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REGIOSTARS Awards

Regiostars Awards

REGIOSTARS: Celebrating Excellence in EU-Funded Projects in Regions

Since 2008, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) has organised the REGIOSTARS Awards every year. These awards have become Europe’s label of excellence for EU-funded projects that demonstrate the impact and inclusiveness of regional development. By addressing common challenges and seizing opportunities, REGIOSTARS inspire regions to create impactful and inclusive projects that benefit people and communitie.

The REGIOSTARS Awards focus on five key areas, each representing a priority for the EU’s regional policy:

Meet the Finalists

This year, the competition has once again reached new heights, with a record of 266 applications submitted. After the first round of evaluation, the jury has selected 25 outstanding finalists across five categories. You can find the finalists of each category below.

What Happens Next?

  • Public vote

    The REGIOSTARS Awards process is designed to engage the public and celebrate the achievements of the finalists. As in previous years, the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite finalist for the Public Choice Award.
    • The vote will begin 2 September and closes on 15 October at midday
    • Visit the REGIOSTARS website to explore the finalists (see below) and vote for your favouring project.
    • Why does it matter? Your vote will decide the winner of the Public Choice Award, giving you the change to support the project that inspires you the most.
  • Final Round

    The finalists will meet for the “final round” of jury evaluation on 14 October during the European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels. There they will pitch their projects to the jury and a live audience. This is their opportunity to showcase their achievements and explain why their project deserves to win.
  • Ceremony

    Winners in each category, as well as the Public Choice Award winner, will be announced during the REGIOSTARS ceremony, in the evening of 15 October. This event marks the conclusion of the European Week of Regions and Cities.

Why Should You Get involved?

The REGIOSTARS Awards are more than just competition. They are a celebration of the creativity, hard work, and dedication of people across Europe. By participating in the public vote, you can support the initiatives that align with your values and priorities and be part of a movement that promotes regional development and inclusivity.

Past Editions

A COMPETITIVE AND SMART EUROPE

DigiTVC
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Interreg V-B South-West Europe
  • Spain
  • France
  • Portugal

DigiTVC

DigiTVC is driving digital transformation in Southern Europe's textile sector, accelerating technology adoption in SMEs across Spain, France, and Portugal. Through real-life AI and IoT pilot projects, a customised Digitalisation Protocol, expert training, and an innovation network of over 100 members, the project boosts efficiency, sustainability, and innovation—for a long-term transformation. DigiTVC has engaged over 800 participants through activities and training, with more than 200 protocol copies distributed.
Project website
PlantaSYST - Establishment of a center of plant systems biology and biotechnology
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Bulgaria

PlantaSYST - Establishment of a center of plant systems biology and biotechnology

Over the past eight years, with the support of the PlantaSYST project, Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (CPSBB) has developed into a leading research center in plant systems biology. Equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and a dedicated team, it has retained talented Bulgarian researchers, attracted international scientists, and gained recognition within the scientific community. CPSBB continuously delivers innovations in agriculture, health, and sustainability, embodying synergy, vision, and impact. Bulgaria
Project website
Satellite radar-based fertilisation maps
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Poland

Satellite radar-based fertilisation maps

The project developed a method for utilising satellite radar (SAR) imagery to create mineral fertiliser application maps for precision farming. Unlike optical data, which can be hindered by cloud cover, Sentinel-1 SAR imagery provides reliable monitoring of crop growth throughout the season. The resulting service enables farmers to make informed fertilisation decisions even during extended periods of adverse weather conditions, addressing a key gap in the current market offering for precision farming.
Project website
Smart Marine - Contemporary harbours with soft energy technology
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Interreg V-A Central Baltic
  • Finland
  • Estonia
  • Latvia
  • Sweden

