The GREET CE – Green Transition in Central Europe project, implemented over a multi-year period from 20 November 2023 to 19 February 2026, is approaching the conclusion of its interregional cooperation activities aimed at strengthening bioeconomy-based innovation ecosystems and supporting the green and circular transition across Central and South-Eastern Europe.
To mark this important milestone, the GREET CE consortium is organising the Final Project Conference – Strategy to Scale: Regional innovation driving Europe’s green and competitive future, which will take place on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, in Brussels, with the possibility of hybrid participation (on-site and online).
The Final Conference represents not only the formal closure of the GREET CE project, but also a strategic opportunity to reflect on achieved results and to look forward. It provides a dedicated space to build upon and upgrade the bioeconomy and value chain approaches developed within the project, with a particular focus on less developed regions and their potential to actively participate in interregional and European innovation ecosystems.
By bringing together companies, innovation intermediaries, regional and national authorities, policy makers, investors and EU-level institutions, the conference aims to support the continuation, scaling and replication of GREET CE project pilots and business cases beyond the project lifetime. Special attention will be given to how bioeconomy-driven value chains can be further strengthened and connected across regions, contributing to competitiveness, resilience and sustainable growth in line with the European Green Deal, Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) and the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument.
The conference is designed as a forward-looking platform, encouraging dialogue on future cooperation, investment pathways and policy support mechanisms that can help transform project results into long-term structural impacts at regional and European level.
Event details
- Date: 18 February 2026
- Venue: University Foundation, Egmontstraat 11, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
- Format: Hybrid (on-site & online)
- Travel dates for on-site participants: from 17 February 2026
Project Pilots at the core of GREET CE
The GREET CE project is structured around four Project Pilots, each designed to support the bioeconomy, the European Green Deal, and the transition towards a sustainable, circular and resilient European economy. By addressing key sectors such as construction, energy, agriculture and waste-based resource management, the pilots demonstrate how regional strengths can be transformed into scalable European value chains. At the Final Conference, we expect the active participation of at least four companies per pilot, resulting in a minimum of 16 companies from the project partner countries and/or other EU Member States.
🔹 Eco Construction pilot focuses on resource-efficient and circular construction, including sustainable building materials, circular material flows, eco-design approaches and climate-resilient construction solutions. The pilot addresses the construction sector’s role in reducing emissions, material consumption and waste while increasing innovation and competitiveness.
🔹 Regenerative Farming pilot supports sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices, bio-based value chains and soil-friendly production models.
It aims to strengthen resilience in food systems, promote biodiversity and support innovative agri-business solutions aligned with the bioeconomy.
🔹 Renewable Gases pilot focuses on circular energy solutions, including biogas, biomethane, hydrogen and other renewable gas technologies.
The pilot explores the integration of renewable gases into regional and interregional energy systems, contributing to decarbonisation and energy security.
🔹 Digital Energy pilot addresses digitalisation in the energy sector, including smart energy management, energy efficiency solutions and data-driven optimisation of energy systems.
A key component of this pilot is the integration of innovative financing mechanisms, including crowdfunding and crowd-lending approaches, to support investment in clean energy solutions.
WP4 – Crowdfunding and innovative financing
A horizontal focus of the Final Conference will be placed on WP4 – Crowdfunding and innovative financing mechanisms, demonstrating how crowdlending and alternative finance tools can support SMEs across all four Project Pilots.
The conference will showcase practical experiences, lessons learned and business cases where crowdfunding mechanisms have been used to improve access to finance, investment readiness and market uptake of green and circular innovations.
Conference programme highlights
The Final Conference programme will include:
- presentation of key GREET CE project results and impacts,
- in-depth presentation of the four Project Pilots and developed value chains,
- company business cases and SME pitches,
- EU policy perspectives on the Green Deal, circular economy and the I3 Instrument,
- business–investor dialogue sessions,
- panel discussions on scaling green and circular innovations across Europe,
- discussion on future cooperation and investment opportunities beyond the project lifecycle.
A draft agenda of the Final Conference is available on the project website.
Travel cost reimbursement for companies
To support on-site participation, the GREET CE project offers a flat-rate reimbursement of up to 800 EUR (VAT excluded) per company for participation in the Final Conference.
The reimbursement is intended to cover travel, accommodation and subsistence costs for one company representative.
The reimbursement process will be coordinated by the project coordinator, KSSENA, in line with the project reimbursement guidelines.
Interested to attend the conference on project costs? Contact us here>>
About GREET CE
GREET CE is a European project funded under the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument, supporting green transition, circular economy and innovation-driven value chains in Central and South-Eastern Europe.
More information about the project, its pilots and activities is available at:
www.greetce.eu
Further information on registration and participation will be published soon. We warmly invite companies and organisations from across Europe to join us in Brussels for the GREET CE Final Conference.
Interested to attend the conference on project costs? Contact us here– contact you national partner or send us email ‘Natek Niko’ niko.natek@kssena.velenje.eu
