by igor.vovko | Sep 1, 2025 | Event
Location: online
Organizer: Chamber of Construction and Building Materials Industry
Contact: Alenka Bea Logar Pučnik, 015898242, zgigm@gzs.si
Methodology, project office support, and European networking for smart specialization – key steps and strategies for successful application and implementation
Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. (CEST)
Format: Online (the link to join will be sent later to the email address provided during registration)
Language: Slovenian (with the option of English if there is interest from international GREET CE partners or their SME partners)
Registration mandatory and via email to zgigm@gzs.si
Free of charge.
Target group:
• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from GREET CE partner regions
• Research and development organizations (RRI)
• Development agencies and support environments
• Applicants and partners in emerging i3, Horizon Europe, and other projects
• Project offices and consultants for European calls for proposals
Webinar objectives:
• Brief introductory presentation of the characteristics of the i3, Horizon Europe, and other current calls for proposals from the perspective of preparing applications, from a Slovenian perspective
• Explain how project offices and RRI stakeholders can be involved in the preparation and implementation
• Highlight the key elements of a successful application (content, technical, and consortium aspects)
• Share practical experiences of successful partners from existing I3 projects
• Answer participants’ questions about the process, partner selection, and project management
Tentative program:
11:00–11:05 | Introductory welcome—What is I3, calls for proposals related to innovative projects focused on smart specialization
GZS ZGIGM also GREET CE representative
Overview of the I3 instrument, smart specialization
Lecturer: Alenka Bea Logar Pučnik, GZS ZGIGM and GREET CE representative
· 11:05–11:30 | How to obtain EU funds for companies that develop innovative products and want to connect internationally – concrete approaches, examples of good practices
Presentation of TECOS’ role as a partner in European projects I3, Horizon Europe, and similar projects in an expanded role as a project office – as a key coordination partner
Lecturer: Dr. Aleš Hančič
(TECOS – Slovenian Toolmaking Development Centre with professional and research cooperation in several international projects, where they present good practices of domestic industry and include Slovenian companies in the partnership project. One of the leading partners in the Strategic Development and Innovation Partnership SRIP Factories of the Future (SRIP ToP) since 2017, with a vision to become a long-term strategic development partner to manufacturing companies in the metalworking and other industries and a strategic focus on the circular economy and the development of new materials. With the RISE project, they are accelerating the introduction of innovations and promoting the investments necessary for successful sustainable interregional cooperation. With the INCIRCULAR project, they are focused on increasing the ratio of recycled to primary materials. the CIRCI project provides innovation vouchers for innovative companies, and the ADDCIRCLES project addresses the promotion of sustainable regional development in the field of additive manufacturing.
· 11:30–11:50 | Selecting project consortium partners – hands-on experience with recommendations
Lecturer: Miha Jazbinšek
(MK projekt – a consulting company with over 20 years of experience in project management, investment planning, and securing non-repayable sources of financing, with the aim of providing companies and public institutions with comprehensive and high-quality support in the implementation of their projects, both in Slovenia and within the European Union)
· 11:50–12:10 | How a project office can support you – consulting, methodologies, and examples of good practices
Lecturer: Primož Praper
( EUTRIP – a company offering comprehensive solutions in the field of investments in the broader area of construction and energy, including the preparation of conceptual solutions, investment and project documentation, applications for non-repayable funds, energy audits, supervision, monitoring, coordination and administration of EU projects, consulting on the introduction of BIM technology and digitisation in project management. The director of EUTRIP is the only Slovenian nominee for the prestigious international European Roger Léron Award 2022, presented by FEDARENE (European Federation of Agencies and Regions for Energy and the Environment).
· 12:10–12:40 | Discussion – Q&A: finding partners and setting up consortia, questions from participants
Discussion of specific ideas or dilemmas of applicants – tools for international networking of SMEs and researchers, etc.
| Conclusion and announcement of additional activities within the GREET CE project
by igor.vovko | Aug 4, 2025 | Event
Date: 15 September 2025
Location: Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS), Dimičeva 13, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Format: Hybrid (in-person and online)
Hosted by: GZS ZGIGM & GZS ZKI
Organized by: CCIS and projects BOOST4BIOEST, BioINSouth, BIOLOC, CEE2ACT. GREET CE,
REGISTRATION >>
Agenda PDF >>
EVENT PRESENTATIONS AND PRESS RELEASE >>
Agenda – Session Overviews
🟩 BIO SUMMIT 2025 – Morning Programme (National session – in Slovenian only)
BIO(R)EVOLUTION IN ACTION: entry point into Slovenia’s national bioeconomy development strategy and action plan
*The Slovenian Bioeconomy Hub is a joint initiative of Anteja ECG, Circular Change, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia – Chemical Industry Association, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food.
