Smart Regions
Archive 2018 -2023
Past episodes
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused more than 6.9 million deaths worldwide and parts of our life have come to a halt.
Thanks to the European project “Perform-REACT” supported by the European Regional Development Fund through the Recovery Assistance for Cohesion and the Territories of Europe (REACT-EU), the Institute of Environmental Medicine of the Helmholtz Centre in Munich has acquired new high-tech equipment.
This equipment helps researchers to better understand how viruses are spreading and how we can better manage the next pandemic.
The aim of the project is that for the next pandemic we do not shut down life completely and to already be in the starting blocks when a new pandemic threatens.
Watch this episode of Smart Regions showing how European funds make the European Union more resilient for the future!
The Green Screen project holds awareness-raising meetings and advocates the use of carbon-calculating tools for the film industry. The total cost of Green Screen is €2.6 million, 85% of which comes from the EU Cohesion Policy, more specifically the Interreg Europe programme, and the remaining 15% from eight audiovisual companies associated with the project.
Seven countries across the European continent; Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom and Norway, have carried out more than 45 activities to move from isolation to inclusion as part of the European I2I project co-funded by the European Cohesion Policy.
Watch this episode of Smart Regions to discover how the European I2I project is helping people out of their isolation!
Thanks to the PICSA European sustainable construction project supported by the EU’s cohesion policy, thousands of buildings have been thermally insulated in record time in the Spanish region of Andalusia.
When it comes to low-carbon transport solutions, the picturesque city of Córdoba has gone the extra mile, boosting a bus fleet that runs on compressed natural gas.
Watch this episode of Smart Regions to discover how the Regiostars award-winning PICSA programme is helping more than 7 000 vulnerable families to make their homes more comfortable in extreme temperatures!
The CEPAM hospital for injured animals is open 24 hours a day and has the capacity to treat more than 1,000 animals per year. Visitors are also allowed to come to the CEPAM centre on the third Wednesday of every month for educational purposes . There, visitors learn about the importance of protecting marine biodiversity.
The project has a total budget of €4.8 million of which almost 85% is co-financed by the EU’s cohesion policy.
The European project “Filling the EU- Sápmi knowledge gaps” . aims to strengthen the mutual understanding between the Sámi and the EU”, helping the indigenous people to preserve their tradition. One example of a Sami tradition are Sámi houses and huts called "gahtie". They are made of birch branches, leaves and moss, allowing them to blend into the landscape. The link of respect and sustainability with the environment is characteristic of the Sámi, the only indigenous people recognised in Europe.
The island of Porto Santo is rehabilitating its windmills and public fountains .
Windmills have a long tradition in Porto Santo. The island nicknamed “the Golden Island” played a key role as Madeira’s granary which led to the construction of its famous windmills in the 19th century. The rehabilitated windmills and public fountains provide a unique tourist experience.
The European Union contributed 85% of the project costs.
Watch the latest episode of Smart Regions showing how the mills and fountains on this island of Porto Santo are brought back to life.
In the Sicilian islands of Lampedusa and Favignana, residents are testing energy “microgrids” based on renewables and blockchain technology with BloRin: a secure system for transferring data between users without intermediaries.
Fifteen private individuals are testing this model which was designed in 2017 and which allows to produce, share and sell solar energy. Watch the latest episode of Smart Regions showing how decentralised green energy can be a model for the future!
The food market building “Foodmet” in Brussels is leading the way in energy efficiency and sustainable practices. The market is not only one of Brussels most famous food markets with butcheries, a fish market, different stalls with (exotic) fruit and vegetables, bakeries, olives and nuts .On the rooftop of the building you can also find an urban farm which is benefitting from the building’s waste heat to grow vegetables and breed fish. Located in the deprived district of Anderlecht, the project has numerous benefits for employment, biodiversity and sustainability. The building captures rain and city water and makes rooftops more appealing from an urban perspective with farms. The project has received a contribution from the European Regional Development Fund of €7.5 million
Constructed in 1946, la Glacière d’Étel (ice house of Étel ) produced ice for the local port. It was the last ice house in Morbihan, Brittany.
Later the building was abandoned and fell into despair. Now the local authorities have bought it out to be restored.
Today, La Glacière hosts exhibitions like one dedicated to maritime energy. To capture the sun’s energy, the curved roof is covered by innovative biodegradable and flexible solar panels designed in Nantes. Surplus energy will be shared with local municipal buildings.
La Glacière energy project received nearly €166,000 in European funding. Watch the latest episode of Smart Regions showing how an ice house restoration is bringing life back to a French seaport.
In Southern Sweden, cities want to become climate-neutral across a number of municipal services. In seven cities amongst which Malmö and Lund polluting fuels such as petrol, oil and natural gas have been minimised. Decarbonising transportation has been a top priority. Among the various initiatives taken, the municipality of Lund has developed a groundbreaking system for business travel. City employees now have access to a green fleet of vehicles via a booking system. Other initiatives are in the area of heating, transport and construction. Have a look at the latest episode of Smart Regions showing how thanks to EU funding Swedish cities become an example on the path towards climate-neutral cities!
The citadella in Gozo, one of the main tourist attractions on the island of Gozo in Malta, has been renovated thanks to European funds. The works consisted of restoring most of the facades and historical buildings within the citadel. Piazzas and streets were repaved, making them more accessible. The ancient, fortified city is a historic wonder hosting various gorgeous spots entwined with legends. The Citadella project was winner of the Regiostars competition in 2022. Watch the latest episode of Smart Regions to discover this historic treasure on the island of Gozo in Malta!
Brugeo is an EU-funded project that brings together specialist companies and scientists to promote the potential of geothermal energy of the Brussels-Capital region. The project drilled about 45 wells in the Brussels-Capital [region] to investigate the potential of the subsoil to store energy, energy that can be used for heating during the winter. The project has also developed a tool to understand how geothermal energy can be used in a specific area of the region, and to work out how far down you have to drill. Watch the latest episode of Smart Regions to discover a project which is a concrete example of the energy transition in Europe!
They are depriving local species of food and decrease the number of edible fish which is threatening the livelihoods of fishermen.
The lake is being studied by scientists from Germany, Austria and Switzerland at the Eawag research institute near Zurich, they measure the populations of invasive species and cross-check data to understand their impact on the ecosystem.
This research project “Seewandel ” is supported by the Interreg Alpenrhein-Bodensee-Hochrhein programme .
