Phase 01Active now
2026—27European foundations
- Erasmus+ & ESC accreditation · in preparation
- ISJ Vrancea partnership
- WECF GreenCode · ongoing
- Launch of an online safety programme
- UNESCO King Hamad Prize 2026
Centre 2035 · NEET young people in Vrancea
· the 2026–2060 visionWe are building something that lasts.
A permanent place in Vrancea where young people who are out of school and out of work find courses, support and a second chance. We are building it step by step, to be ready by 2035.
- 2026–2035
- 4 phases
- 1,000+ young people / year
Horizon · 2026–2035
We are building something that lasts.
A permanent place in Vrancea where young people who are out of school and out of work find courses, support and a second chance. We are building it step by step, to be ready by 2035.
Phase 02Planned
2027—29Groundwork & partnerships
- Erasmus+ KA2 cooperation
- EEA and Norway Grants
- Rural expansion · 60+ schools
- Digital inclusion programme for older people
- LIFE environment programme
Phase 03Vision
2029—31Research & scaling
- Horizon Europe Cluster 5
- Nationally replicable anti-dropout model
- PNRR C15 + C6
- UNICEF Innovation Fund
Phase 04Vision
2031—35The permanent centre
- ESF+ / PEO building funding
- Regional NEETs hub for Vrancea
- SDG 4 · 8 · 10 · 13 · 15
- 1,000+ young people / year
Roadmap
Seven active programmes, one horizon: 2040.
The path of our active programmes to 2040. The Green Innovation Hub initiatives start in 2027 and are presented below.
Completed 2021–2026Goal 2030–2040
Digital education & AI
- 2021CompletedFirst Scratch club
- 2026Completed560+ young people trained · youth-built living labs
- 2030Goal60+ schools with coding clubs
- 2035Goal1,000+ young people / year at Centre 2035
- 2040Goal10,000+ young people trained in total*
Environment & biodiversity
- 2021CompletedStarted in 2023 · BGCI
- 2026Completed100 young people built sensors · monthly expeditions
- 2030GoalSensors in protected areas · first stations
- 2035Goal100+ IoT sensors in Natura 2000 sites
- 2040GoalMonitoring in every Natura 2000 site in Vrancea*
Youth, gender & activism
- 2021CompletedStarted in 2023 · TechWomen
- 2026Completed55% girls in cohorts · 80 GreenCode young people
- 2030Goal55% girls, consistently, in every cohort
- 2035GoalErasmus+ KA2 · European youth network
- 2040GoalParity in all tech programmes*
Rural communities
- 2021Completed2022 · local co-funding
- 2026Completed38+ schools · 11 localities
- 2030Goal+27 localities through the Mobile Lab
- 2035GoalRegional NEETs hub for Vrancea
- 2040GoalAll 73 localities in Vrancea*
Civic and legal education
- 2021Completed2025 · EduHack, the first civic hackathon
- 2026CompletedSchool of Rights · launch
- 2030GoalCase-Law Observatory · annual report
- 2035GoalResilient Communities · participatory assemblies
- 2040GoalCivic model replicated in other counties*
Agentic AI
- 2021CompletedAI literacy in cohorts
- 2026CompletedAI in Romania · launch
- 2030GoalAI agent for citizens · pilot
- 2035GoalR&D Hub · 20+ prototypes, 500+ researchers
- 2040GoalRegional centre for ethical and civic AI*
Active ageing
- 2021Completed—
- 2026CompletedDirection C · early launch
- 2030GoalDigital inclusion programme for older people
- 2035GoalIntergenerational network in every partner locality
- 2040GoalDigital independence for every older person in our partner communities*
Completed = 2021–2026, public figures. * 2040 goals proposed by the association, currently being validated.
1,000+young people / year at the permanent centre
60+schools in the rural expansion
27localities targeted by the Mobile Lab by 2030
5UN SDGs covered
What the centre will host
All our programmes, under one roof.
Pillar 01 · Tech
Digital education & AI
Code.org, Marty robotics, AI literacy and technology built by young people.
Explore the programme →
Pillar 02 · Environment
Environment & biodiversity
BGCI, iNaturalist, Natura 2000, expeditions in the Subcarpathians.