Smart Marine - Contemporary harbours with soft energy technology

Maritime, coastal tourism is a growing trend, and expectations of service quality are very high. Connecting harbours across the Central Baltic to jointly improve the service standard by investing in environmentally friendly solutions only is crucial. The Blue Flag certificate in most participating harbours today is a safety and quality guarantee with improved and modern facilities and better accessibility. All harbours are visitor-friendly and open for various groups. The project connects 32 harbours and other relevant service providers across the Central Baltic and has collectively increased the quality of services by implementing environmental solutions only.
Project website
TYPICALP - Typicity, Innovation, Competitiveness in Alpine dairy products
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Interreg V-A Italy – Switzerland
  • Italy
  • Switzerland

TYPICALP - Typicity, Innovation, Competitiveness in Alpine dairy products

TYPICALP is a cross-border project that has innovated the Alpine agri-food tradition, focusing on sustainability and competitiveness. Smart and circular solutions have emerged from typical mountain products, including new functional foods, blockchain traceability, shared logistics, and a mobile lab for processing and training in the area. The project has strengthened local micro-supply chains and established a replicable model for smart, green, and inclusive development across Europe.
Project website

A GREEN EUROPE

AGEO - Atlantic Geohazard Risk Management
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Interreg Atlantic Area
  • Portugal
  • Spain
  • France
  • Ireland
  • United Kingdom

AGEO - Atlantic Geohazard Risk Management

AGEO brings together scientists, local communities, and governments to address geohazards in the Atlantic region through citizen science, Earth observation, and innovative risk management tools. By implementing five pilot Citizens’ Observatories in the Atlantic Region, the project demonstrated how to empower local communities to engage in early warning systems and climate challenges. The project has safeguarded citizens from high-impact events and various hazard risk scenarios.
Project website
CARE Peat - Carbon loss reduction from peatlands: an integrated approach
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Interreg North-West Europe
  • Belgium
  • France
  • Ireland
  • Netherlands
  • United Kingdom

CARE Peat - Carbon loss reduction from peatlands: an integrated approach

Power to the peatlands! Peatlands cover 8% of the EU's surface and have a natural potential to store carbon. Unfortunately, many are degraded, releasing carbon rather than storing it. European regions need to act now to prevent further degradation. The Care-Peat project has restored 7 peatlands across North-West Europe resulting in carbon saving of 9,600 tons of CO2/year. The project also demonstrated innovative large-scale restoration techniques and created tools and socioeconomic strategies for land managers.
Project website
EcoX - Recycling of Food Oil Used through Green Chemistry
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Portugal

EcoX - Recycling of Food Oil Used through Green Chemistry

ECOX is a unique project worldwide that transforms used cooking oil into upcycled detergents using patented technology and clean energy. With over 100 products, it has already recovered 500+ tonnes of used cooking oil, engaging citizens, schools and local businesses in a circular model that educates, protects water sources, reduces waste and boosts local economies. The project is expanding internationally and aims to demonstrate that sustainability can have a tangible and replicable impact.
Project website
NAWAMED - Nature based solutions for domestic water reuse in mediterranean countries
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Interreg NEXT MED
  • Italy
  • Tunisia
  • Jordan
  • Malta
  • Lebanon

NAWAMED - Nature based solutions for domestic water reuse in mediterranean countries

Amid increasing water scarcity in the Mediterranean, NAWAMED has implemented innovative nature-based solutions, such as green walls and facades, to treat greywater, transforming buildings into "water producers." These installations not only enhance aesthetics but also engage decision-makers, professionals, and youth in building a sustainable future. A short film captures this journey, inspiring viewers by nurturing their eyes, minds, and souls through cinematic storytelling.
Project website
Re-water
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Interreg Greece – Italy
  • Italy
  • Greece

Re-water

Remove all traces of drugs, pesticides, hormones from wastewater that usually escape treatment, allowing the water to be reused for washing streets and irrigating urban gardens. This new technology has been achieved through cooperation between Greece and Italy. In Gallipoli, the reuse of clean and safe wastewater is now possible thanks to the innovative pilot plant custom-built by the Re-Water project in this historic tourist town in Puglia. This represents a concrete step towards cleaner waters and a more protected marine environment.
Project website

A CONNECTED EUROPE

Connected Lithuania - Effective, Safe and Responsible Lithuanian Digital Community
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Lithuania