CORALLIA is a unit of the Athena research centre in Greece that brings together hi-tech clusters, business incubators, and extensive entrepreneurship programme.The Corallia project, supported by the European Regional Development Fund, works with more than 500 innovative enterprises and has established three high tech clusters, an attractive proposition for investors, who have so far pumped over 500 million euros of private and foreign investment into the organisation. Discover the latest episode of Smart Regions and see how an innovative project gives a boost to innovation and entrepreneurship in Greece.
Põlva in south-eastern Estonia is proud of its flagship public high school the first in the country with a near-zero carbon footprint. Polva Gümnaasium is a European project that offers sustainable energy solutions ranging from the choice of building materials, such as wood, to the way this smart building is run. For example, the project has installed blinds that automatically go up or down depending on the light, and which help regulate the temperature inside. The project has renovated a school building which dates back to Soviet times and was completely rebuilt in 2016. The project is setting an example for the energy-efficient renovation of buildings.
In Europe, there are about 50 stations like the one in Exloo, with thousands of antennas spread across the continent. They constitute a unique eye for exploring the far reaches of the universe. Today LOFAR is a distributed research infrastructure enabling world-leading radio astronomical research. The project started in the Netherlands but today the project’s partners are in nine other European countries.
The city of Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic, has one of the first technological incubators in the eastern part of the European Union, the JIC Innovation Park. Its success has made it a magnet for entrepreneurs and companies. Embedded in the smart specialisation strategy for the region of South Moravia, the JCI Innovation Park has contributed to create 3500 qualified jobs since 2003. The JIC also provides training workshops, in coordination with universities. Thanks to EU funds, the incubator gives a real boost to the local economy! The project was also nominated for last year’s Regiostars awards, which celebrates the best projects supported by cohesion policy.
Thanks to the European project “I know How” the taboo of remaining or returning to work with cancer is being broken down.
The European project , together with patients, companies and caregivers has developed a programme to help people with long-term illnesses return to or stay in their jobs. Amongst others, the project has developed a booklet which explains to patients and employers what to do if cancer has been diagnosed. The project supported by the Interreg 2 Seas programme Interreg 2 Seas programme aims to increase by 15% the number of patients with long-term illnesses who return to work.
This European initiative focuses on three pillars of action: adapting curricula, entrepreneurial training for creators, and helping the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Cluj Future of Work will create a socially resilient working ecosystem for current and future jobs in the city and imagine a technologically-enriched future, one that is also safe, ethical, inclusive and sustainable.
The Regional Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and its three laboratories is one of the first projects to this success. Nearly 240 students practice here every day, adapting their skills to the market and to automation.
The project is supported by the European Regional Development Fund in the framework of the Urban Innovative Actions.
Trail runners and electric mountain bikers can take on trails and summits of “Portes du Soleil”, the world’s largest cross-border ski area. Discover how a European project is helping boost all-year sustainable tourism supporting local businesses in the Alpine area. The project has been co-financed by Interreg France-Switzerland programme.
Nova Gorica (Slovenia) and Gorizia (Italy) are twin cities at the Italian-Slovenian border with an eventful past. From 1945 to 1947, the border between the cities was closed and even afterwards there was an Iron Curtain. When Slovenia joined the EU in 2004, the cross-border city Gorizia- Nova Gorica became a symbol for EU enlargement. Today, a European project called Isonzo-Soča cross-border park with cross-border bike lanes is reinforcing the links between the cities. Throughout the years, the cities have become a symbol of cross-border cooperation, in particular thanks to the Interreg Italy-Slovenia programme . Together with Chemnitz, the twin cities will be the European Capitals of Culture in 2025.
The European project Treasure is promoting and protecting underwater heritage, while spinning an economic opportunity out of it for Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Turkey. Part of the project is an under-water museum close to the shore in Enez bringing tourists down into the deep sea to enjoy a visit. Other activities under the project comprise the opening of a Touristic Centre in Ungheni (Moldova) where information will be available, including a film and a photo album distributed free of charge. The project will finalise with the creation of a digital atlas, showing the underwater spots scattered throughout the project area, and the most interesting places in the four partner countries.
The programme is co-financed by the Interreg Black Sea Basin programme and has a value of €49 million.
Every week a group of volunteers gathers on the banks of river Meuse and collects waste which accumulates there. They are part of “LIVES” project – an exceptional cross border cooperation which reminds people that plastic waste is a threat to biodiversity, health and the environment. Have a look at this unusual initiative!
The European project ESMIC is mapping, analysing and providing data on the impact of plastics on the cross-border beach Palanga between Lithuania and Latvia. To map plastics, scientists use several techniques, including drone imaging. This data is then compared with satellite images. This is how they determine which areas are most affected and the volume of algae and plastic that could help the the municipalities to address the problem.
The European project “RISK-FREE" , supported by the Interreg Lithuania-Latvia programme , has financed a range of sports facilities in areas where many socially disadvantaged young people are living. The project is also financing some initiatives like the so-called “Ghetto games”, a youth platform where young people can develop physically and morally and get on the right track thanks to sports. Watch the latest episode of Smart Regions showing a European project to improve young people’s life through sports!
The European project “Re-cereal" is researching how to cultivate crops, which due to intensive cultivation of wheat and maize have disappeared from the Alpine Region. These include traditional crops like millet, oats and buckwheat. The cross-border project is also a scientific project. The company Dr Schär is Europe’s leading producer of gluten-free foods and is analyzing the genetic, agronomic and nutritional properties of ten different varieties of buckwheat and twelve other varieties of millet. Have a look at the latest episode of Smart Regions showing a project which is increasing Europe’s biodiversity!
Thanks to the European project “Food Screening-EMR", supported by the Interreg Euregio Meuse-Rhine programme, a new tech tool is supporting home-based farmers and producers to improve the nutritional quality of plants. Within a minute, the biosensor can precisely measure vitamins contained in fruits and vegetables and therefore allows farmers to make quickly necessary adjustments in the cultivation of the plants. The general aim of the project is to provide Small-and Medium-Sized Enterprises with the newest insights into best practices and technological advances by adapting a co-creation process between tech companies on the one hand and farmers and food producers on the other hand.
In Huelva, Spain, a European project called "Valuetur" lets visitors immerse themselves into a Mars research station situated around Rio Tinto, a russet landscape with crags and a red river that resembles Earth’s sister planet Mars. This tourist attraction is part of the Interreg project “Valuetur” promoting sustainable tourism and cultural heritage in Spain and Portugal.
