Around 200 territories will participate and work side-by-side with the JRC to implement a European Union Preparatory Action on innovation for place-based transformation, supported by the European Parliament, over the next two years.
This Preparatory Action aims to help territories: enhance their understanding of transformative innovation policies; experiment by using participatory and innovative approaches to address societal challenges; and inform the debate on an EU policy framework fit for the future beyond 2027.
On 29 April, follow the event to discover which territories are tackling each of the challenges, what political support is behind this initiative, and the science and data that the JRC can already bring to the table to support territorial transformative innovation.
Speakers
Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition
Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms
Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy
President, Region Centre-Val de Loire, France
Regional Mayor of Ostrobothnia, Finland
Director General of Regional Foundation for Biomedical Research (FRRB), Regione Lombardia, Italia
Member of the European Parliament
Director for Jobs and Skills, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission
Mayor of Gabrovo Municipality, Bulgary
Regional Minister of Overijssel, The Netherlands
Member of the Board, Podkarpackie, Poland
Ambassador, Permanent Representation of Malta to the European Union
Director, Sustainable and Fair Economy, Joint Research Centre.
Director of the European Regions Research and Innovation Network (ERRIN)
(Acting) Director-General, Joint Research Centre
Secretary General for Innovation at the Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain
Professor and President of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences
Emeritus Professor Maastricht University
Secretary of Economic Affairs and European Funds of Catalonia, Spain
Research Coordinator of Housing Europe
Member of Cabinet for Environment, Water Resilience and Competitive Circular Economy, European Commission (EC)
Programme
- 29 Apr 2025 | 16:00Opening and welcome
Bernard Magenhann, Acting Director General at the Joint Research Centre, European Commission
- 16:05 - 16:15Opening keynote addresses
Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition
Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy (AV message)
- 16:15 - 16.40Panel I. How to tackle everyday challenges: housing, food security, and health
Moderated by Tanya Hristova, Mayor of Gabrovo Municipality, Bulgary
With the participation of:
- François Bonneau, President, Region Centre Val De La Loire, France
- Francesc Trillas Jané, Secretary of Economic Affairs and European Funds, Generalitat de Catalunya, Spain
- Veronica Comi, Director General of Regional Foundation for Biomedical Research (FRRB),Regione Lombardia, Italia
- Dara Turnbull, Research Coordinator of Housing Europe
- 16:40 - 17:05Panel II. How to be ready for the current geopolitical situation: societal preparedness and digitalisation
Moderated by Lina Gálvez, Member of the European Parliament
With the participation of:
- Neil Kerr, Ambassador, Permanent Representation of Malta to the European Union
- Erwin Hoogland, Regional Minister of Overijssel, The Netherlands
- Małgorzata Jarosińska-Jedynak, Member of the Board, Podkarpackie, Poland
- Luc Soete, Emeritus Professor Maastricht University
- 17:05 - 17:30Panel III. How to boost clean and just competitiveness: climate adaptation, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and increasing circularity
Moderated by Pirita Lindholm, Director of the European Regions Research and Innovation Network (ERRIN)
With the participation of:
- Teresa Riesgo, Secretary General for Innovation at the Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain
- Mats Brandt, Regional Mayor of Ostrobothnia, Finland
- Pernille Weiss-Ehler, Member of Cabinet for Environment, Water Resilience and Competitive Circular Economy, European Commission (EC)
- Sylvia Schwaag Serger, Professor and President of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences
- 17:30 - 17:40Closing remarks
Manuela Geleng, Director for Jobs and Skills, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission
Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms (AV message)
Mikel Landabaso, Director for a Fair and Sustainable Economy at the Joint Research Centre, European Commission