Connected Lithuania - Effective, Safe and Responsible Lithuanian Digital Community

Connected Lithuania aimed at promoting digital literacy and the safe use of information technologies. The project enhanced the digital skills of one fifth of the Lithuanian population, reaching 500,000 people across the country. A variety of interactive activities were organised, including training sessions in public libraries, events, competitions, campaigns and initiatives for local communities, to engage both youngsters and seniors in the digital world.
Project website
Construction of a tunnel under Swina - Improving the communication connection between the islands of Uznam and Wolin in Swinoujscie
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Poland

Construction of a tunnel under Swina - Improving the communication connection between the islands of Uznam and Wolin in Swinoujscie

Swinoujscie, a unique city located on islands, has faced transportation challenges for years. Previously reliant on ferry crossings that depended on weather conditions, residents and tourists experienced significant complications in their daily lives. The construction of a modern, bored underwater tunnel measuring 1,780 meters in length, along with access roads, has provided a stable, fast, safe, and year-round connection. This groundbreaking project marks a significant milestone in the history of the city and the region, long awaited by generations.
Project website
MONOCAB OWL - New mobility on old tracks
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Germany

MONOCAB OWL - New mobility on old tracks

“The Great Future in the Countryside” - features the MONOCAB, a gyro-stabilized monorail system where cabins for four to six people travel on a single track in both directions. These compact cabins can pass each other seamlessly in opposite directions. They are ordered like cabs for individual journeys easily via an app, around the clock (available 24/7), 365 days a year. The MONOCAB is an individual, autonomous, and “on demand” solution – serving as a flexible, socially responsible, and sustainable feeder to public transport.
Project website
SIS Santé - Emergency services connected
  • Vote Open Soon
  • France

SIS Santé - Emergency services connected

SIS Santé enables the real-time implementation of pre-hospital telemedicine. Data collected by the fire brigade is transmitted in real time to a physician, allowing for continuous monitoring of the patient’s condition, adjustment of treatment, and proper direction to the appropriate facility. The transmission relies on a WiFi network around the vehicle, facilitating communication between the emergency vehicle and victim assistance (VSAV) via a WiFi mesh connection.
Project website
Zheleznitsa Modern Tunnel Systems
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Bulgaria

Zheleznitsa Modern Tunnel Systems

The Zheleznitsa tunnel is the longest and the most modern tunnel constructed to date in Bulgaria. At 2 kilometers long, it features state-of-the-art systems, including energy-efficient lighting, ventilation, video surveillance, a fire alarm, an intelligent traffic management system, emergency SOS booths, audio and radio announcements, and an electronic access control system, etc. Additionally, a special helipad has been built nearby to accommodate medical helicopters and facilitate mountain rescue operations in the event of mass accidents.
Project website

A SOCIAL AND INCLUSIVE EUROPE

Early support for families at risk
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Czechia

Early support for families at risk

No mother left behind. This project offers free psychosocial support to women after childbirth through hospital-based screening and personalised follow-up care. By connecting health and social services, it ensures that no woman faces postpartum distress alone. This project connects mothers with the support they need—early, easily, and everywhere.
Project website
Oyapock Health Cooperation Phase 1
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Interreg Amazonia
  • French Guiana
  • Brazil

Oyapock Health Cooperation Phase 1

Health knows no borders! Oyapock Coopération Santé is a Franco-Brazilian cross-border project run by three complementary stakeholders in the fields of health prevention and response, united by a common goal: to strengthen the rights and sexual and reproductive health of the inhabitants of the Oyapock basin. Together, they are innovating to prevent HIV and address issues of violence and unplanned pregnancies in this isolated region, improving the autonomy and quality of life for its most vulnerable residents.
Project website
P.I.U. Su.Pr.Eme — Individualised exit routes from exploitation
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Italy