In Murcia, the European project “SEFCARM” offers training and advice to refugees carried out by NGOs and Spain’s Employment and Training Service. Each refugee benefitting from the project has a single point of contact and can benefit from a tailor-made training plan taking into account his language and mathematical skills. The project has won a RegioStars Award in 2018 and is in the current context also helping Ukrainian refugees in the regions. Have a look at a European project which is leaving no one behind!t episode of Smart Regions showing how a European project is promoting the use of a sustainable mobility mode!
In the city of Pisa, the project “SaveMyBike”, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, is encouraging the use of bicycles and discouraging bike theft. The project has created an app which is rewarding bicycle rides with points which later on can be used in stores all around the city. Thanks to the project, people registered in the app can also equip their bike with a “passive radio frequency” sensor which can be used to track the bike if it’s stolen. Have a look at the latest episode of Smart Regions showing how a European project is promoting the use of a sustainable mobility mode!
At the Austrian-Slovakian border, the project RoboCoop is increasing the attractiveness of STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) amongst young people. For a total of 4000 pupils, students and teachers, it is organizing and preparing training courses, competitions as well as innovative teaching and do-it-yourself material in subjects, such as robotics. Students are also given coaching in important areas such as cyber security and data protection. The Interreg Slovakia-Austria programme co-finances the project. Have a look how a European project is preparing the next generation of STEM innovators!
With the support of cohesion policy, a European project has developed the “Bois des Alpes” label for wood from the Alps. Further to originate from the Alp’s, the wood needs to meet strict criteria. It needs to be dry and of good quality. The label strengthens the local timber industry, while fostering a reduction in Co2 emissions. In the region, the project leads to shorter supply chains for wood and is removing large trees to make room for younger ones, which enables the forest to develop and renew itself naturally.
The European project BEECH Power is protecting beech forests in Central Europe by knowledge sharing and implementation of quality standards. For example, the project organized a guided tour for schoolchildren and taught them about the importance of beech forests for the environment. Beech forests are vital in the battle against climate change and the decline in biodiversity, yet many of them do not exist anymore due to mass deforestation. Have a look at how a European project is protecting beech forests!
The European project called “PISMO” has two fully-equipped incubators specializing in video gaming in the Sisak-Moslavina county in Croatia. The project includes 67 companies and startups, almost three times the number envisioned when it was launched in 2017. The entrepreneurs can benefit from specialized training as well as excellent equipment and facilities. It also incentivizes young people to stay in the county Sisak-Moslavina. Discover the new hub for the gaming industry in Croatia!
A European project in Brussels is providing social services and healthcare for a mixed population, with a special focus on accessibility for vulnerable groups. The project includes two health and social centres, in the districts of Molenbeek and Cureghem. Those centres provide an offer for medical care, social services, debt management advice and psychological support. The project addresses the problem that people from vulnerable groups are often not registered with a GP. Have look at the latest episode of Smart Regions setting an example for social inclusion!
The project Visit Arctic Europe, supported by the European programme “Interreg Nord”, is boosting tourism in the Arctic while at the same time respecting the Arctic’s fragile ecosystem. The project has brought together 120 companies in Finland, Sweden and Norway and a dozen of tour operators to protect the pristine environment in the Arctic. Have a look at the latest episode of Smart Regions showing how a European project is boosting sustainable tourism in the Arctic Region!
The European project HELIO has developed spheres, which are using solar power to distil dirty water and seawater and turn it into drinking water. The remarkable asset of these spheres is that they purify water in an autonomous way and that they are also made of materials which can be recycled. And all of this by emitting zero CO2 emissions! The spheres will help tackle the problem of access to drinking water in many parts of the world and the problem of insufficient sanitary conditions, which is currently still affecting half of the world’s population. Have a look at the latest episode of Smart Regions showing how a European project is helping produce clean and drinkable water for people worldwide!
At the University of Jena in Germany, the Batteries for the Future project, which is supported by the European Regional Development Fund, is developing batteries which are buffering electricity produced from renewable energy sources. These batteries are containing organic polymers that can cope with the fluctuations that result in renewable energy generation due to changing weather conditions. The batteries can store almost as much energy per kgs as a lithium battery. However, they are made of materials, which are easily available in Europe. The batteries can make an important contribution in the energy transition from fossil energy sources to renewable energy sources. They also contribute to make Europe more independent and resilient in its energy supply. Have a look at the latest episode of Smart Regions showing how a European project is developing the batteries for the future!. Have a look at the latest episode of Smart Regions showing how a European project is ensuring energy supply in the Alpine area!
For the local citizens, this reduces volatility in billing and protects them better from possible blackouts. The Alpgrids project has also created the AlpGrids network which is developing and replicating smart grids in five European countries (DE, AT, FR, IT, SI). The project is supported by the Interreg Alpine Space Programme . Have a look at the latest episode of Smart Regions showing how a European project is ensuring energy supply in the Alpine area!
How to increase sustainability in urban areas? The European project SURFACE, co-financed by the Interreg Central Europe Programme, is giving an answer. It brought together 10 partners from Central Europe (Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovenia + Belgium) to set up so-called “Smart Re-Use Parks”. The Parks are bringing various re-use, repair and waste prevention activities to the citizens, showing them alternatives to a consumption-focused lifestyle. They can be for example initiatives like repair cafés, re-use shops or workshops.
The project also has a strong social dimension as it is also supporting social integration by giving a job to disadvantaged people.
Have a look at the latest episode of Smart Regions showing a European project which is helping us bring sustainability in our everyday life!
In order to allow people living in sparsely populated areas to travel and move in an eco-friendly way, the European project “Mittstråket” has installed charging stations for electric vehicles along the “Middle Route” E14”. The “Central Route” is connecting the West of Sweden with Norway and crossing through sparsely populated areas. The project also works with an app indicating where charging stations can be found and which ones are available. Have a look at the latest episode of Smart Regions showing how a European project is supporting sustainable transport in a sparsely populated area!
The European project Live Lagoons is developing floating wetlands made up of reed and willow, which are cleaning waters in the South Baltic area from nutrients like nitrogen or phosphorous. By doing so, they help fight an excessive growth of algae, oxygen depletion, loss of biodiversity and odour issues. The project “Live Lagoons” is co- funded by the Interreg South Baltic Sea Programme.
