The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Maribor successfully hosted the regional final of the Global Competition Design for Futures (GCD4F) 2026, an international competition that encourages young people to develop innovative solutions to the societal challenges of the future.
A total of 16 teams registered for the competition, while 12 teams from Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, and North Macedonia presented their projects to an expert jury. The participants developed solutions within the themes AI for Education and AI for Society, demonstrating exceptional creativity, technical expertise, and a strong understanding of contemporary societal needs.
All presentations were of a very high standard, showcasing the remarkable innovative potential of young people and their ability to develop solutions that can significantly improve quality of life across various domains—from education to addressing broader societal challenges.
We are especially proud of the achievements of the University of Maribor students. The winning team, 4Vision, consisting of students from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the Faculty of Education at the University of Maribor (Maja Kocbek, Ana Potočnik, Lara Podjavršek, and Marcel Strahan), impressed the jury with their innovative solution and secured first place in the regional final.
Other teams from our university also achieved outstanding results. The Most Technologically Impressive Award was presented to team Vedra, consisting of Jernej Hozjan, Luka Urban Kitek, Marko Matko Ficko, Matija Šinko, and Niko Ferk. The Best Presentation Award was awarded to Lifeline Team, whose members were Gal Guštin, Jaša Jernej Rakun Kokalj, Sara Karakaš, and Teo Lah.
At FERI, we are proud to have hosted such an inspiring event and to support talented young innovators from across the region. The achievements of our students demonstrate that knowledge, creativity, and interdisciplinary collaboration provide a strong foundation for developing innovations that will help shape the future.
