The final transnational meeting of the C4TALENT – Cities for Talent project took place in Nyíregyháza, Hungary, on 13–14 October 2025, marking an inspiring milestone in the network’s two-and-a-half-year journey to tackle brain drain and strengthen business ecosystems in small and medium-sized European cities.
Hosted by the Municipality of Nyíregyháza, the project’s Lead Partner, the event brought together representatives from all ten partner cities for two days of reflection, knowledge sharing, and celebration.
Day 1 – It’s All About People
The meeting opened with a policy breakfast hosted by Dr. Ferenc Kovács, Mayor of Nyíregyháza, where local and visiting policymakers discussed how cities can better attract and retain talent.
The official opening session featured remarks from Teofil Gherca (URBACT Secretariat), Dávid Bartók (Lead Partner), and Béla Kézy (Lead Expert), followed by a presentation introducing the host city’s local context and its C4TALENT journey.
The day’s central theme – “It’s all about people” – was reflected in three panel discussions exploring What do talents want? from the perspectives of employers, returnees, and students.
A key takeaway emerged: personal bonds, trust, belonging to a community and cooperation are essential to retaining and attracting skilled people. As one participant concluded, “cooperation besides competition” is vital – when employers join forces, the pool of qualified labour expands to everyone’s benefit.
In the afternoon, participants visited the LEGO factory in Nyíregyháza, learning firsthand about corporate skills management, competition and cooperation among large companies.
The evening closed with a joint dinner to maintain the project’s collaborative spirit.
Day 2 – From Global Inspiration to Local Impact
The second day looked to the future. The “Seeds for Future Cooperation” workshop encouraged partners to explore how their collaboration could continue beyond the project’s lifetime. Several cities are already taking part in URBACT's new transfer networks – ensuring that the learning and cooperation will carry on.
Partners also discussed the legacy of C4TALENT, including the upcoming final product package of video materials and written guides designed to support cities in their ongoing talent strategies.
During the C4TALENT Talk – a TED-style session – all ten partner cities presented their Integrated Action Plans, summarizing their locally developed strategies to attract and retain talent. As one presenter beautifully said, “Every forest begins with a single seed.”
Keynote speaker Péter Kovács, serial entrepreneur, global connector, and Networksmith, highlighted the importance of diversity and openness in innovation ecosystems:
💬 “If a community only looks inward, it stagnates.”
The meeting concluded with closing remarks, a gala dinner, and a celebration – not as an end, but as the beginning of new partnerships, ideas, and inspiration.