09:00-09:30 | Registration of participants and networking over coffee
09:30-09:40 | The intersection as a common ground – what we have achieved together, what are the next steps
Ladeja Godina Košir, Circular Change, and Mario Plešej, MKGP, Slovenia
09:40-10:10 | Concrete results – overview of selected elements for BIO(R)EVOLUTION
| From mapping opportunities to business models of the future – BIOLOC
Alenka Dovč, Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Association of the Chemical Industry, Slovenia
| How to succeed in the bioeconomy – solutions that work abroad and opportunities that can be implemented in Slovenia – CEE2ACT
Miha Škrokov, Anteja ECG, Slovenia
10:10-11: 50 | If not us now, who and when: Formulating the starting points for a strategy and action plan for the bioeconomy development of Slovenia (interactive part with concluding discussion
Orchestration: Circular Change and Anteja ECG, Slovenia
11:50-12:15 | | Tell us your priority research topics in Slovenia’s bioeconomic development (questionnaire presentation) and become part of the International Bioeconomy Challenge
Lucija Marovt, Circular Change, Slovenia
🟩 12:15-13:00 BREAK WITH BIO LUNCH FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS
🟩 BIO SUMMIT 2025 – B2B networking session in paralel to afternoon session
Meeting Rooms, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia
A dedicated B2B networking session will run in parallel with the afternoon BIO SUMMIT 2025 programme. It offers a space for GREET CE partners, participating companies, and stakeholders to explore cooperation opportunities, share project ideas, and build cross-border innovation partnerships. Organised in collaboration with regional GREET CE stakeholders, the session fosters exchange between solution providers, investors, SMEs, and public institutions driving the green and circular transition in Central Europe. Participants may join freely; pre-arranged meetings are welcome and can be coordinated on site or in advance.
From 12:00 to 17:00.
Participating or confirmed Slovenian organisations and companies:
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (ZGIGM, ZKŽP, ZKIS), Circular Change, Anteja ECG, Technology Park Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty (University of Ljubljana), Faculty of Economics (University of Ljubljana), Faculty of Design, Zenteh d.o.o., InnoRenew CoE, KSSENA, Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food (MKGP), Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development (MKRR), KOTO d.o.o., R1ng d.o.o., NON TOX UNI KUM, EPEKA, Infinite Pure Solutions, Ecolibrium d.o.o., COGREEN d.o.o., Rutena / Mycopor, TT Okroglica d.o.o., Slovenia Forest Service (ZGS)
Participating or confirmed international organisations and companies:
Climate-KIC, Bellona Europa, Falcon-Vision ZRt. (Hungary), Deloitte CE, Istanbul Aydin University (Türkiye), ASIMCOV – BISNet Transylvania (Romania), Green Energy Association (Hungary), Bioeconomy Cluster (Slovakia), EIHP – Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar (Croatia), DOOR – Society for Sustainable Development Design (Croatia), MONDOIMPEX SRL (Romania), EKO LIKA GREENNOVATION (Croatia), Mazowiecka Energy Agency (Poland), Université Mohammed Premier (Morocco), University of Pannonia (Hungary), GoParity (Portugal), Creatiger (Hungary), Sewergy (Hungary), Product Feed (Slovakia), Healthy Materials Lab EU – HML EU (Germany), Glasgow Chamber of Commerce (Scotland, UK), Infinite Pure Solutions (USA/Slovenia), Eco-Harmony (Romania), MIRET / Earthbound (Croatia), Makabi Agritech (Croatia), Healthy Materials Lab EU / The New School (Germany/USA)
🟩 BIO SUMMIT 2025 – Afternoon Programme (GREET CE – International Session, in English language only)
SMART, CIRCULAR, COMPETITIVE
Powered by Regional Collaboration in Bioeconomy Innovation
13:00 – 13.10| Welcome and Opening Remarks
Gregor Ficko (GZS ZGIGM, Slovenia)
Marko Hren (MKRR, S3/S5, Slovenia)
Boštjan Krajnc (KSSENA, Slovenia): setting the context of GREET CE and the role of Central Europe in the bioeconomy transition. Strategic contribution of GREET CE to the national bioeconomy ecosystem.
