Date: Tuesday, 3 June 2025 Time: 11:00–15:00 CEST Location: Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS), Dimičeva 13, Ljubljana & Online Language: English only Registration is mandatory
Why Materials Matter – And Why Now
The construction sector is at a turning point. Every building begins with choices—of materials, methods, and values. Join us at this hybrid event that brings together leading experts, visionary companies, researchers and institutions to explore how biobased, healthy, and climate-resilient materials can transform the future of building.
Organised under the GREET CE Eco-Construction pilot, the event will feature:
A keynote by Prof. Dr. Sascha Peters (Haute Innovation, Berlin)
Expert talks on material health and regenerative design
Good Practice Pitches from innovative SMEs using biomaterials
Funding & scaling session with EU and national opportunities
Networking and a curated material exhibition
This event is free but registration is mandatory. Register soon to secure your seat – spaces are limited!
Questions? Contact us at: Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia – CCIS, Division: Chamber of Construction and Building Materials Industry of Slovenia – CCBMIS zgigm@gzs.si
“Climate resilient, sustainable and circular construction – innovations, synergies, and generating value chains for smart growth and a competitive construction industry in Central Europe”
March 27, 2025 | 14:00 CET MEGRA International Construction Fair, Gornja Radgona, Slovenia
Organizers: GZS – Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (ZGIGM) With contributions from: KSSENA – Regional Energy Agency, EcoCocon, Veplas, Gees Recycling, Nekster, Celiqum, Kaminota, Mondo Impex, MAJER Group (PL), MORS Directorate for Logistics, and others.
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.
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
Cancelled14:25–14:40 | 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
Out of 250 innovative Central European SMEs active in the green transition that indicated their interest to collaborate with the Greet CE project on business development; some 150 expressed their specific interest in finance raising and crowdfunding. A limited number of these motivated and capable SMEs will have the opportunity to present their firms and ideas to build business (e.g. raise finance, enter certain foreign markets). These “pitches” will be “pre-piloted”; validated, assumptions discussed and further developed during the workshop. The workshop will focus on one hand practical, pragmatic issues relevant to the participating SMEs, going well beyond the high-level policy issues. A special thematic focus on smart utilisation of waste heat and geothermal heat in the energy transition will add flavour to the discussions.
This event takes place in collaboration with the GREET GEO project.
A professional event titled “Recycling of Composite Materials – Challenges in Cross-Border Waste Transport and Their Solutions” took place in Nova Gorica. It was jointly organized by ZGIGM GZS and the Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia, together with the Jožef Stefan Institute and project partner SDGZ within the framework of the Recreate and Greet CE projects. The goal of the event was to connect European projects and key public and private stakeholders from Slovenia and Italy working in the field of circular waste management.
Presentations of project partners’ activities and exchange of opinions focused on exploring possibilities for improving material recycling practices.
The discussion highlighted the challenges of circular material use in the context of definitions of ‘waste,’ ‘reuse,’ oof materials and ‘second-hand products,’ as well as the recycling of composites, including the identification of legislative barriers. Participants addressed key challenges of circular material use, particularly practical obstacles in composite recycling and broader issues based on the practical experiences of project participants.
The GREET CE project activities were presented, focusing on the development of the construction material value chain based on waste within the Eco-Construction pilot project in the construction industry.
By exploring potential solutions for developing circular models within the national framework and possible forms of cross-border cooperation between Italy and Slovenia, the event opened space for the development of innovative ecosystems and new value chains within the waste cycle.
