Crossroads for ideas aims to bring together talented young people from the United Kingdom and the eight Central European countries which joined the EU in May 2004.

The initiative provides new opportunities for exchanging ideas, experiences and skills, and for building new networks and partnerships. The name crossroads for ideas captures the spirit of this new exchange. Crossroads for ideas includes a wide variety of innovative events and activities throughout 2004, taking place in all nine countries: the UK, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. The events range from business seminars to fashion shows, and from film festivals to computer game design workshops. Those taking part include students and young professionals from the different countries, working together on ideas as varied as space exploration and new collaborative architectural design projects.

In the United Kingdom, the initiative includes the UK Experience - a series of networking events and opportunities for the most talented young professionals from Central Europe and the UK. Events take place in centres of excellence across the UK, each focused on a key theme presenting new opportunities for real partnership: Environmental Technology, Business & Finance, Bio-science, Product Design and E-media, Architecture, TV and Fashion. Participants from Central Europe have the opportunity to engage with the best UK talent and develop new partnerships and networks.

Crossroads for ideas was launched on 28 April, 2004 by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London who held a glittering party to celebrate "New Europe" and brought together its stars of today and tomorrow. Approximately 300 high-profile guests and dignitaries were invited to a champagne and cocktail reception in the beautiful and elegant Durbar Court in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The event was the perfect launch for this important moment in Europe's history, and also served as the British launch for the crossroads for ideas public diplomacy initiative for the countries of Central Europe.

One of the first things to happen is the ZOOM in competition which will take 25 teams of two people to the UK this summer to help them realise some of their dreams. For details about 'ZOOM in', go to Crossroads for ideas which lists events in all participating countries. Select Czech Republic to read up on 'ZOOM in'.