Celje
MAG-NET - MAGnetic attraction forces of the city NETwork
MAG-NET aims to reverse the talent drain in Celje and neighbouring Prebold, Slovenia, by creating a vibrant urban innovation network. It establishes a cross-sectoral hub and pilot five urban sandboxes focusing on areas such as affordable housing, sustainable mobility, enhancing the urban vibe, community energy and advancing Industry 4.0.
Working with youth, businesses and citizens, MAG-NET is a project that co-creates innovative solutions to develop dynamic, talent-driven communities. It creates a sustainable, participatory framework for urban authorities to attract talent and nurture inclusive local development, setting a model for other EU cities.
Our main challenges...
Celje, Slovenia’s fifth largest city, faces job losses due to the decline of old industries. It lacks a university, worsening the talent drain. Prebold, closely linked to Celje, is becoming a commuter town, amplifying these issues.
The region has higher poverty rates and lower quality of life than the nearby capital Ljubljana. To compete, Celje and Prebold need to provide better housing, enhance urban vibe, reduce car dependency and improve employment options.
Fragmentation among public administration, civil society and industry is slowing urban development. Limited NGO presence and low civic engagement prevent residents from actively participating in urban planning and decision-making.
and proposed solutions
MAG-NETic Fields: Piloting 5 scalable urban sandboxes (urban RLLL) to address critical areas for talent attraction and retention, e.g. affordable housing, sustainable mobility, Industry 4.0, urban vibe and community energy, to enhance city attractiveness.
MAG-NETic Particles: Diverse teams of youth, industry experts, governance, civil society and researchers address challenges through identification, research, co-creation and testing, designing solutions and integrating them into the city’s practices.
MAG-NET Hub: Creating a cross-sectoral, interdisciplinary, inter-generational innovation and responsible entrepreneurship support space for cities: a main Hub in Celje (MUA) and a Mini-Hub in Prebold (AUA), enhanced by a digital MAG-NETic Platform.
Key figures
Milestones
Start of pilot projects addressing five urban challenges
Completion of field research activities to gather insights into addressing urban challenges
Completion of the MAG-NET Hub concepts and blueprints, co-created with stakeholders
Official opening of the MAG-NET Hub, including the launch of its services
