Over the past few weeks, groups of young people have worked on innovative business ideas designed to address the needs, challenges, and opportunities of the island of Gozo.
At an event held at a leading hotel in Gozo, finalists participating in Youth4Entrepreneurship Gozo 2026 were given the opportunity to present their projects to an expert jury. The jury evaluated the proposals and selected the winning ideas based on a number of criteria. These included the feasibility of implementing each idea in the Gozitan context, its financial viability, level of innovation and sustainability, ability to address a specific problem or need in Gozo, and overall presentation quality.
Minister for Youth, Wellbeing and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme, Omar Farrugia, attended the project presentation evening. In his address, he highlighted the collaboration between Aġenzija Żgħażagħ and the organisers, the Gozo Business Chamber, which made this competition possible.
This year’s competition focused on the theme “Digital Solutions for a Smarter Island”, reflecting the realities of today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape. As we find ourselves at the heart of a major technological revolution, with Artificial Intelligence increasingly being integrated into every aspect of our lives, digital technology is becoming an essential tool in addressing everyday needs. In this context, encouraging young participants to explore digital solutions through their projects was particularly relevant.
Participants were challenged to address the significant issue of connectivity between Malta and Gozo by developing digital solutions that could improve transport, services for Gozitans, access to information and infrastructure. They were also encouraged to develop projects addressing Gozo’s ageing population, while exploring ideas that would enable young people to make their voices heard, participate more actively and contribute to the development of their communities.
Minister Omar Farrugia expressed his satisfaction at witnessing the remarkable talent among young Gozitans, praising their ability to put forward innovative proposals, including the use of digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence as part of Youth4Entrepreneurship.
Farrugia added that young people can continue to count on the Government’s support, as it remains committed to promoting and strengthening opportunities that young people across Malta and Gozo can benefit from.
Several other organisations also collaborated with Aġenzija Żgħażagħ and the Gozo Business Chamber in organising this competition. These included the Gozo Regional Development Authority, Bank of Valletta, JA Malta Foundation, Malta Enterprise, Jobsplus, Europe Direct Gozo and the Ministry for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects.
