The engine: R&D Hub
The R&D Hub is where the research happens; the incubator is where it becomes a company. A sensor prototyped and validated in the hub can become a funded product at the incubator’s demo day.
Project 2026–2035 ·
Youth entrepreneurship
Young Innovators Incubator.
From a pupil’s idea to a real product, with the help of mentors.
- 2026–2035
- Digital education & AI
Project sheet
From idea to product, with adult mentors.
The incubator turns prototypes validated in the R&D Hub into local products, services or businesses.
Project status
Concept · in preparation- 1ConceptAnalysis & partners
- 2PilotFirst activities
- 3OngoingActive in the community
- 4ExpansionRegional scale-up
19,2%
of young people aged 15–29 in Romania are neither in education nor in employment
Eurostat, 2025 · [1]5.2%of Romanian companies use AIEurostat, 2025 · [2]
✓What already exists
- The first prototypes built by young people
- Local innovators with environmental solutions
→Project objectives
- An idea-to-product mentoring programme
- An annual demo day for young people’s projects
- The first products launched from Vrancea
Young Innovators Incubator · from the field
The project in pictures.
Photos from our workshops. Support the project so it can reach the next school too.
Local innovators, solutions for the environment
From idea to product, with adult mentors
The approach
How we work.
Part of
The Digital education & AI programme.
Extended through the Green Innovation Hub
What we build next.
This programme feeds directly into the Green Innovation Hub initiatives, built on European models.
What we hope for · how you can help
Vrancea’s next tech company could start in a coding club.
Choose how you would like to contribute.
Support the incubator
Materials and mentoring for a team of young people.
Donate →Mentor entrepreneurs
Help a team land its first customer.
Become a mentor →Local businesses and investors
Prizes, internships and first orders.
Let’s talk →Project 2026–2035
This is a 10-year movement. Choose your role.
Sources and methodology
Where the figures come from.
Our own figures (young people trained, schools, localities) come from the association’s records and are published in the impact report. Context statistics come from official sources, with the year of the latest available edition.
- NEET young people (aged 15–29), Romania — the highest rate in the EUEurostat · edat_lfse_20 · 2025. See source ↗
- Companies (10+ employees) using artificial intelligence, Romania — last place in the EUEurostat · isoc_eb_ai · 2025. See source ↗
Portfolio 2026–2027
Projects written by young people, with us as coach.
Young Innovators Incubator 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.
Open science and research
European Researchers’ Night + Researchers at Schools
Researchers in classrooms and an open evening where young people show their prototypes: robots, sensors, apps for nature.
Target programme: Horizon Europe · MSCA
Linked to: R&D Hub — Research & Innovation, Youth, gender & activism
Democracy, memory and citizenship
Youth networks for democratic participation, climate and digital
A network of youth groups that consult online, vote on priorities and take proposals to the authorities, using their own digital tools.
Target programme: Erasmus+ (EACEA)
Linked to: Youth, gender & activism, Civic and legal education
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, Second Chance
European Solidarity Corps
Solidarity projects — spring round
Youth groups that start a project for their village in spring, with a technical prototype at the end.
Target programme: European Solidarity Corps
Linked to: Rural communities, Funding
European Solidarity Corps
Volunteering projects (Quality Label required)
European volunteers in our technology and nature programmes, as soon as we obtain the Quality Label.
Target programme: European Solidarity Corps
Linked to: Contact, Environment & biodiversity
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
Support Young Innovators Incubator
Help this pilot get started.
Your donation goes straight into the activities of Young Innovators Incubator in Vrancea — materials, kits, trainers and transport for children and young people. Every amount counts.
Bank transfer with no fees · 3.5% of your tax · sponsorship with a contract