After their success at the Sarajevo Unlimited Ideathon, high school students who stood out with their innovative solutions are now further developing their knowledge through professional internships in Sarajevo-based companies.
The Sarajevo Unlimited Ideathon, held on November 5–6 at the Hills Hotel in Ilidža, brought together vocational high school students from Sarajevo and surrounding areas with the goal of connecting education and industry. The event was organized with the support of the “Sustainable Economic Development and Employment Promotion (SEDEP) in BiH” program, co-funded by the European Union, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Government of Switzerland.
First place as a gateway to internships
First place at the Ideathon was won by the project “Electric Lock,” developed by students from the JU Srednjoškolski centar Nedžad Ibrišimović Ilijaš — Anel Kadrić, Armin Dervišević, and Haris Beganović. Their solution, a smart keyless lock with digital access control, was recognized as innovative, functional, and applicable in real-world conditions.
As a reward for their achievement, members of the winning team were given the opportunity to complete professional internships in companies in Sarajevo, where they are now gaining valuable experience.
You can watch the video about the student internships below:
Internship at Comtrade: theory meets real work
One team member, Anel Kadrić, is currently doing his internship at Comtrade in Sarajevo.
“Thanks to the European Union, the governments of Germany and Switzerland through the SEDEP program, we applied to Sarajevo Unlimited for workshops and the competition, and in the end we also received internships. Honestly, at the beginning there was a bit of nervousness, but my supervisor Edin Bjelak and the other employees welcomed me very well, so now I feel like part of the company. At Comtrade I gained excellent experience in the hardware segment and I’m very satisfied,” said Anel.
Comtrade emphasizes that such internships are valuable for both companies and young people. “Our company employs all generations, from people in their twenties to employees nearing retirement, because we believe knowledge is best transferred through collaborative work. Young people bring fresh energy and new perspectives, while experienced colleagues bring practical knowledge. Internships through the SEDEP program give young people the opportunity to get to know their profession in a real working environment and more easily decide on their professional path. Anel quickly integrated into the team, showed interest and willingness to learn, which is what matters most to us,” said Eldin Bjelak, Head of Service at Comtrade Distribution.
3D printing and additive manufacturing: new experiences at ProtoEngs
The remaining two members of the winning team, Armin Dervišević and Haris Beganović, are doing their internship at ProtoEngs – 3D Print Sarajevo, where they work in the field of 3D printing and additive manufacturing.
“After a great experience at the Ideathon and winning first place, we got the opportunity for an internship at ProtoEngs. I was impressed by how the employees welcomed us, the organization, and the working conditions. I integrated easily because I already had some experience in 3D printing,” said Armin.
Haris highlights the importance of trust from mentors. “I didn’t expect it to be this interesting. I especially liked that our supervisor, Master of Mechanical Engineering Jasmin Smajić, gave us space to show our own ideas and solutions and trusted us. I’d like to tell young people never to give up on their ideas. We are proof that everything is possible if you have an idea, will, and desire to achieve it,” Haris said.
The founder and owner of ProtoEngs, Jasmin Smajić, emphasized that this was the first time the company opened its doors to high school students. “We usually engage students from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, but this time we decided to give high school students a chance as well. The experience has been excellent. Armin and Haris surprised us with their broad knowledge and proactive ideas that we tested on some new projects. The most important thing is that young people are satisfied, because ideas are only valuable if you truly work on them. I’m glad these young men believe in themselves and their ideas,” said Smajić.
Ideas that don’t stay on paper
The example of the Sarajevo Unlimited Ideathon winners shows how important it is to give young people the opportunity to test their ideas in practice. With the support of the SEDEP program, the Ideathon was not just a competition, but a starting point for real professional development.
“This example clearly demonstrates the value of connecting education with the real economy. Through the SEDEP economic development program, co-funded by the European Union, the Government of Germany, and the Government of Switzerland, our goal is not only to support innovation through initiatives like the Ideathon, but also to ensure that young people can continue developing their skills in real working environments. Internships like these help students gain practical experience, build confidence, and make career decisions, while companies benefit from fresh ideas in green and digital fields and motivate young talents. This is exactly the kind of impact we aim to achieve through our joint support in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Jens Elsner, SEDEP Program Manager at GIZ.
These high school students are living proof that Bosnia and Herzegovina has young people who do not wait for change — they create it themselves.
This success story was developed within the Sustainable Economic Development and Employment Promotion Programme (SEDEP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, jointly financed by the European Union, the Government of Switzerland and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by GIZ.
