Alliance of collaboration, innovation and sustainability – with and for the community

MAG-NET connects companies, organizations, and residents in the search for innovative solutions to the challenges of the modern city. As an open partnership, it builds the foundations of the urban future.

About the Iniciative

Strong local community

Development and innovation

Quality living environment

Supported by the European Union, the MAG-NET project addresses key issues such as brain drain and talent retention, improving quality of life and the living environment, as well as fostering economic development and innovation.

Celje, together with neighboring Prebold as an associate municipality, aims to create lasting change through collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

5 Thematic Challenges Addressed by MAG-NET

Affordable Housing

Affordable housing is one of the key foundations of a good quality of life in the city.

 

Challenge develops and tests solutions for affordable housing in Celje, from cooperatives and community living to activating vacant apartments and pilot projects for young people, families, and entrepreneurs.

Sustainable Mobility

In the MAG-NET alliance, we are developing solutions that promote safer and more sustainable modes of transport, with a special focus on children’s routes to school and kindergarten.

 

The challenge is to reduce traffic around schools and kindergartens by developing safe routes and pilot solutions that encourage walking, cycling, and independent mobility among children, and reduce dependence on cars.

Industry 4.0

The city’s economic development is based on knowledge, technology and people who create new opportunities.

 

Challenge connects companies, education and the local environment to drive innovation, develop future skills and create high value-added jobs that attract and retain young talent in Celje.

Community Energy

The energy transition opens up new opportunities for cooperation between residents, businesses and public institutions.

 

Challenge develops community energy models that enable local production, sharing and use of renewable energy, increasing self-sufficiency, lowering costs and supporting sustainable development in Celje.

Urban Atmosphere

“Urban Atmosphere – The Pulse of Celje and Prebold” focuses on strengthening identity, a sense of belonging, and intergenerational cooperation with the aim of developing a more vibrant and connected urban environment.


The challenge centers on co-creating programs, events, and community spaces. Through pilot projects, festivals, and new infrastructure, a vibrant and inclusive environment is being built in which residents actively co-create cultural and social life.

HUB and MINI-HUB

networking

collaboration

assistance

In Celje and Prebold, we will establish two innovation spaces, the Hub and the Mini-Hub, dedicated to connection, collaboration, networking, and support for ideas.

 

These spaces will host new services and activities for local residents and communities.

 

MAG-NET news

News

Study Visit to the Transfer Partner in Nardò

16. 04. 2026
News

Workshop as an Introduction to Field Research

13. 02. 2026
News

Happy holidays and a MAG-NETic year 2026

24. 12. 2025

MAG-NET events

19
sep

Innovation as Community Power – from Local Ideas to Global Impact

Event

Project Partners

The City Municipality of Celje

The Municipality of Prebold

Etra Ltd.

Celje Youth Center (MCC)

Savinjska Region Incubator Ltd.

Real Estate Celje Ltd.

Institute for Spatial Policies (IPoP)

Innovation and Development Institute of the University of Ljubljana (IRI UL)

Poligon Creative Center

Institute for Economic Democracy (IED)

Transfer Partners

Občina Varaždin

Občina Košice

Občina Nardò

The City Municipality of Celje

The City Municipality of Celje is a local self-governing community dedicated to the development of the city and the well-being of its residents, entrepreneurs, organizations, and visitors. It plays a key role in guiding and connecting partners while ensuring a comprehensive perspective. The municipality coordinates activities and fosters joint solutions with the aim of promoting entrepreneurship and strengthening the region’s sustainable development.

Through the MAG-NET project, Celje seeks to contribute to the creation of an attractive, connected, and accessible urban environment. By guiding and bringing together diverse stakeholders, it also aims to enhance the city’s atmosphere and sense of community.

The Municipality of Prebold

The Municipality of Prebold offers high-quality living, modern infrastructure, and abundant opportunities for economic and social development. As a partner in the MAG-NET alliance, it focuses on sustainability, community building, entrepreneurship, and the protection of natural and cultural heritage.

