More than 30 students, educators and supporters represented Malta at Gen E 2026 in Riga, Latvia last week, earning international recognition for their achievements.

Xuga, from Verdala International School, sold out its upcycled beach towels throughout the event, showcasing strong preparation, resilience and customer engagement in an international setting. KinetiHear from the University of Malta made headlines after being featured in Latvian media and winning the One Minute Pitch Award. This company created MotionCharge which is a self-sustaining, motion-powered battery system for hearing implant users.

Meanwhile, Unison which is a group of students from De La Salle College Sixth Form that created a conversation card game designed to help bridge communication gaps between teenagers, received international recognition after winning the EUIPO Youth IP Awareness Award, earning a summer programme scholarship and reaching the Get in the Ring finals.

In a LinkedIn post, the JA Malta Foundation said several Maltese schools joined thousands of young entrepreneurs from across Europe to showcase their ideas, challenge one another and demonstrate the impact of giving young innovators a platform.

St Aloysius College was also recognised with the Entrepreneurial School Award, highlighting the role schools play in fostering entrepreneurial mindsets.

In addition, Caroline Cassar Reynaud, a partner at Deloitte Malta, served as a judge for the European Company of the Year Award.

Reflecting on the event, the JA Malta Foundation said the greatest achievement could not be measured by trophies or photographs, but by seeing Malta's young people confidently stand alongside peers from across Europe, defend their ideas, embrace feedback, build new friendships and realise that innovation is not limited by geography.