Explore the programme →
Pillar 03 · Youth & gender
Youth, gender & activism
55% girls in cohorts. WECF. Erasmus+. Climate justice.
Explore the programme →
Pillar 04 · Communities
Rural communities
38+ schools · 11 localities. ISJ Vrancea partnership.
Explore the programme →
Direction A · 2026–2027
Civic and legal education
Constitutional rights, active citizenship, case law.
Explore the programme →
Direction B · 2026–2027
Agentic AI
AI assistants for citizens, care, ethical research.
Explore the programme →
Direction C · 2026–2027
Active ageing
Digital tools and an intergenerational network.
Explore the programme →And the Green Innovation Hub
Under the same roof, from 2027.
Centre 2035 will also host the seven initiatives of the Green Innovation Hub.
Green Innovation HubLaunching 2027Vrancea ReadyEuropean model: A digital twin of the locality.EnvironmentAll agesTechnology & AI→
Green Innovation HubLaunching 2027Nature RestoredEuropean model: Listen to the Forest — AI acoustic stations.EnvironmentTechnology & AI→
Green Innovation HubLaunching 2027Clean Energy for VillagesEuropean model: The thermal imaging walk.EnvironmentRural→
Green Innovation HubLaunching 2027Media & DemocracyEuropean model: Journalists in the classroom.CivicAll agesTechnology & AI→
Green Innovation HubLaunching 2027Second ChanceEuropean model: The production school.EducationYouth & genderTechnology & AI→
Green Innovation HubLaunching 2027Inclusion for Every ChildEuropean model: One-to-one mentoring, for a whole year.EducationRuralAll ages→
Green Innovation HubLaunching 2027First StepsEuropean model: The book suitcase for babies.EducationAll agesEnvironment→The Green Innovation Hub: methodology, selection criteria and the full portfolio.
It is already starting
The centre is being built from prototypes.
The robots and sensors we use in our workshops today will equip tomorrow’s labs.
From idea to prototype: robots that learn
Sensors and algorithms for greener decisions
Anatomy of a line-following robot
Research and innovation for green solutions
Vision 2035
A ten-year journey. Come with us.
Portfolio 2026–2027
From Vrancea to Europe, and back.
Centre 2035 is part of the 2026–2027 portfolio of Asociația Grupul Verde: 43 programme lines in which young people build technology for nature, protected species, climate and democracy, with partners from Romania and the EU through Horizon Europe, LIFE, Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps and CERV.
Technology, AI and resilience
Local experimentation spaces for the EU Missions
Schools and villages become test sites for the EU Missions on climate, soil and cities: young people prototype, the community decides what stays.
Target programme: Horizon Europe · Missions
Linked to: About the Hub, R&D Hub — Research & Innovation
Erasmus+ and mobility
Youth exchanges, youth worker mobility and youth participation
Young people from Vrancea travel and host peers from across Europe; youth workers learn new ways of working with technology.
Target programme: Erasmus+
Linked to: Youth, gender & activism, Inclusion for Every Child
Living labs for nature and climate
Soil living labs: Continental, Black Sea (Pontic) and Steppic regions
Three of Romania’s biogeographical regions, one protocol: young people measure soil moisture and carbon with sensors they build.
Target programme: Horizon Europe · Soil Mission
Linked to: Nature Restored, Sensors in Protected Areas
European Solidarity Corps
Youth solidarity projects (Asociația Grupul Verde as coach)
Young people write their own project and Asociația Grupul Verde supports them as coach: from idea to application, delivery and report.
Target programme: European Solidarity Corps
Linked to: Youth, gender & activism, Young Innovators Incubator
Local and regional grants
Small grant without co-financing (EEA / Norway Grants)
Small grants with no own contribution, to test a young people’s idea quickly before a larger project.
Target programme: EEA Grants · Civil Society Fund
Linked to: Funding, For funders
Technology, AI and resilience
Youth, digital innovation and disaster resilience
Secondary school students build flood, drought and earthquake sensors and a digital risk map that families and authorities can use.
Target programme: Horizon Europe
Linked to: Vrancea Ready, Resilient Communities