It’s vision is to create an environment that blends tradition with innovation and provides attractive conditions for living, working, and creating. Prebold is a place where homeliness meets modern solutions and where residents jointly build a green, advanced future.

ETRA Ltd.

ETRA Ltd. is a family-owned company active in mechanical engineering, automation, robotics, digitalization, and development.

As a co-creator of Industry 4.0, it strives within the MAG-NET project to promote innovation, implement digital approaches, and create conditions for new high-tech jobs. A key part of its work is knowledge transfer between companies, educational institutions, and young people. Additionally, ETRA actively contributes to shaping an environment that supports business growth and entrepreneurship in Celje and the wider region.

Celje Youth Centre

The main mission of the Celje Youth Centre is to create an inclusive environment where young people can acquire diverse skills and knowledge in a creative and enjoyable way. They provide a space for socializing, respond to the needs of youth, and prepare them for active participation in society.

As a partner in the MAG-NET alliance, they strive to amplify the voices of young people, their expectations, and needs.

One of their key roles is also to evaluate and measure the impact of project activities.

The Savinjska Region Incubator Ltd.

The Savinjska Region Incubator Ltd. is an organization that supports entrepreneurs, innovators, and creators in developing their potential, overcoming challenges, and successfully entering the market. It’s vision is to strengthen the entrepreneurial potential of its members and encourage the establishment and growth of startups and companies across diverse market niches.

As a partner in the MAG-NET alliance, it provides access to knowledge, mentorship, and resources that enable entrepreneurs to grow and scale their ideas.

Real Estate Celje Ltd.

Real Estate Celje Ltd. is a non-profit housing organization established to provide housing and improve living standards in the Municipality of Celje. They manage approximately 2,000 apartments, representing nearly 10% of all housing in the municipality, and implement housing policy through rental management, construction, renovation, and maintenance of apartments.

Within the MAG-NET project, the company will primarily focus on housing solutions and is the lead partner for the Affordable Housing challenge.

IPOP - Institute for Spatial Policies

IPOP – Institute for Spatial Policies is a non-profit, non-governmental research and advisory organization established in 2006, focusing on sustainable mobility and resilient cities while promoting public participation.

Within the MAG-NET project, it provides expert support to challenge owners in co-creating solutions for the five urban challenges in Celje using the Urban Real-Life Learning Lab (URLLL) methodology. At the same time, it leads its own challenge in sustainable mobility, developing solutions to enhance the attractiveness and accessibility of eco-friendly transport options.

IRI UL - Innovation and development institute

IRI UL –  Innovation and development institute is an innovation and development institute that co-creates technological and social solutions tailored to people and the environment.

Within the MAG-NET project, it is responsible for developing a methodology for five teams that will collaborate with local residents to design solutions in sustainable mobility, urban atmosphere, housing accessibility, energy communities, and Industry 4.0. The methodology will be presented in a practical handbook, which will be transferable and applicable to other cities seeking to engage communities in addressing urban challenges.

Poligon

Poligon is an independent platform for developing non-profit and for-profit projects aimed at empowering self-employed creators and creative communities. It brings together creators and creative communities working across various fields of the creative economy, social entrepreneurship, and culture.

Within the MAG-NET alliance, their role is primarily focused on developing the MAG-NET HUB.

IED – Institute for Economic Democracy

IED – Institute for Economic Democracy carries out activities to create democratic working conditions, fair wealth distribution, and a sustainable, resilient, and competitive economy. It promotes innovative and sustainable models where people have the opportunity to co-create the future.

Within the MAG-NET alliance, it’s role is focused on intergenerational business ownership transfer. Due to a lack of suitable pathways, many businesses are at risk.

The internal buyout model (ESOP) can help address this issue and encourage socially responsible practices that provide long-term career opportunities and an attractive work environment for young people.