), SO1 aims to audit and improve youth engagement in the Danube Region. A key highlight includes the development of a multi-author edited volume showcasing best practices and case studies, and a SMILE Incubator Badge to recognize youth excellence in leadership and social media skills.

SO2 – Building a Cooperation Network
Assist. prof. dr. Alenka Pandiloska Jurak (RUDOLFOVO) and her team introduced activities to catalogue stakeholders, develop sustainability strategies, and foster inspirational cooperation. Partners were updated on the upcoming stakeholder database and future institutional platform developments.

SO3 – Rural Youth Capacity-Building Hub
Mrs. Inez Fekete (STRIA) presented SO3’s key deliverables, including toolkits, workshops, and the Social Media Leadership Competition, which will also award the SMILE Incubator Badge. A newly introduced objective (O.3.4) will broaden the project’s outreach and engagement.

Managing the Project Effectively

Financial procedures were clearly outlined by the Financial Manager’s Assist. Prof. dr. Alenka Pandiloska Jurak, with emphasis on eligibility rules, budget reallocations, and the timely submission of claims. Translation costs were confirmed as eligible expenditures.

Project management guidance was shared by Mrs. Jasmina Jakomin (SASS), who covered document availability, reporting procedures, and the importance of tracking partner cooperation with target groups.

On communication, Assoc. Prof. dr. Erika Uršić Džajič (FIS) introduced the project’s official web and social media presence (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), dissemination planning, and visual branding rules. Partners were reminded of their responsibilities to submit dissemination content and actively engage with the public.

Looking Ahead

The meeting concluded with a brief recap and open-floor discussion, reinforcing the SMILE Incubator’s collaborative spirit and shared commitment to empowering rural youth leadership in the Danube Region.

We thank all participants for their valuable contributions and look forward to our continued work towards a stronger, more connected future for youth in the Danube Region.