13:10 – 14:10 | Keynote Speeches: European Synergies for Bioeconomy and Healthy Materials
John Houghton, Glassgow Chamber of Commerce (United Kingdom-Scotland): Empowering Regional Bioeconomy: SME Collaboration and Circular Innovation in Scotland
Leila Behjat, Healthy Materials Lab EU HML EU (Germany): Material Health and Bioeconomy on the Rise
Petra Marinko, NON TOX UNI KUM (Slovenia): Case Spotlight: Municipality of Trbovlje – Biobased public space renovation (A real-life example of redesigning public spaces using certified biobased and health-friendly materials and inclusive approach. Public procurement challenges and solutions. Local supplier involvement and product traceability)
14:10 – 14:50 | GREET CE Pilot Project Presentations
Željka Fištrek, EIHP (Croatia): GREET CE Project 4 sectoral pilots overview
Martin Jamrich, BEC (Slovakia): Regenerative Farming Pilot
- Soil health, biodiversity, local biomass (Bio-based inputs for circular agri-value chains)
Marko Govek, KSSENA (Slovenia): Digital Energy Pilot
- Smart energy tools for SMEs (Cross-regional digitalisation pilots)
Alenka Bea Logar Pučnik, CCIS (Slovenia): Eco‑Construction Pilot
- Health-friendly materials, design innovation, circularity in building sector (Real use cases and regional material ecosystems)
Željka Fištrek, EIHP (Croatia): Renewable Gases Pilot
- Biogas and hydrogen pathways (Technology integration, regional clusters)
Partner Roundtable & Discussion (on replicability, regional policy, and funding synergies -I3, Horizon)
14: 50 – 15:00 BREAK with refreshment
15:00 – 15:45 | Panel: International Best Practices and Financing Models
Katja Bučan, CCIS (Slovenia): EU funds supporting your innovative bussines circural / sustainable ideas
Niko Natek, KSSENA (Slovenia): National engagement and local green innovation
Manuel Nina, GoParity (Portugal): Crowdlending/crowfunding as a new financing tool for bioeconomy SMEs
Q/A
15:45 – 16:30 | Cross‑border Networking (GREET CE platform) & Pitch Corner
Niko Natek, KSSENA (Slovenia): Summarize lessons from GREET CE and other I3 projects from Slovenia
Filip Bobek, CCIS (Slovenia): Featuring practical platform deployment of matchmaking platform
Pitch Corner: Pitch deck presentations by companies involved in GREET CE pilots
(Sewergy – Ádám Kiss, Creatiger – Gergely Törő, COGREEN-Primož Zorec, RUTENA – Matjaž Božič, MIRET /Earthbount – Hrvoje Boljar, EkoLika Greennovation – Dragica Jerkov, Product Feed – Rastislav Bobček)
16:30 – 17:00 | Conclusions and Outlook
Alenka Bea Logar Pučnik, CCIS (Slovenia):
- Summary of international takeaways and pilot learnings
- Strategic alignment with Slovenian and EU bioeconomy objectives
- Next steps: joint scale-up initiatives, SME cluster support, and future funding under I3, Horizon Europe, Interreg
ABOUT THE GREET CE SUMMIT:
The GREET CE Bioeconomy Innovation Summit is designed as a strategic contribution to multiple EU policy priorities, including the European Green Deal, the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, and the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative. These frameworks emphasize the urgent need for sustainable growth pathways, driven by innovation, low-carbon technologies, and circular economy models. The Summit provides a concrete platform for showcasing how GREET CE pilots deliver practical solutions across key bioeconomy domains: eco-construction, digital and sustainable energy, regenerative farming, and renewable gases.
By convening these themes in a single cross-sectoral event, the Summit facilitates not only knowledge sharing, but also the integration of innovation across value chains and policy levels. The event draws attention to the crucial role of SMEs, research institutions, and regional clusters in driving systemic change.
Aligned with the objectives of the Interregional Innovation Investment (I3) Instrument and Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3), the Summit fosters interregional partnerships that are essential for scaling up regional innovations and embedding them in EU-wide agendas. GREET CE directly supports the EU’s ambitions for circularity, climate neutrality, resource efficiency, and inclusive innovation by showcasing transferable practices, scalable technologies, and collaboration models that can be replicated across Central Europe and beyond.
The event also embraces the ethos of the New European Bauhaus, promoting aesthetics, inclusiveness, and sustainability in how bio-based materials and solutions are designed, applied, and perceived by the public.
GREET CE SUMMIT OBJECTIVES:
Showcase pilot-based solutions from four thematic areas:
The event will provide a focused platform for presenting the most promising outputs of the GREET CE pilot activities, including innovations in eco-construction, digital energy, regenerative farming, and renewable gases. Each solution reflects a unique application of sustainability, technological readiness, and market potential, demonstrating how interregional collaboration can generate real-world impact.
Strengthen dialogue among SMEs, policy makers, and EU projects:
The summit serves as a space where small and medium-sized enterprises can directly interact with representatives from EU institutions, national ministries, and other I3-funded projects. This dialogue is crucial for aligning policy frameworks with the needs and capacities of innovative businesses, enabling co-creation of solutions and evidence-based policy design.
