The “Smart Village” conference, held as part of the “Are You Ready for Pelister?” project, marked a significant milestone in reimagining the future of rural communities. Organized by PREDA Plus Foundation, the event took place in the picturesque Pelister National Park, serving as the perfect backdrop for fostering innovation and collaboration.
The conference brought together a diverse group of leaders, innovators, and community stakeholders to explore technology’s transformative potential in shaping the region’s evolutionary future.
Welcome Speeches
- Toni Konjanovski
- Mayor of Bitola Municipality.
- Biljana Georgievska
- Project Manager of the Regional Programme for Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD 2), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Guest Speakers and Topics
- Elena Boskov-Kovac
- Co-founder and Director of Blueprint Energy Solutions GmbH, Vienna, Austria, and current Chair of the EU Working Group on Digitalization of Energy.
- Topic: “European Regulations in Energy System Transformation and Decarbonization: A Bottom-Up Approach to Citizen Participation in Energy Planning.”
- Prof. Dr. Ilija Jolevski
- Professor at the University St. Kliment Ohridski Bitola.
- Topic: “Smart Mobility.”
- Blagojče Količoski
- Software Engineer, Founder, and Coordinator of the informal Bitola IT community, Pelister Tech.
- Topic: “The Impact of Innovative Technological Solutions on Transformative Goals.”
- Simona Mirchevska
- Architect.
- Topic: “Pelister: A Dispersed Museum of Nature,” accompanied by an exhibition of thematic maps at the event.
The key takeaway from the event was the recognition that embracing the Smart Village concept means fully leveraging technology for sustainable conservation efforts that benefit both people and the environment. These initiatives are crucial in ensuring equitable access to digital resources and empowering communities to fully participate in the digital economy.
The “Are You Ready for Pelister?” project is implemented by PREDA Plus Foundation under the Regional Programme for Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 – ReLOaD2, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with co-financing from Bitola Municipality.