P.I.U. Su.Pr.Eme — Individualised exit routes from exploitation

P.I.U. Su.Pr.Eme – a public-driven programme led by five regions of Southern Italy – has fostered pathways to combat illegal recruitment and promote the social and labour inclusion of over 13,000 migrants. These five regions have established a public-private governance system that strengthens community ties and advocates for sustainable economic integration, dignity, and the protection of rights for all. P.I.U. Su.Pr.Eme serves as an effective and replicable model for the inclusion of vulnerable migrants.
Project website
Social Inclusion Incubator
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Poland

Social Inclusion Incubator

We do not wait for the world to change - we change it together, here and now. The Social Inclusion Incubator was a space for 60 innovative ideas that became real and innovative support for excluded individuals. We journeyed from idea to action, testing and developing pioneering solutions that build a more just and open society. Our 8-step incubation model is a tool for real change - where needs meet the courage to act.
Project website
The sharing factory: new urban hotspot for social inclusion & circular economy
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Belgium

The sharing factory: new urban hotspot for social inclusion & circular economy

The Sharing Factory represents a contemporary approach to social inclusion: it is a modern and ecological shopping center that champions sharing over owning. It hosts a variety of shops established by over 15 citizen initiatives, providing a diverse array of items for sharing or temporary use. Open to all, the Sharing Factory provides specialized services for vulnerable groups, creating employment opportunities, promoting cost savings, and reducing consumption - all without the stigma of charity.
Project website

A EUROPE CLOSER TO CITIZENS

Metropolitan Heritage Days
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Portugal

Metropolitan Heritage Days

AMP Cultural Heritage - Metropolitan Heritage Days is a flagship regional initiative that promotes cultural heritage in Porto Metro Area through the engagement of citizen, local agents and communities, along with innovative cultural participatory policies. Its most vibrant legacy is Cor(p)o Metropolitano, a community-led choir born in 2021, uniting 17 municipalities through artistic co-creation. What began as an experiment is now a living symbol of social cohesion, cultural initiatives, and intercultural dialogue.
Project website
MoBiLait - Expanding Reading Access via Lithuanian Libraries for People with Print Disabilities
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Lithuania

MoBiLait - Expanding Reading Access via Lithuanian Libraries for People with Print Disabilities

MoBiLait has undoubtedly and permanently transformed the learning and studying experience for people in Lithuania who struggle reading standard printed text. The enhanced and accurately functioning virtual library ELVIS, the mobile ELVIS applications, and more than 700 academic publications in accessible formats – have all been developed in collaboration with users who have visual impairments or dyslexia, tailored to their needs. Empowered library staff help ensure that knowledge reaches everyone, everywhere.
Project website
Preserving and showcasing the cultural and natural heritage of North Courland
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Latvia

Preserving and showcasing the cultural and natural heritage of North Courland

In Northern Kurzeme, new tourism and cultural destinations have emerged - places where people, nature, and history meet. In Latvia, a significant development project has concluded in Northern Kurzeme, aiming to revitalize cultural and natural heritage by creating new, high-quality tourism services. Kolka, Dundaga, Targale, Jurkalne, and Ventspils have become vivid examples of how investing in infrastructure and local identity can attract visitors, create jobs, and strengthen communities.
Project website
Shankill Shared Women's Centre
  • Vote Open Soon
  • PEACE IV (PIV) Programme
  • Ireland
  • United Kingdom

Shankill Shared Women's Centre

Shankill Shared Women's Centre is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland - a dedicated shared space with a vision for a prosperous, more peaceful and cohesive future for women and their families from Protestant and Catholic communities across the region and beyond.
Project website
Toldi Reborn - A Story of Unity & Culture
  • Vote Open Soon
  • Interreg V-A Romania – Hungary
  • Romania
  • Hungary

Toldi Reborn - A Story of Unity & Culture

From shared heritage to a co-cultured present. In the Salonta (RO)-Gyula (HU) border area, communities have reconnected through traditions, festivals, and a youth-created film reimagining Toldi - the strong yet humble hero who stood for justice. His story became a bridge, linking generations and fostering friendships. With 3 784 participants in cultural events, the project demonstrated that honouring shared heritage builds trust, inspires creativity, and transforms borders into lasting ties.
Project website