More than 240 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

President, Region Centre Val De La Loire, France

Regional Mayor of Ostrobothnia, Finland

Director Competitive Circular Economy and Clean Industrial Policy, DG ENV

Secretary General of Housing Europe

Member of the European Parliament

Mayor of Gabrovo Municipality, Bulgaria

Regional Minister of Overijssel, The Netherlands

Member of the Board, Podkarpackie, Poland

Director, Sustainable and Fair Economy, Joint Research Centre.

(Acting) Director-General, Joint Research Centre

Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain

President regional council , Regione Lombardia, Italia

Professor at the Department of Economic History at Lund University

Emeritus Professor Maastricht University

Secretary of Economic Affairs and European Funds of Catalonia, Spain
Programme
- 29 Apr 2025, 16:00 - 16:05Opening and welcome
Bernard Magenhann, Acting Director General at the Joint Research Centre, European Comission
- 16:05 - 16:25Opening keynote addresses
- 16:25 - 16:50Panel I. How to tackle everyday challenges: housing, food security, and health
Moderated by Tanja Hristova, Mayor of Gabrovo Municipality, Bulgaria.
With the participation of:
- Francesc Trillas Jané, Secretary of Economic Affairs and European Funds, Generalitat de Catalunya, Spain
- Federico Romani, President regional council, Regione Lombardia, Italia
- François Bonneau, President, Region Centre Val De La Loire, France
- Sorcha Edwards, Secretary General of Housing Europe
- 16:50 - 17:15Panel 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:
- Erwin Hoogland, Regional Minister of Overijssel, The Netherlands
- Małgorzata Jarosińska-Jedynak, Member of the Board, Podkarpackie, Poland
- Luc Soete, Emeritus Professor Maastricht University
- 17:15 - 17:40Panel III. How to boost clean and just competitiveness: climate adaptation, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and increasing circularity
With the participation of:
- Diana Morant, Spanish Misniter of Science, Innovation and Universities
- Mats Brandt, Regional Mayor of Ostrobothnia, Finland
- Sylvia Schwaag Serger, Professor at the Department of Economic History at Lund University
- Aurel Ciobanu Dordea, Director Competitive Circular Economy and Clean Industrial Policy, DG ENV
- 17:40 - 17:45Closing remarks
Mikel Landabaso, Director for a Fair and Sustainable Economy at the Joint Research Centre, European Commission