A small energy community with integrated hydrogen systems, connected to the grid, can be seen as an ecosystem with shared values and objectives, serving as a subsystem within the larger energy supply system. In this community, hydrogen plays a crucial role in balancing local energy production and consumption, thereby creating a 'small hydrogen valley'.
Building a resilient, effective and competitive business environment is common goal for all countries and macro regions. Real-Time Economy concept is offering novel, innovative and attractive approach how to do it and in which areas countries could strengthen their collaboration. Wider digitalisation, automatisation, standardisation and development of interoperable business environment are the key enablers for achieving business friendly and sustainable economic environment.
Europe’s sustainable energy policy has been dramatically impacted by the Russian-Ukrainian war and its consequences on the European energy systems, which seriously affected all 4 macro-regions. After surviving the first winter with serious reductions, the session shares and discusses experiences from different MRS on visions how to decarbonize any of the sectors without significant future shares of natural gas and how to prepare for the upcoming years.
The session explores the experience and ambition of key actors across the macro-regions of EUSBSR and EUSALP, to play a strong role in delivering EU’s innovation goals. It discusses how new EU tools to drive innovation collaboration align with the needs of the macro-regions, as well as the enablers and challenges that exist. The session will bring ideas and recommendations to promote strategic dialogue across the macro-regions and to contribute to the ongoing design of EU instruments.
Investing in skills development is crucial for the future prosperity and inclusiveness of the Danube region. The session examines how DRP influences the uptake of the new skills and retaining skilled workforce in the region. The session will also provide insights for stakeholders dealing with labor markets, skills, and employment on the new funding to promote upskilling, followed by a discussion.
MRS proved to be a successful way of improving the integration and coherent development in Europe. However, the number of topics & stakeholders can slow down the implementation process. Hence, the MRS Supporting Units (SUs) were established to ensure a targeted and streamlined implementation to support key stakeholders & governance of MRS. For the first time, all 4 SUs meet to share achievements, synergies and future plans. The session provides context for continuation of cross-MRS cooperation.
The gaps in innovation progress & the funding countries receive within the New EU Innovation Agenda priorities are challenges in strengthening the EU’s innovation ecosystems and creating Regional Innovation Valleys (RIV). Despite the CEE’s innovation rapid growth & increasing investment, it’s demanding to catch up with a constantly accelerating innovation pace. We will discuss mitigating measures, best practices & the learning curve in funding innovation, developing RIV and role of MRS.
With roughly one third of the total energy consumption in the EU and high dependence on fossil fuels, transport deserves special attention. The session will focus on challenges and solutions in saving energy, using clean energy and reducing thus the carbon footprint of transport. Due to their cross-sectoral and cross-border nature, the MRS have a particular role to play. The session will provide a basis for launching a policy dialogue on energy transition in transport in and across all four MRS.
Session will show how energy and further resources will be saved and a more resilient supply be possible. International diversification of supply and value chains as a key factor in maintaining competitiveness and reducing risk dependency for SMEs, ensuring the supply of energy, food, goods to the population throughout Europe. In the session approaches will be presented which also include examples of bioeconomy by using nutrient resource from agriculture and circular economy by avoiding food waste.
