by igor.vovko | Apr 1, 2025 | Event
On 26 March 2025, the GREET CE project consortium held its third coordination meeting at the headquarters of Falcon Vision in Budapest.
Project partners reviewed the progress of ongoing activities and deliverables, clarified aspects related to i3 calls and success criteria, and discussed key implementation steps moving forward.
The agenda focused on the current status of pilot developments, evaluation of completed and pending tasks, performance indicators (KPIs), and the quality control process.
Partners jointly defined the action plan for the next project phase to ensure aligned, impactful implementation across all work packages.
The GREET CE project continues to support green transition and innovation-driven regional development in Central Europe.
Stay informed and follow the project’s progress at: https://greetce.eu
by igor.vovko | Mar 27, 2025 | Event
Date and time: 27 March 2025, 14:00 – 16:00
Location: Hall 2, Gornja Radgona, Pomurski sejem – in the framework of the Megra 2025 fair
Format: Hybrid event (live and online meeting) JOIN HERE >>
Registration: all registrants will receive free tickets at the fair box office, REGISTER HERE>>
AGENDA
Innovation and synergies for smart growth and a competitive construction industry in Central Europe
Emerging value chains with market potential and circular business models in construction
14:00–14:10| Welcoming speech
– Representative of CCIS CCBMIS / GREET CE project partner
– Brief introduction and presentation of the European GREET CE project and the
ECO-CONSTRUCTION pilot – a new generation of value chains and business models.
- The importance of the project for SMEs and the strengthening of collaboration in co-creating future business models, an overview of the project’s development phase of value chains and business models within the Eco-Construction pilot in participating regions (SI, PL, RO, HR, SK, HU), and how companies can engage in cross-border cooperation and access funding.
14:10–14:25 | Good Practice Example: The NEKSTER Digital Platform for Financing Sustainable Projects
NEKSTER – Myhajlo Todurov, CEO
Smart financing and a digital platform as a bridge between companies and investors.
How can fintech innovations support sustainable solutions and SMEs?
Q&A
Cancelled 14:25–14:40 | Challenges of the Circular Economy in an International Context, Institutional Support, and the Challenges of Circular Practices
Opportunities and obstacles for innovative companies in international cooperation on waste management, limitations in cross-border waste management projects, and presentation of the IMPEL network – Bojan Počkar, National Coordinator, Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy (MOPE)
Cross-border shipment of waste – practical challenges faced by Slovenian companies in international cooperation in the waste sector and possibilities for improvements.
Q&A
14:40–14:50 | Business Culture and Cooperation in the Central Europe Region
Cesary Molski, MAE(GREET CE) – Strengthening interregional business cooperation in Central Europe: how to do cross-border business successfully considering differences in business practices, organizational culture, expectations, and communication that impact projects.
Opportunities, real experiences, and best practices.
Q&A
14:50–16:00 | PITCH DECK – Short Presentations of Participating Innovative and Sustainability-Oriented Companies
SI – Slovenia:
VEPLAS d.d.
– High-tech company developing advanced composite materials for aerospace, medical, and energy sectors.
– Successful I3 fund recipient – a model for sustainable industrial transformation.
LUMIL
– Innovative modular construction system awarded for energy efficiency and design adaptability.
– Prefabricated construction of the future, ready to scale across EU markets.
SAAX (EcoCocon)
– A comprehensive circular innovation example: insulation from agricultural residues (straw), robotic and local production.
– High potential for expansion in regions with access to local raw materials.
MYCOPOR
– Next-generation biotech company: mushroom mycelium-based materials for construction and packaging.
– Sustainability, natural origin, biodegradability – at the core of its business model.
TECHNOL
– Innovative solutions for reusing construction waste with advanced recycling processes.
GreenTween
– Company developing digital solutions for sustainable building maintenance with a circular management approach throughout the building lifecycle.
HR – Croatia:
Lignum Cibaliae
– Developing a local wood value chain focusing on energy efficiency, short supply chains, and the design/construction of authentic Slavonian wooden houses.
RO – Romania:
ECO LIVING PROJECT
– Modular, eco-designed housing solutions for rapidly growing urban areas.
CELIQUM
– Bio-based materials and high-tech circular development for the construction sector.
MONDOIMPEX
– Sustainable wooden products with a strong local identity and sustainable sourcing.
IT – Italy:
GEES Recycling
– Connecting municipalities, companies, and industries in a circular recycling chain and demonstrating operational excellence in construction practices.
16:00–16:10 | – Sustainable and Circular Solutions in the Defence and Security Sector: Innovative Military Logistics, the Green Future of Civil Protection, and Business Opportunities
Opportunities for companies developing resilience, logistics, materials, and digital tools – Colonel Robert Šipec, MSc, Directorate for Logistics, Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia
Defence is not only the military – it’s also about saving lives during natural disasters.
– What green and circular solutions is the sector looking for?
– How do climate changes – floods, droughts, fires – affect defence and civil protection?
– Opportunities under Slovenian and European calls (e.g. EDF, dual-use technologies)
Q&A
16:10–16:20 | Opportunities under I3 Calls and Related Programmes, Conclusions and Next Steps
How to integrate your business model into international projects?
Tips for successful proposal writing, identifying key partners, and Q&A with the GREET CE consortium.
– Summary and invitation to participate in the next phases of the GREET CE project, connect with existing/new partners, and join upcoming thematic webinars.