Have a look at the latest episode of Smart Regions showing how floating islands improve water quality and at the same time provide habitats for microbes, insects, fishs and birds!
The French nature reserve of Petite Terre in Guadeloupe in the Caribbean Sea is an attraction for tourists with its beautiful beaches and its beautiful landscape. However, Petite Terre is also at risk. Biodiversity in the reserve is fragile and the exposure to tourism and the effects of climate change are threatening its ecosystem. One species, which is particularly in danger, is the critically endangered Lesser Antillean Iguana.
A European project is protecting the ecosystem by monitoring the effects of these threats on the environment. For example, a group of scientists carried out a marine environment survey, identified an Elkhorn coral colony and is now examining how the colony is impacted by climate change and tourism exposure. Discover the latest episode of Smart Regions and discover how a European project is helping to protect a true paradise!
The European project Dream Danube is an umbrella project for research around the Danube river to better understand how the Danube can be managed in a sustainable way. For example, the project is conducting research on sediment transport and hydrodynamics and examining their impact on the navigation on the river and riparian zones. This research is also helping to better address environmental challenges in the future like flood risks or drought problems. Have a look at the latest episode of Smart Regions showing how a European project is helping one of the largest rivers in Europe to be managed in a sustainable way !
The European project “Rolling Solar” is demonstrating the potential of more than 800.000 km of roads in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, which could be used for some of our energy needs. It is developing thin film solar cell materials for renewable energy production, which can be installed on roads and serve as sound barriers.
The project is also fostering research collaboration on photovoltaic cells in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. One initiative is to develop thin and flexible photovoltaic cells made in various forms from silicon-cadmium and to try to scale them up from custom-made to mass production.
Have a look at the latest episode of Smart Regions, which shows how innovative solutions can help us to achieve the energy transition!
The project “Vilawatt” is modernising old and poorly renovated buildings in the Spanish city of Viladecans to increase their energy efficiency. The project is also rewarding the citizens for their energy savings by transforming them into a digital currency called Villawatt. This currency can be used in around 400 businesses around the city for products like baby clothing and in accessories stores.
The project is part of the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative, which is funding via the European Regional Development Fund new innovative solutions to address urban challenges.
Have a look at the latest episode of Smart Regions showing how new innovative solutions can help to make European cities more energy-efficient!
More information about the project
To reduce the number of lorries passing through the Alpine region, the project AlpInnoCT is facilitating the shift from road transport to intermodal transport via mainly rail, inland waterways or the sea. To enable this shift, it has developed a platform, which is designed to transfer trailers from trucks to trains. The project makes an important contribution to protect the environment in the region and to help reach the European Union’s goal to shift 30% of road freight transport to rail.
More information about the project
As one of its activities to promote quality tourism, the Interreg Slovakia-Austria project NemoNet is preserving the cultural legacy of the “huncokárs”, German native speakers who arrived centuries ago in the Little Carpathians to work as lumberjacks. They brought new woodcutting technologies, more sustainable methods to manage the forest and even own religious holidays. The project also invests in eco-transportation, including in infrastructure for e-mobility and cycling. Have a look at the latest episode of Smart Regions in partnership with Euronews and discover how a European project is keeping a cultural heritage alive!
To prevent floodings as Slovenia had experienced in the past, a European project has taken a set of measures along the Meža and Mislinja Rivers. Measures include the widening of the riverbed, restoration of river banks and the instalment of containment walls. Have a look at the latest Smart Regions episode which showing how the project makes Slovenia more resilient against natural catastrophes!
The project EcoDesign Circle develops products, taking sustainability into account as early as in the design phase. The products create less waste and shorten production times. The project is a great example of the circular economy and demonstrates how can protect the environment with creative thinking and smart solutions. Partners from eight EU member states and non-EU members such as Russia and Norway are participating in the project. Want to learn more about the project? Check out the latest episode of Smart Regions!
More information about the project
Given a decline in biodiversity in the French-German border region, the Ramsar project aims to protect six endangered species in the region. These include the owl of Athena, the northern lapwing, the water rail, the common tern, Bechstein’s bat and the European tree frog. The project is a great example of how cross- border cooperation can help to preserve biodiversity. Have a look at what the project is doing to protect endangered species!
The University of Calabria (UNICAL) has built an energy system on its campus which uses geo-thermal, solar and photovoltaic energies. This allowed the largest campus in Italia to significantly increase its energy efficiency and to save money. The project Green Campus was made possible thanks to co-funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Do you want to know more about the project? Have a look at the latest Smart Regions episode!
The project HiProMine is a perfect example of reducing CO2 emissions in a domain that you probably did not think about yet: Waste management. The project uses compost waste, which would usually produce many Co2 emissions on a compost heap, to feed and cultivate larvae on an industrial scale. When the larvae are big enough, they can be used as food for animals like sturgeons, trouts or poultry. Watch the latest “Smart Regions” episode on the project “HiProMine” which is a great example of circular economy!
More information about the project
Project MOVELETUR” is a perfect example of sustainable tourism and mobility. In the Spanish-Portuguese Border Region, local authorities have joined forces to develop an eco-friendly mobility network of over 1000 kilometers which connects natural and cultural sites in the region. It allows tourists to discover the region with electric mobility. Its electric vehicle fleet includes 81 bicycles, three tricycles, four cars, eight scooters and three rickshaws.
More information about the project
This innovative technology uses fewer resources and helps lower energy consumption through the development of a new temperature and humidity control system. They hope to revolutionise the construction industry by making it more sustainable and flexible. Watch the latest episode of “Smart Regions” in partnership with Euronews to understand how this EU cohesion policy project works as a great example of circular economy.
Gardanne in France has opened a new multimodal transport hub, which once again connects it to Marseille. The combined bus and train station will improve reliability and double capacity for this important railway line. It also aims to promote a more general shift to public rather than private modes of transport, and to revitalise the economy of Gardanne itself by making it more easily accessible. Watch the latest episode of “Smart Regions” in partnership with Euronews to understand how this EU cohesion policy project works as a great example of circular economy.
The “Cultural Route of the Αncient Τheaters” of Epirus aims at promoting Epirus’ five architectural treasures from antiquity (Dodona, Gitana, Amvrakia, Kassope and the Roman theatre of Nikopolis) as a brand new tourist trail which is 344 km long and covering 2,500 years of history! The trail attracts Greek and foreign visitors who are interested in archaeology, history and the arts. To support this vision, a business cluster has been created with the participation of hotels, restaurants, tourist agencies and local producers. Watch the latest episode of “Smart Regions” in partnership with Euronews for a wonderful journey to Ancient Greece!
