JA-YE European Trade Fair 2007

80 mini-companies show off innovation at
the JA-YE European Trade Fair

Junior Achievement (JA) Romania in co-operation with Junior Achievement Young Enterprise (JA-YE) Europe organized the JA-YE European Trade Fair from 29 March to 1 April in Bucharest, Romania. The event brought together 500 young entrepreneurs from 30 European countries, representing 80 student companies. The event was an opportunity for JA-YE secondary school student companies to show off their innovative ideas, to sell their products and services in a public setting and share their entrepreneurial spirit.

Rewarding outstanding achievements

Prizes were awarded for outstanding achievement. The panel of judges assessed each student company on innovation, originality and presentation of products and services. Company “iTEAM J.A.” from Italy was named as best company with the best business plan, market analysis and innovative product. They designed iBelts – personalised iPod belts. http://www.iteam-italy.com/

"Freedom of movement, which makes our life easy and pleasant today, goes above and beyond the ‘portability’ of objects. iTeam wishes to respond to that need by creating a product which combines utility and fashion, simplicity and passion,” said Simona Eldahaby, Managing Director.

First Runner-up went to STEBEON from the Netherlands, which produced revolutionary holders for shampoo bottles.

Second Runner-up was given to QUIKSTITCH, Switzerland for their tiny hole puncher and other advertising giveaways.

Other prize winners included:

• Most Innovative Product went to TYT, Israel, which invented a periscope that sticks to the eye piece in the door helping young children, older people and the disabled to see better though the door.
• Best Sales and Marketing Strategy went to Innostar, Denmark which created a plastic device for hospitals.
• Best Stand went to Prima, UK for their cook book with DVD.
• Best Team went to Dimension, UK, which created personalized black and white drawstring bags with a classic image on each.
• Special Jury Award for Corporate Social Responsibility went to Money Tree, from the Netherlands
• ORACLE Best Business Website Award went to DIFFID, Slovakia for their creative website http://www.diffid.gta.sk/ 

For more information, please contact Diana Filip, diana@ja-ye.org

Editorial notes

JA-YE Europe (www.ja-ye.org) is Europe’s largest provider of enterprise education programmes, reaching 2,2 million students in 40 countries in 2006. Funded by businesses, institutions, foundations and individuals, JA-YE brings the public and private sectors together to provide young people in primary and secondary schools and early university with high-quality education programmes to teach them about enterprise, entrepreneurship, business and economics in a practical way. The JA-YE Company Programme is recognised by the European Commission Enterprise Directorate General as a ‘Best Practice in Entrepreneurship Education’.