Technology Capital fuelled by young disruptors

Ghent, a city pulsating with youthful energy, is home to over 84,000 students who embark on their educational journey annually. This vibrant city, brimming with enthusiasm and budding talent, reflects today's youth. This year, Ghent has been bestowed with a significant honour: it has been named the ‘European Youth Capital’. This recognition not only celebrates the city's vibrant youth culture but also highlights its commitment to nurturing the leaders of tomorrow.

In light of this honour, we interviewed Céline De Coninck, the project leader for EYC, and Pieter Nachtergaele, the EU Bioeconomy Youth Ambassador for the European Commission. Surprisingly, there are several connections between this socio-cultural project and the bioeconomy.

Giving youth a seat at the table

A while back, the 15 ambassadors presented their youth vision on the economy at the 'Festival Bioeconomy Changemakers'. This document accentuates five points of improvement. "The main event took place in Brussels," Pieter explains, "with around thirty satellite events throughout Europe. There, we presented our five key messages. We recently heard that a new European strategy will be developed specifically for the bioeconomy, and our vision will be used as a guide. Needless to say, we’re delighted that we’ve delivered something that policymakers will consider."

One of these messages is that young people should be more actively involved in decision-making processes. "There are already many initiatives where youth participation is important. However, too often, their contribution remains symbolic, and they cannot join the table when the real decisions are made in the afternoon. And that's a shame. When the actual decisions are made, there is no longer structured input possible for the youth."

"Very relatable," adds Céline. "I've noticed that throughout my career. That's why we wanted to do things very differently with EYC. We were all getting frustrated with this; it would be extremely hypocritical not to give young people a say now. In our case, we’ve put the young people in charge. (laughs) We have a steering group of young people between 18 and 30, and I’m accountable to them. I constantly check if what we’re doing aligns with the vision and goals we’ve set. Giving them that responsibility, I see an incredible energy spreading among them. They can develop their projects, and they love that."

Throughout the year, young people can engage in a variety of activities. Recently, there was the 'Great Debate'. "There, we provided young people with the means to inform themselves accurately and engage in constructive debates with each other," says Céline. "Because we’re one of the four countries where sixteen-year-olds can vote in the European elections. That’s a huge privilege. Ultimately, they must make an important decision and be better prepared and informed. We gathered a remarkable 750 young people for that process, which was a great achievement."

It's all about giving young people the tools to make their mark

There are already plenty of initiatives where young people are involved. But how can we further motivate them to make their mark on the future? For Pieter, that is quite clear: it also involves broader dissemination of those initiatives. "Bioeconomy is such a comprehensive theme. It's about the use of bio-based resources in the economy. These resources have to come from somewhere. So you also have to look at farmers and forestry, for example. No one from these sectors had applied for the ambassadorship. Such initiatives should be communicated more broadly."

Céline goes back to the cliché often mentioned: 'for and by young people'. "But in reality, that is the essence. 'For' requires a mindset that reduces barriers. And 'by' can be interpreted quite literally. Dare to involve those young people in decision-making and provide them with funds to develop an idea further. However, this requires a different approach to how events are set up. For us, it’s done with a lot of flexibility. If some young people want to join with a new idea two months before the event? That is not a problem; we see that as a great addition. Everything must be set in stone in certain organisations and executed letter by letter. However, that element of surprise and wonder is equally beautiful."

Fostering talent from the streets in Ghent to the European reagion

"In regions like ours, we can truly be thankful that young people want to stay here," says Céline. "Because there are regions where young people leave much more quickly, just look at cities like Lublin and Tirana. Young people study there and then move westward. About 20% of 18-year-olds leave there annually, a tremendously high figure. Often, these cities also lag in innovation because they lack the new ideas from young people."

"We’re definitely in a privileged position," Pieter admits. "We have a lot of students thanks to our higher education institutions, and they often stick around because it's such a pleasant city with a great vibe. When I look at my 'sector', I see that Ghent is really well known as the 'Biotech Valley'. So, for me, this is truly the region par excellence in Europe."

Attracting and retaining talent is undoubtedly one of the challenges within the local economy. However, the responsibility does not solely lie with the education sector. "Because it's not just there that you can influence young people," says Céline. "I come from community work where we had STEM afternoons on the streets. Very accessible! (laughs) There, we cut vinyl, for example, to make motorcycle stickers. Of course, you need to find a way into their world. Such initiatives should be more prevalent. And yet, that legacy sometimes takes years before something like that catches on or is noticeable in a whole generation. Companies could also be involved in such efforts."

"Steps can also be taken within education," says Pieter. "I notice that there is not enough systemic thinking there. Bioeconomy, for example, goes far beyond pipettes and labs. We need talent not only to work with technology but also in the primary sector. We need to make the job of a farmer appealing again because we will always need them. Apart from farmers and laboratory technicians, we also need other profiles, such as designers. These bio-based products need to be designed with attention to aspects like circularity. We tend to overthink about one step in the life cycle, whereas we should be more holistic in our thinking and involve more people in the narrative of the bioeconomy."

Pieter's task as ambassador is almost completed. "I found the past two years particularly valuable. Today, I have a much better understanding of how the European Commission operates and what the possibilities are. I will continue to work towards breaking down the silos between research and policy."

Céline still has a few boxes to tick. "By the end of the year, we aim to collect 150 stories. Stories from young people about critical citizenship, mental well-being, poverty, city life, etc. In short, stories that you wouldn't typically hear. In the meantime, there are plenty of fun activities on the agenda. Care to join us?"