River'tri is Europe’s first waterborne waste collection facility and sorting unit of its kind. The boat, located in Lyon (France), can collect up to 300 tonnes of waste a year and is used by 5000 people. Not only is the barge helping the locals get rid of unwanted large items, but it's also reducing traffic and contributing to repurpose or recycle waste. Watch the latest episode of “Smart Regions” in partnership with Euronews to understand how this EU cohesion policy project works as a great example of circular economy.
The Spanish Galician company “MESTRELAB” has developed a European software that enables researchers to speed up drug production by interpreting chemical compounds and molecules on a range of laboratory machines. Pharmaceutical companies working on COVID-19 vaccines use it every day. The idea of this software started in the late 90s but it’s only in the last 4 years - and thanks to the support of the European Regional Development Fund - that MESTRELAB has managed to produce the European software used by pharma, biotech and universities around the world. Curious to find out how this software is helping fighting coronavirus?
Thanks to the financial support of Interreg POCTEFA programme, the “EGALURG” project is a true example of innovation and mobilisation to serve people beyond borders. This is a mobile hospital which was deployed in autumn 2020 at the border between France and Spain to give response to the higher demand of health care services as result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of the project, which was conceived in pre-coronavirus time, is to create an operational network for cross-border cooperation in emergency and disaster medicine to allow equal access to emergency care for the populations. Considering that the geographic features along the French and Spanish border make land communication between the two countries more difficult and can also limit access to emergency care for the people who live in these areas, the "mobile hospital" was originally intended to be deployed in the event of disasters causing many injuries, such as terrorist attacks or natural disasters.
More information about the project
In this Smart Regions episode we travel to Venizy, a small municipality in Yonne, a department located in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. Here, EU cohesion policy has helped the village with its energy transition with the installation of a wood chip boiler to power the town hall, the school and a business. Chipped wood is a natural fuel that comes in the form of small, homogeneous pieces of wood. They are used to supply firewood boilers for individuals, businesses and communities. This natural resource has the advantage of being at the same time economical, ecological and local, coming from the wood of the communal forest. The new boiler room saves more than 50% of the costs related to heating and domestic hot water. The substituted fossil energy is equal to 20 tonnes of oil equivalent (TEP) per year and the fossil CO2 avoided corresponds to 63 tonnes per year. In addition, this boiler room makes it possible to develop the local wood resource and to perpetuate an agricultural group operating jointly in the wood sector.
More information about the project
With the support of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), “AS-Fabrik” aims to increase the competitiveness of Bilbao’s (Spain) innovative economic sector by offering university students, entrepreneurs and professionals the knowledge and skills they need to keep up with the progress of the manufacturing industry and its digital transformation. 161,000 manufacturing companies are located in Bilbao area and they employ 855,000 workers. By contributing to the creation of a new generation of young and advanced service providers, this project is boosting Bilbao’s economic development through innovative actions.
More information about the project
Thanks to the financial support of the Interreg IPA-CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro, the “ADRINET ” project is helping to improve a joint coastal management system and create governance plans to preserve biodiversity and coastal ecosystems in the Adriatic-Ionian Sea. The principle is simple: the three countries’ territories share the same issues in terms of pollution, over-exploitation of fish stocks, illegal fishery, fish sophistication and ‘ghost fishing’. Hence, they have decided to join forces for technology investments, mapping fishing routes, monitoring sea pollution, providing services, scientific support and skills for fisheries professionals and consumers, in order to make fish consumption safer and compliant with EU rules and guidelines.
2021 has kicked off with a brand new episode of the Smart Regions series in partnership with Euronews. The episode broadcast on 4th January was about the Interreg POCTEFA “Ederbidea” project between France and Spain allowing 12 cross-border partners from the territories of Navarre, Gipuzkoa and Pyrénées-Atlantiques, to join forces to encourage cycling for tourism, leisure or for daily trips. The challenge is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, decongest traffic and improve the health of the population. Ederbidea is also an opportunity for the development of local economic activities linked to sustainable mobility and the green economy, especially sustainable tourism.
Maintaining swimming pools has very high costs. This is why Brussels has had fewer and fewer swimming pools open to public. Moreover, some facilities are particularly polluting. Taking this into account, the Free University in Brussels (VUB) decided to take advantage of EU’s and Brussels region’s support to renovate its swimming pool and make it the most sustainable one in Brussels!
The project made the widest possible use of sustainable materials and techniques. Moreover, to minimise energy consumption, the pool building is compact, well-insulated and fitted with LED lights and a climate control system which recovers energy and humidity. This, along with heat extracted from shower water, is used for heat and electricity cogeneration. In addition, collection and treatment of some 70 % of the waste water from the complex and 40 % of the rainwater from its roof means the pool consumes 70 % less water than the average public swimming pool – an annual saving of 10 million litres. Compared to the old pool, the new facility uses 60 % less energy and emits 500 tonnes less CO2 annually. The cogeneration system covers 70 % of the pool’s heating needs, while 60 % of the electricity it produces is used for the pool and 40 % for the rest of the campus. Integrated into the existing VUB sports centre, the pool is used by academics and students – who account for about 40 % of visits – as well as schools, swimming clubs and recreational swimmers. Swimming lessons and other water-based activities in the instruction pool are aimed at children, the elderly, people with disabilities and women. By opening its pools to swimmers from outside the university, the VUB helps to create a more liveable urban environment, promotes healthy lifestyles and underlines its commitment to building strong relationships with the community. Watch the latest episode of Smart Regions to find out more!
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The Lido de Marseillan is a EU project in the South of France that helps protecting the Thau’s lagoon from coastal erosion and the local economic and touristic activities. After 17 years of work, the project ended in 2019 and it includes the expansion of the beach and a construction of a cycle path.
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The Saint Marina University Hospital in Varna (Bulgaria) is at the heart of a European project for personalised medicine. The 1,300-bed university hospital is modernising its infrastructure to become a centre of competence and hi-tech research within 5 years. The transformation has already begun with, among other things, the arrival of surgical assistance robots in December 2019.
