European Heritage in the Heart of Kosova – UBT Honors Karl Gega with the Largest International Exhibition

16/07/2025

In a solemn ceremony held at the UBT Science, Innovation and Technology Park in Lipjan, the international exhibition dedicated to the genius of railway engineering, Karl Gega, was officially opened, along with the central ceremony of Global UBT Fest 2025.

This interdisciplinary exhibition, brought to Kosova for the first time, represents a unique collaboration between UBT and international partners from Italy and the region.

The event gathered numerous distinguished figures from the fields of politics, education, diplomacy, business, and architecture. Among the attendees were: UBT Rector and President Prof. Dr. Edmond Hajrizi, Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade Rozeta Hajdari, Members of the Kosova Assembly, representatives of local and international institutions, architects from Italy, professors, and many students.

In his opening remarks, Rector Hajrizi emphasized the strategic importance of this exhibition for the country:

“With this exhibition, we are not only honoring the figure of Karl Gega, one of the most distinguished engineers in European history, but we are also sending a clear message to the younger generations: that vision, knowledge, and dedication know no borders. The UBT Smart City is the place where history meets innovation, and where cultural heritage is interwoven with technology and the future.”

Prof. Lucia Nadin praised UBT as a worthy European partner and congratulated all those involved for their work and achievements:

“The purpose of this event is to shed light on the figure of Karl Gega, his genius, his defiance of the impossible, and his persistence in defending his ideas and projects – especially for young people: to show them that through the knowledge of his great work, they can learn that everything is possible if, in addition to dreams and visions, they are aware of the depth of knowledge they must possess – and which often requires serious effort to attain,” said Nadin.

Genc Podgorica, an Albanian entrepreneur in Italy and one of the key contributors to the realization of this exhibition, stated:

“This collaboration is a testament to how much we can achieve when we connect our cultural roots with international experience and knowledge. Karl Gega was a visionary – and the youth of Kosova deserve to be inspired by such examples. UBT is creating an extraordinary platform that enables these bridges of cooperation.”

At the end of the event, UBT awarded certificates of appreciation to all those who contributed to the realization of the international exhibition dedicated to Karl Gega. Rector Hajrizi emphasized that these certificates are not merely symbolic documents but an expression of deep gratitude for the work and commitment shown toward knowledge and culture.

The exhibition is organized in cooperation with the Academy of Sciences of Albania and the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia, bringing into focus the European heritage of this key 19th-century figure.

The ceremony featured a special artistic moment, with musical performances by students from the Faculty of Modern Music, Digital Production and Management.