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Tech and Tradition in Slovenia: How ID20 is Transforming Idrija's Cultural Heritage

In an era of rapid technological change, balancing innovation with the preservation of cultural heritage is not so easy. In Idrija, a small city of Slovenia which is also an UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its mercury mine, the IDRIJA 2020 (ID20) Association is charting a path that combines entrepreneurship, digitalization, and community engagement. This initiative, founded in 2011, has become a regional catalyst for innovation, especially in its efforts to retain young talent in the rural area.

At the heart of the association is the ambition to use technology and entrepreneurial opportunities to breathe new life into Idrija’s rich cultural heritage. ID20 recognizes cultural heritage as "unpolished diamonds"—assets that, when integrated with modern technology, can spark entrepreneurial ventures and community growth.

Following, is the interview with Drejc Kokošar, project coordination of ID20.

European small cities losing population: Why & what could be the magnets for their attractiveness?

THE BASELINE STUDY: developed by Tiago Ferreira, Residents of the Future network Lead expert. 

During Phase 1, the nine partners have explored their individual and shared challenges through the partners’ visits and
meetings. Now it’s time to sit back, reflect on the network challenge (as it relates to the European and local context), each partner’s starting point, as well as learning expectations, and focus on the action planning.

BiodiverCity Peer Learning Event: Poljčane combined nature and urban solutions!

We spent a fantastic two days in Poljčane for the BiodiverCity Peer Learning Event, where cities and experts together explored how nature-based solutions can be applied to fight. 

DIGI-INCLUSION 4th TRANSNATIONAL MEETING IN IASI (ROMANIA)

On the 23rd, 24th, and 25th of September, the fourth transnational meeting of the DIGI-INCLUSION network was held in Iasi (Romania) and was attended by delegations from all network partners. 

The meeting was also attended by a politician from each project partner involved because this transnational meeting have had a significant milestone; the signature of the Political Declaration on Digital Rights. 

EcoCore City Visits to Tuusula and Ķekava: Showcasing Green Urban Innovation

Last week, practitioners from across Europe visited the Finnish municipality of Tuusula and the Latvian town of Ķekava as part of the EcoCore project, a transnational action planning network exploring ways that cities can harness economic development opportunities of the green transition. Both visits underscored how cities can reshape themselves to foster sustainability, attract investments, and serve as testbeds for greener urban development.