Aveiro, located in Portugal’s Centro region, is a living technology hub thanks to the Aveiro Steam City project. The city suffers from brain drain and needs to help local firms to rethink the resources they need to innovate and grow, with creative roles equipped with the necessary digital competences. This EU cohesion policy project helps tackling these challenges by focusing on a stronger education offer to produce a new range of talents – including artistic, creative and human sciences areas – with a STEAM approach (adding the “A” for Arts and creativity to the domains of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). Moreover, the city is a trial city for 5G technologies, using it as the basis for the transition into a next economy based on knowledge and digital platforms, valorising RD&I, open data and the development of new products and services for the growth and creation of new companies and jobs.
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Schools are becoming greener in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro thanks to EU cohesion policy’s support. The latest episode of Smart Regions focused on the Smart Schools project, a cross-border scheme which aims to reduce pollution and promote renewable energies. A total of seven Bosnian and Croatian schools and colleges have renovated their buildings to make them more energy efficient. Smart Schools' total budget is €1.6 million, 85% of which is financed by the European Cohesion Policy. The awareness-promoting initiative has reached 105 schools and 29,000 pupils.
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The Cyclades islands in Greece have dropped diesel electricity generators for direct connection to the cleaner and safer electricity grid of mainland Greece. It’s a multi-million euros project, supported by EU cohesion policy, that will benefit the environment and the touristic sector.
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CoNVat is an EU project that is about direct, fast and specific identification of coronavirus to improve its early diagnosis and the clinical management of patients. The approach employs an already developed technology based on nanophotonic bimodal waveguide (BiMW) interferometers capable of providing real time, highly sensitive detections assays in short sample turnaround times. Final prototype validation will demonstrate the potential of this approach for the management of future infectious outbreaks.
This episode of the Smart Regions series in partnership with Euronews will focus on “I-STORMS”, a EU cohesion policy project working on integrated sea storm management strategies. The project intends to enhance transnational cooperation sharing knowledge, data & forecasts through a common infrastructure, joint strategies to deal with sea storm emergencies primarily on the Adriatic-Ionian coastal areas.
This area has a lot of technical expertise, also production expertise but it doesn't use a lot of sustainable products. It needs to catch up with Western European standards and that’s what the EU-supported project “BioComPack-CE” is about: raising awareness and trialling the biodegradable plastic and paper combination packaging.
The Interreg project has partners in Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Italy, Croatia and Poland.
The Alpine Space programme is a European transnational cooperation programme for the Alpine region. It facilitates the cooperation between economic, social and environmental key players in seven Alpine countries, as well as between various institutional levels such as: academia, administration, business and innovation sector, and policy making.
European Atlas, one of about 60 projects supported by Alpine Space, has produced a database on the historical buildings that can be restored and provides a guide to technical solutions and good practices, which are valuable for architects.
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DISARM is a European cross-border system designed to give better advance warning and information about wildfires. This project is part of Interreg Balkan Mediterranean. It has been funded by EU cohesion policy and involves partners from Greece, Bulgaria and Cyprus.
‘MisMi’ is an Interreg France-Italy ‘Alcotra’ project financed by EU cohesion policy, which supports people living in mountain, rural and dispersedly populated areas between Valle d’Aosta region in Italy and Tarentaise in France. The project is about linking people in need with caregivers and the community using technology, thus contributing to fight people’s isolation and social and health inequalities. This project is even more valuable in the current context of COVID-19 spread as citizens can benefit from tele-medicine and two nurses who are helping on the ground in hospitals and patients’ home.
Strengthening the epidemiological and virological surveillance of COVID-19 will be key to defeating the disease.In addition to bringing together case data from hospitals and other primary care clinics, the project will also study the effectiveness of any future vaccines or treatments for the virus. The goal is to obtain as much information as possible about COVID-19, and to make sure the same methodology is practised among the partners and participating countries. The first step takes place in clinics or doctors surgeries where a case might be diagnosed.
The project "Biobase Europe" was realised through the Interreg “Vlaanderen Nederland” programme. The project has achieved a significant reinforcement of the border region as a European region in the bio-based economy — an economy based on organic and renewable raw materials.
The project invested among others in the pilot factory for bio-based products and processes. Domestic and foreign businesses can access the factory for the upscaling of their new process or product from laboratory to semi-industrial scale. The pilot plant will serve as a ‘one-stop shop’ where the whole process can go through the entire process, from biomass to the pure refined product.
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“The Good Support Program” is a EU cohesion policy project in Poland which develops remote management of care services. At time of COVID-19, this project beneficiary has decided to provide their innovative IT tool for free for the duration of the crisis, to help other European communities fighting the coronavirus emergency. The value of this project was already awarded by the European Commission with the title of RegioStars 2019 for the most innovative IT tool in social services.
Natural disasters know no borders. The added value of cooperation beyond borders is especially evident in the field of environmental risk prevention. ReNovRisk-Cyclones is an EU Interreg Indian Ocean Area project specifically interested in the meteorological and oceanographic impact of tropical cyclones on the territories of the southwest of the Indian Ocean. It is divided into two parts dealing respectively with: observing and modelling cyclones and estimating their impact within the context of a changing climate: Cyclones and Climate Change; and observing, studying and forecasting cyclonic rainfall in the south-west Indian Ocean, from Réunion to the Mozambique Channel. These activities should make it possible to improve and adapt existing cyclone forecasting tools to an insular context and help develop territorial cooperation on cyclone risk in the west Indian Ocean.
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Carnivora Dinarica is an Interreg Croatia-Slovenia project with the aim to improve conservation status of large carnivores, and especially lynx, wolf, and bear in the unique landscape of continuous transboundary forests in Central Europe. Here around 20 lynx, 50 wolves and 600 bears live and their long-term conservation is vital for preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems in the Slovenian-Croatian cross-border area.
Every year, Europeans produce 88 million tons of food waste, which corresponds to 173kg per person. The Franco-Belgian Interreg project TeraFood is trying to find a solution to this problem by developing a compact and low-cost sensor for the monitoring of the quality of packaged food. The aim is to allow for extended shelf lives and to reduce food waste. The project consortium consists of both industrial and academic partners with the necessary expertise to produce the sensor. Watch the latest Smart Regions episode to find out more about this smart & innovative project.
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What to do with grape waste? Can it be turned from trash into a resource, from litter into cosmetics or health products? A smart project involving Italy, France, Lebanon, Jordan and Tunisia - under the European Neighbourhood Instrument Cross-Border Cooperation Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme - is working to make it happen. The idea behind the project BestMedGrape is to exploit the innovation potential of the Mediterranean traditional crop to transform it into a commercial product, generating business and employment opportunities as well as reducing the environmental pollution produced by the bulky waste of wine making.
