On 21 October 2025, the Slovak Pilot Leader PEDAL Consulting held the first warm-up event in Slovakia at the Technical University of Košice (TUKE) as part of the Ulysseus Summit and Ulysseus Week 2025. The event brought together a diverse audience of researchers, innovators, students, and regional stakeholders and served as an important opportunity to present the INSPIRE project, its objectives, and planned activities in the Košice region to a broad audience.

The presentation, delivered by Gabriel Demeter on behalf of Radoslav Delina, introduced the INSPIRE project and its goals in the Košice region, particularly its focus on improving employment opportunities and social inclusion for people with disabilities and disadvantaged youth.

By presenting the project within the broader framework of Ulysseus Week, an international platform for innovation and collaboration among European universities, PEDAL aimed to reach a wide audience and build awareness of the emerging INSPIRE Smart Village Lab in Eastern Slovakia.

Our involvement in this bigger event consisted of a pitch presentation, followed by an interactive roundtable discussion with interested participants. This format allowed for the exchange of ideas on how the academic and research community can support inclusive rural development, digitalisation, and social innovation for vulnerable groups. A total of more than 130 participants took part in our pitch presentation and roundtable discussion.

Throughout the Ulysseus Week, INSPIRE promotional materials were displayed at the venue, ensuring continuous project visibility. Our participation in the event raised awareness of the INSPIRE initiative within the Slovak and international research and innovation ecosystem, and reinforced the project’s mission in the Košice region. Importantly, the event also sparked interest among regional stakeholders, opening the door for new collaborations and follow-up activities that could further expand INSPIRE’s impact in the future.