Knowledge and Entrepreneurship as the Driving Force of Urban Development – Together for Talent, Innovation, and Growth
We are pleased to invite you to the 7th City Conference of the Municipality of Celje, which will take place as part of the MOS Trade Fair. This year’s conference is titled “Alliance for Celje”, with the subtitle “Knowledge and Entrepreneurship as the Driving Force of Urban Development – Together for Talent, Innovation, and Growth.” The conference will be held on Thursday, 17 September 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Blue Hall of the Celje Fairgrounds.
The world around us is changing rapidly. Demographic, technological, and economic shifts are shaping the development of cities and regions and require us to make thoughtful decisions about the future. During the conference, we will discuss how to respond to these changes, identify development opportunities, and invest more effectively in people, knowledge, and innovation.
The central question of the conference will be how Celje, together with the wider region, can become an environment that attracts talent, highly qualified professionals, successful companies, and ambitious individuals. The discussion will focus on the conditions that support entrepreneurship, foster the development of new solutions, facilitate the transfer of knowledge into practice, and strengthen cooperation between business, education, and research institutions. Special attention will be given to creating an environment in which companies can grow, people can develop their potential, and the region can confidently shape its future development.
In Celje, we are connecting the municipality, businesses, educational institutions, and young people through the MAG-NET Alliance. We believe that development challenges are interconnected and can only be addressed successfully through collaboration, coordinated action, and a shared vision for the future. Together with representatives of the business community, educational and research institutions, the public sector, and young people, we will explore how to create an environment in which knowledge, entrepreneurship, and innovation become key drivers of the city’s and the region’s development.
The conference will open with keynote presentations by:
- Andraž Logar, Director and Founder of 3fs and President of the Slovenian Technology Forum,
- Bojan Ivanc, Chief Economist at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia.
The keynote presentations will be followed by a panel discussion featuring:
- Matija Kovač, Mayor of the City Municipality of Celje,
- Davorin Leskovar, Executive Director of CETIS d.d.,
- Prof. Dr. Danica Purg, Founder of IEDC-Bled School of Management and President of CEEMAN, the International Association for Management Development in Dynamic Societies,
- Eva Esih, Co-founder and CEO of PsyBit,
- Andraž Logar, Director and Founder of 3fs and President of the Slovenian Technology Forum.
Join us for an event that will provide an opportunity to exchange ideas, build new connections, and help shape the future of Celje.
Participation in the conference is free of charge; however, prior registration is required.
We look forward to meeting you and working together with you.