16:20–16:30 | Informal Networking and B2B Meetings
– Opportunity to establish direct contacts and discuss possibilities for joint project development
WHO WE ARE ADDRESSING:
– Companies developing, innovating and offering advanced bio, eco or sustainable solutions for the construction industry
– Project idea developers and companies wishing to participate in EU calls (I3, Horizon Europe, Life+)
– Intermediaries (intermediaries, investors and financiers) supporting the transition to sustainable construction
– Public clients of construction services looking for sustainable solutions for construction projects
– Research institutions and professional organisations in the field of circular economy and digitalisation
REGISTRATION >>
by igor.vovko | Mar 17, 2025 | News
Reward based crowdfunding: an opportunity for Central European consumer goods startups illustrated by success stories of innovative SMEs
Press release – 17 March, 2025
Reward based crowdfunding is an opportunity for innovative startups that produce consumer goods to launch new products, find buyers, collect orders and moderate amounts of funds. The firm does not have to be profitable and its owners do not have to release ownership in return for money.
In exchange for money received from donors, a “reward” or gift – a product or service of the startup – is offered and has to be delivered on schedule. The value of gifts offered is typically proportionate to the amount pledged and received. Goods, merchandise, invites to exclusive can each be rewards.
Successful Crowdfunding Campaigns need good communications and realistic financial, funding goals. Good communications require an engaging presentation (compelling visuals and narratives to convey the project’s vision and impact), an active social media presence and community involvement.
Most rewards-based crowdfunding platforms take about 5% to 8% of the funds raised. A platform may guarantee to return all donations to the donors if the financial goal is not met without taking a fee. Each crowdfunding site has certain thematic specialties, niches where it performs better.
Multiple European Union countries represented in the I3 Greet CE project have success stories:
Croatian success story: Miret produces Earthbound™ ecological sneakers using natural materials, ensuring superb comfort and high durability, all with a lower environmental impact. It has shoes without plastics or leather. Leather is filled with toxic chemicals, most often heavy metals. Hrvoje and Domagoj Boljar are the key people behind Miret. They are industry insiders who have inherited a factory from their father. They have manufactured sneakers for some of the most famous high-end brands in the world and realised the huge ecological problems created by the footwear industry. Miret has raised EUR 68,210 from 562 backers on Kickstarter in 2020, and 470,000 EUR through Funderbeam in 2022.
Portuguese success story: 8000 kicks Ltd. produces Trekker ecological waterproof vegan sneakers and other clothes with hemp fibers. For the last 6 years, it has been launching Kickstarter campaigns, collecting over 10,000 backers. They claim to plant a tree for every order, making their boots 100% carbon neutral. Bernardo Carreira established the firm together with his grandmother, Otilia. Bernardo named his company 8000kicks because man has been using hemp since 8,000 years BC.
Romanian success story: Rovensko village was to be supported by the reconstruction of an organic processing facility for truffles, fruits and vegetables in the Romanian Banat region. EUR 15,172 was collected in 2016 from 306 backers in 2016.
Slovakian success story: Culcharge is a compact charge and data cable, allowing its users to charge their smartphones from almost any device with USB input. It is an alternative solution for charging smartphones. It was founded in 2013 by Jozef Zemla and Viktor Reviliak. In two campaigns, the company has raised EUR 94,311 from 3076 backers on Indiegogo.
Slovenian success story: Daisy, established by Andrei Nastran produces watering devices, automatic watering for indoor and outdoor plants. It can be used as automatic flower/plant watering. It measures soil humidity, temperature, brightness and irrigates through an advanced algorithm, capable of defining the optimal water amount the plant requires. It raised USD 30,681 from 604 backers on Indiegogo in 2014.
Hungarian success story: Remootio, established by two recent Budapest Technical University graduates, Csaba Szántó and Bence Kurucsó has developed a smart device designed to automate gates and garage doors. In 2019, Remootio launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to bring this product to market. The campaign raised $36,104, from 332 backers.
PDF Version >>
by igor.vovko | Feb 21, 2025 | News
International Conference in Warsaw on the Future of Sustainable Construction (CirCon4Climate)
On February 18 and 19, an international conference took place in Warsaw, bringing together experts from the fields of construction, architecture, urban infrastructure, waste management, plastics, and related industries to discuss the future of sustainable construction.
This event, which gathered visionaries, innovators, and decision-makers, focused on solutions to accelerate the implementation of the Fit for 55 package and facilitate an effective transition to a circular economy. Discussions considered environmental, geopolitical, and social challenges, with particular emphasis on how the conclusions could contribute to shaping national waste management policies.
The event also summarized the project outcomes of CirCon4Climate. The Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG) was one of the co-organizers, with Dr. Alenka Mauko Pranjić participating in a panel discussion on circular and low-carbon building materials.
The conference was held in a hybrid format, featuring a large online audience from across Europe. Alongside speakers on the main stage, smaller working groups engaged in focused discussions.
The event concluded dynamically with a series of short, five-minute inspiring talks (TED Talk-style), where speakers raised creative and thought-provoking questions critical to the future of circular construction:
- Circularity is not new – why is it still not systematically integrated?
- The future is now – how can we encourage concrete action today?
- Technology is available – what is hindering its widespread implementation?
- How can we overcome bureaucratic barriers that slow down innovation?
- Why do experts collaborate too little, and how can we improve networking?
- How can we extract useful information from vast amounts of data for circular construction?
- How can circular construction become more attractive to investors and support real estate development without increasing costs?
- How can we ensure that circular construction is sustainable while also being safe, high-quality, and appealing?
The event raised important questions and provided a foundation for further action and the development of circular solutions in the construction sector.
More info:
Building Circularity 2025 conference | INNOWO