Connect regional innovation actors across Central Europe:
Through cross-border networking sessions, the event fosters new relationships between clusters, innovation hubs, and R&D institutions across the Central European region. This connectivity strengthens the ecosystem around bioeconomy innovation and encourages a coordinated approach to regional development.
Disseminate best practices and inspire replication:
By presenting tested methodologies, governance models, and SME success stories, the summit will disseminate knowledge in an actionable form. Partners and guests will gain access to concrete tools and approaches that can be adapted or scaled in other regions and thematic contexts.
Foster new collaboration paths among I3-funded initiatives:
The summit encourages convergence among ongoing I3 projects, creating conditions for future joint actions, policy coordination, and integrated funding applications. GREET CE acts as a connector, enabling synergy between parallel efforts in circular economy, energy transition, and sustainable development at EU level.
by igor.vovko | Jul 30, 2025 | News
Press release – 30 July, 2025
Technology and business innovations and supportive European legislation has made it possible for Croatian, Hungarian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovakian and Slovenian citizens to invest in ventures that combine positive environmental and social impact with profits.
The Greet CE project aims to foster bioeconomy solutions and promote crowdfunding. Therefore, it assists innovative European SMEs and citizens seeking crowdfunding deals. It also ambitions building closer ties between Portugal and Central European countries.
Sciven, a Portuguese venture offers an investment opportunity currently available to all European Union citizens. It is in collaboration with GoParity, a leading, award-winning European impact investment digital platform.
Citizens are offered the opportunity to participate in the provision of a 8-year EUR 160,000 loan to SCIVEN. The annual interest rate is 5.6%. Online investment can be made. The borrower plans to repay funds in 102 monthly instalments of €2,500.
SCIVEN specialises in the development of energy production and management systems. Its biomass boiler uses forest biomass waste to generate heat. The company develops biomass boilers and cogeneration systems (CHP) for energy-intensive users such as hospitals, hotels and public buildings, as well as industrial applications. Recognised as an Energy Services Company (ESE) by the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology, SCIVEN collaborates with entities such as the Biomass Centre for Energy, Cleanwatts and Portugal Ventures. The funds raised will finance the installation of a biomass boiler at the José Relvas Foundation, an institution that provides retirement home, a day centre, nursery and other services to the community. Currently, the foundation uses natural gas to heat water. The planned biomass system includes a boiler and peripheral equipment, a fuel storage silo with an autonomy of over a month, and a technical room optimised to house the entire system. It shall enable the foundation to reduce its energy costs by up to 70% without relying on fossil fuels.
by igor.vovko | Jul 11, 2025 | Event
On 10 July 2025, the GREET CE project hosted a strategic webinar as part of the Eco Construction Pilot, focusing on one of the most critical aspects of sustainable innovation: how to access capital for real market entry and scale-up.
The session gathered 20 participants from across Central Europe – including Slovenia, Croatia, Poland, Romania, and beyond – with the goal of strengthening the financial competences of SMEs in the green and circular construction sector.
Two guest speakers offered expert insight into alternative financing models that are already making a difference on the ground:
🔹 Manuel Nina, representing Goparity, introduced their crowdlending platform, which enables citizen-powered investments in sustainability. With over €50 million in sustainable projects financed, Goparity’s model is a clear example of how participatory finance can drive real change and connect communities and projects — including in construction, circular economy, and renewable energy.
🔹 Mykhajlo Tudorov, from Nekster, presented concrete approaches to unlocking internal liquidity and building investor-readiness for SMEs. From growth funding strategies to aligning risk profiles with capital providers, Nekster supports the development of sound, bankable business models.
💬 The presentations were followed by an interactive Q&A and peer exchange, offering participating companies actionable tools to navigate the complex financing landscape. The event also highlighted the importance of aligning private capital with public goals — in line with EU policy instruments such as the I3 initiative (Interregional Innovation Investments), coordinated by EISMEA and next GREET CE eco construction thematic webinar-HOW TO APPLY FOR I3 INSTRUMENT FUNDS TO SUPPORT YOUR INOVATION.
📥 Download materials:
• Presentation: Crowdlending for Eco Construction – GoParity (PDF)
• Invitation Flyer – Alternative Financial Instruments Webinar (PDF)
🔗 We warmly encourage all interested stakeholders to follow and explore the work of these two financial innovators:
• Goparity – Sustainable Crowdlending Platform
• Nekster – Liquidity and Growth Financing
This event was part of the GREET CE knowledge transfer track, supporting the growth of SME capacities in green transition. Stay tuned for our upcoming webinar, which will focus on writing successful applications for the EU I3 programme.
For more information, contact us at: zgigm@gzs.si