The episode focused on the Interreg Europe “Devise” project which supports 9 European regions to unlock the potential of digital tech SMEs. This project is part of these regions’ smart specialisation strategy, which is a place-based approach to boost the specific region’s strengths and entrepreneurial potential.
Agriculture is very important in both Spain and Portugal. This European project is helping to bring new life to the degraded landscape at the border between these two countries. It aims to transform and reinvigorate the soil with organic compost and man-made "technosols". It’s part of a joint project called Res2ValHUM involving three Portuguese cities - Braga, Guimarães and Porto - and four in Galicia: Santiago de Compostela, Ourense, Touro and A Coruña. The project has seven partners in total: two university laboratories and five companies, which specialise in technosols or organic compost production.
Polish scientists joined forces to create a new medical material called “FlexiOss”, which can be used as artificial bone. This groundbreaking technology reduces the risk of rejection from the body and, by adapting more easily to the required shapes, it helps fix bone fractures and leads to a faster physical recovery. The project has received a EU grant of €1 million and it has won 14 awards.
RegioStars Awards 2019 finalist "R-Sol-E" project proves local authorities can act as leaders in environment preservation and clean energy production. Three local authorities from Croatia and Serbia joined forces to demonstrate that energy efficiency can be achieved through usage of renewable energy across borders. The project enabled partners to install 6 solar power plants, 100 solar public lighting poles and a station for charging electric cars.
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An original Interreg project between Estonia and Latvia is developing prototypes to make education more attractive and pleasant for kids. Find out how EU Cohesion policy is helping schools in Estonia and Latvia becoming more advanced & effective learning environments.
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Megalo Papigo, in the Zagori region of northern Greece's Pindos Mountains, is now connected to the digital world with broadband internet access, along with 5,000 other villages in remote areas of the country. Bringing internet connection to Greek rural areas is changing people’s lives.
"Antea" project aims to support the emergent sector of comestible flowers in the Italian-French cross-border area.
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The new ‘Smart Regions’ series with Euronews kicked started on Monday 21 October with an episode on “Benur”, the first electric bike without wheelchair transfer, accessible directly without the help of a third party.
Thanks to Benur and with the support of EU Cohesion Policy, people with reduced mobility can now take full advantage of ViaRhôna, a bike route between Lake Geneva and the Mediterranean Sea.
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After years of solitude, Mont-Saint Michel lives again with new emphasis placed upon the area’s architectural heritage and natural environment. Increased biodiversity, a focus on high-quality tourism and sustainable economic development are the priorities of this enormous project.
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Can you imagine to protect and save one of the most polluting seas in the world by farming blue mussels? Well, this is what this Interreg Baltic Sea Region project is all about: to fight "eutrophication" which is the impact of chemical nutrients on the ecosystems by farming and harvesting blue mussels in the Baltic Sea. What's more is that this will not only reduce eutrophication, but it is also expected to become a business model for the feed industry and to be used in symbiosis with fish farms.
A new chapter has opened in Budapest’s public transport: the Hungarian capital joined the club of cities that offer public bike-sharing. By improving the conditions of cycling, this project aims to achieve that more and more passengers would opt for cycling as their travel alternative to reach their destinations within a short distance in Budapest. Thanks to a support of over €2.2 million from EU Cohesion Policy, the stations are equipped with video surveillance camera systems and a computer terminal that performs the identification of the users and it provides live information about the number of bikes and docking stations available at each service point. Moreover, a total of 99 docking stations with 2,159 docking points and a fleet of 1,150 bicycles are now at the disposal of users in 11 districts of Budapest.
Cycling is free-of-charge for a 30 minute period in possession of a valid ticket or pass. This system was developed after carefully analysing previous success stories Europe-wise on such bike sharing projects (notably London, Brussels and Paris).
The number of users since the start is well above 100,000 (altogether more than 1.5 million individual journeys were made totaling to 3 million kilometers). Watch the episode and find out more.
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The Danube is the second longest river in Europe, flowing through 10 countries. In this Smart Regions episode we will discover the DANUBEPARKS network, an organisation that protects areas around the ten countries crossed by the river. With a budget of 3 million euros, of which 2.6 million euros covered by the EU's Cohesion Policy, the DANUBEPARKS network works to preserve the basin of the 2885km river, 5000 animal species and 2000 plants living along its shores.
Discover how one of the most dangerous road sections in Greece has turned to be one of the safest highways in the country. The construction of the three new tunnels between Thessaloniki and Athens, the so-called Tempi Tunnels, included 25 km of motorway, 11 km of tunnels and the largest road tunnel in south-east Europe. The project is part of the five motorway concessions which constructed and upgraded approximately 1400 km of roads in Greece with the support of EU Cohesion Policy. The Tempi tunnels have halved the travel time on the new sections and reduced the drive from Athens to Thessaloniki to just over four hours. Road safety has dramatically improved with accidents reduced by up to 70%. The Tempi Valley has also benefited from the project’s environmental protection measures.
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In this Smart Regions episode we explore the innovative 3D spinal implants produced by the Polish company LfC and which have already helped dozens of people to live a normal life. Until 2017, nearly 70 thousand surgical operations have been performed using LfC implants in countries such as Poland, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Great Britain, Ireland, Turkey, Israel, the U.S., Mexico and Brazil.
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“United we stand, divided we fall”: the ‘6AIKA - Open and Smart Services’ project is indeed all about getting stronger together. Six largest cities in Finland, namely Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Oulu, Tampere and Turku, have decided to join forces to test pilot and innovative solutions to common urban challenges. Watch the Smart Regions episode to find out about some concrete and original solutions that these cities are already successfully implementing.
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Based in Gothenburg’s Biskopsgården district, the ‘One Stop Future Shop’ project helps start-ups to develop their concepts and ideas. EU Cohesion Policy funds have made the project possible and more than 50 new companies were established in the first six months. Watch the Smart Regions episode to learn about some special stories around this project.
More information on the project: https://europa.eu/investeu/projects/one-stop-future-shop-gives-start-ups-chance_en
Renovated thanks to EU Cohesion Policy funds, Officine Garibaldi is a multifunctional structure with a surface of almost 5,000 square meters in Pisa, Italy. Part of the cultural and historic heritage of the city, it is an innovative property, from an architectural point of view and in terms of energy sustainability. On the first floor there are offices, co-working spaces and training rooms, while on the ground floor there are event rooms and a library. Watch this Smart Regions episode with Euronews and find out more about this intergenerational and intercultural center, which is also a space for young people who can find support to realise their entrepreneurial and project ideas.
