Bratislava Aims to Actively Develop Its Economy and Talent Together with Partners

Representatives of the city leadership, major companies, universities, and the innovation ecosystem, with whom the city closely cooperates, attended the program’s presentation.

The Mayor of Bratislava emphasized that economic development is a fundamental long-term prerequisite for improving quality of life in the city.

Said Mayor Matúš Vallo:

“Job opportunities, quality education, affordable housing, and prospects for young people determine whether they will build their future in Bratislava. As a city, we are ready to do our best within our competences – improving quality of life, revitalizing public spaces, enhancing public transport, and planning the city’s development. Everything else must be done in cooperation and creative dialogue with our partners, which is why we are here today. I am also particularly pleased with our joint project, Future Founders Varsity, which will motivate and prepare young talented people for an entrepreneurial path. I believe they will then choose to stay and live in our beautiful city."

The city is responding to current challenges, including brain drain, technological change, automation, and global competition. As many as 23% of Slovak students study abroad, and the number of students at Bratislava’s universities has declined by 15% since 2014. Without active measures, the city could lose thousands of jobs by 2030. On the other hand, well-designed policies can help create tens of thousands of new positions in high value-added sectors.

The city representatives emphasized:

“We want to move into a more active role in supporting economic development. The city’s ambition is to connect key stakeholders, create conditions for cooperation, and participate in projects with long-term impact."

The program includes existing initiatives such as Student Welcome Weekend, Future Founders Varsity, strengthened cooperation with universities, support for the startup ecosystem, and the development of sectoral hubs in areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, robotics, and automation.

Cooperation between the city and the private sector is essential. Business representatives at the event confirmed growing interest in working with the city on strategic challenges, from talent development to attracting foreign investment.

A key component of the program is support for the young generation through the Future Founders Varsity initiative, which helps students develop entrepreneurial skills and connects them with practitioners and mentors. The program is being developed in cooperation with the City of Bratislava, The Spot, and Bloomberg Associates, with the goal of supporting new startup projects and strengthening students’ links to the local innovation ecosystem. The pilot phase will run from February to June 2026 and will offer participants workshops, mentoring, work on their own projects, and connections to experts from business, technology, and the public sector. The aim is to build a long-term pipeline of young founders and motivate talented students to develop their ideas in Bratislava.

At the same time, the city is building a dedicated team for economic development and foreign investment. Its role will be to actively cooperate with companies, startups, and the innovation ecosystem, support potential investors entering the city, and assist them in developing their activities in Bratislava. The team will also serve as a contact point for key partners and ensure strong links between the city, universities, and the private sector, enabling new projects to grow effectively and deliver long-term benefits.

The city called on partners to actively engage in joint initiatives for economic and talent development.

Concluded Mayor Matúš Vallo:

“We want to work closely with companies and universities to develop Bratislava as a city of opportunities. Only together can we create an environment where people want to live, study, work, and do business."

Gordon Innes, who leads the economic development practice at Bloomberg Associates, Michael R. Bloomberg’s pro bono consultancy for cities, said:

“We’re honored to support the City of Bratislava as it charts a bold path for inclusive economic growth. The city has remarkable potential and a real opportunity to build coalitions that drive competitiveness and innovation. A core focus is helping Bratislava strengthen its innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems — to attract, retain, and bring back talented people, and to boost long-term productivity. This is a genuine public–private partnership between government, academia, and business, and a model of international best practice.”

Companies interested in participating in planned activities supporting foreign investment, talent development, and economic growth can find more information at [email protected].