University of Primorska
Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies
At the 4th Innovations and That’s It Conference, organised by the Centre for Knowledge Development and Transfer (CRPZ UP FM), Rector of UP, Prof. Dr Klavdija Kutnar, presented the BIKE-HEI Award for the most innovative business idea. The award went to Matic Bončina, a student in the Computer Science programme at UP FAMNIT, whose solution, REPONO, impressed the jury with its innovation, social and environmental impact, and feasibility. REPONO is a green, circular and digital solution that enables students to move and store their personal belongings and study equipment during the summer holidays, when they are required to temporarily vacate their student accommodation.
The award ceremony, which included a €2,000 cash prize, free mentoring by BIKE-Hub experts, and the opportunity to present the idea within the project’s international ecosystem, marked the culmination of the third phase of the BIKE-HEI project. Students, researchers, staff and alumni from all partner institutions, as well as the wider support ecosystem, took part in this phase.
The four-member UP evaluation committee received four applications, which it assessed based on the following criteria: innovation, social and environmental impact, feasibility, team competence and diversity, and thematic relevance. Upon receiving the award, Matic Bončina said: “I am delighted to receive the BIKE-HEI Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Repono is an entirely student-led start-up. It addresses a problem familiar to virtually every student on the Slovenian coast: during the summer, you have to vacate your room and transport your belongings back home. I am also currently participating in the BIKE-HEI Acceleration Track programme. The prize money will be invested in developing route optimisation algorithms that combine pick-ups and deliveries, helping us reduce the number of kilometres travelled and lower CO₂ emissions.”
Every award-winning innovation demonstrates that curiosity, perseverance and the courage to think differently can lead to significant progress. The recognition confirms that the recipients’ work is acknowledged and valued, while also providing additional motivation to further develop their ideas and solutions. The BIKE-HEI project (Boosting Innovative and Knowledge-based Entrepreneurship of HEIs) places universities at the forefront of sustainable entrepreneurship. By focusing on the green and digital transitions, it strengthens innovation ecosystems, supports start-ups and promotes artificial intelligence-driven entrepreneurship. Find out more about the project here.