The ‘IT4Innovations Centre of Excellence’ is the first supercomputer centre of its kind in Czechia. The new infrastructure is kitted out with the very latest in information technology, including high-performance devices for simulations, modelling and computations. Such tools can be used to simulate climate change, manage traffic and even help prevent natural disasters. Other important areas for research and development at the centre include advancing nanotechnologies, voice and speech recognition technology, and creating new algorithms for industrial product design. The centre, which opened in 2014, ranks among the top 100 most powerful supercomputer centres in the world.
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This EU Cohesion Policy co-funded project has enabled the mass digitalisation of documents of the Slovak National Library and Archives. Two new state-of-the-art facilities were built: a digitisation centre for printed cultural heritage materials, and a document conservation and restoration centre. In total, over 2.5 million cultural heritage objects were digitised over three years, involving 200 staff and creating 93 new sustainable jobs. This unique project has opened up a digital future for the library and archives, making the documents accessible to a wider audience while ensuring their preservation for future generations.
How does digitalization and additive manufacturing disrupt the building industry? Could 3D-printing and the internet change the way we make things forever? Can we in the near future e-mail buildings to each other? And what if we can print a building, shredder it, and then print something new with the same material? How will this have a positive effect on the environment and the economy? And how will it influence our notion of craftsmanship? There are many questions the 3D Print Canal House brings to mind. Find out about this innovative Cohesion Policy co-funded project.
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SensDx operates in the medical diagnostics area. Thanks to EU Cohesion Policy, this start-up has developed diagnostic testing technologies intended for people and animals, allowing users to accurately identify specific diseases quickly, safely and at a low cost.
The iOS Developer Academy’s infrastructures have been renovated thanks to the European Regional Development Funds while students can get scholarships thanks to the European Social Fund. In other words, this project shows how EU funds have contributed to attract interest and investment from big companies like Apple to make the Academy happen! The Academy attracts more and more students every year, supporting them in their IT career.
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Schools in central Europe are learning about the importance of saving energy, thanks to an EU-backed project which has created a series of education programmes, ‘smart energy’ tools and an innovative ‘energy guardians’ programme encouraging pupils and teachers to lead by example in saving the environment but also on school costs. The building sector in Europe is wide open for energy optimisation. Schools, in particular, are not generally efficient users of energy and run up costs. To reduce their carbon footprint and expenses, energy efficiency measures and renewable energy sources (RES) are needed, especially in schools built decades ago and in regions where less investment has taken place. ENERGY@SCHOOL is helping the public sector implement ‘energy smart’ action plans and pilots in over 40 primary and secondary schools. Its integrated approach educates and trains school staff and pupils to become senior and junior energy guardians.
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This time we explored how the Scale-Up project is revolutionising the way of doing business in Denmark. The aim of this cross-regional initiative is to boost the regional specialisation within the areas of strength, and to establish elite of high growth companies in Denmark by providing training for the best entrepreneurs and SMEs within the areas of strength. Scale-up Denmark covers a wide variety of business fields, which all have a potential to foster accelerated growth among business. In 2016, the first hubs were installed within these business fields: Health and Welfare Technology, Energy Efficiency, Bio economy, Information and Communication technology, Life Science – Biotechnology, Food, Maritime Industry, Smart Industry, Clean Tech.
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The Aviation Academy Austria is a training centre for airline pilots as well as for jobs in the civil flying with the type of airplane ATR42/72. The training centre was built within the first stage of expansion and was part-financed by the ERDF. The founders of the Aviation Academy Austria have been working for companies like Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Lauda Air and Tyrolean Airways for more than 15 years. During this time they have gained extensive experience in flight training, flight operations and the airline business in general. All are licensed flight instructors and have type-ratings such as A320, A330, A340, B747, B777, F70/100 with several thousand hours of flight experience altogether.
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The "Climate Smart Innovation" project is helping to develop forest-based industries in the centre of Sweden. It is providing a long-term regional platform for building SME capacity in innovation and sustainable development. The project contributes to boost knowledge and skills in climate protection, the bioeconomy and circular economy among businesses and other industry stakeholders. Closer interaction with researchers, students and international partners is encouraged, and the public sector and civil society representatives are participating in project workshops. The platform will make regional innovation more efficient and profitable while helping businesses transition to the low-carbon economy.
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To help long-established sectors in the Basilicata Region become more globally competitive, the EU-funded Mapping Basilicata project refreshed old-fashioned processes with innovative ideas, designs and technology.
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Smart Regions presents the recycling project RCERO in Ljubljana, the largest cohesion environmental project combining 37 municipalities. The project is one of the best examples of regional cooperation in Slovenia due to the large number of municipalities – representing as much as a third of the Slovenian population – relying on the facility's services. It is one of the largest centres in Europe which deals with a third of all waste in Slovenia, a state-of-the-art sustainable technology used to process waste in facilities for mechanical biological waste treatment.
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What are the problems that migrants and refugees face when they arrive in Europe’s towns and cities? They can range from the social support system to open hostility. DG Regio and Euronews invite you to watch the episode on the integration of immigrants and refugees in Europe. In the framework of the 30th anniversary of the Cohesion Policy, Euronews travels to Utrecht to investigate the EU-funded project Plan Einstein. It provides an inclusive approach to facilitating integration from day 1 by introducing a shared living concept in which local young people and asylum seekers live together.
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In Dolní Břežany, on the outskirts of the Czech capital Prague, the world's biggest laser is being built by a top international team! More than 300 scientists and engineers work at the ultra-modern laser research facility in the town. The estimated cost of the pan-European project is over 270 million euros, most of which comes from the European Regional Development Fund. The centre is one of three pillars of European laser research, with other centres in Romania and Hungary.
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This time we travel to Nicosia in Cyprus to present Theleprometeus project aimed to enrich the working environment for healthcare professionals with effective and readily available and easily accessible information and knowledge, enhance distance-learning and train patients and their families. Once ready, the platform was rolled out with training provided to all staff members at Nicosia General Hospital and Heraklion General Hospital.
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This video showcase how this sea water powered project in Marseille brought benefits to citizens and business.
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