European Regional Economic Forum

01/06/2026

The Municipality of Velenje/Mestna občina Velenje is a true driver of change and we’re happy to announce they will be participating in the European Sustainable Energy Week ( ) 2026 Energy Fair! ⚡

Projects that you’ll be able to explore include:
🌍 ZERO MOVE (Horizon Europe / NetZeroCities Enabling City Transformation Programme): By uniting Pécs, Velenje, and Cluj-Napoca, this project is creating a blueprint for reducing and fast-tracking neutrality.
🌍 At the stand, you’ll be able to participate in Mission Zero Move; a game allowing participants to calculate the footprint of their journey to Brussels and compare the impact of different transport choices.
🌍 EVA, a user-friendly platform designed to help households analyse and optimise their consumption. EVA supports residents in planning energy renovations, identifying energy saving measures, reducing costs and lowering CO₂ emissions.

Join Velenje to:
🌍 Explore innovative local solutions for climate neutrality.
🌍 Exchange knowledge and best practices with European and organisations.
🌍 Strengthen international partnerships and explore future Horizon Europe opportunities.
🌍 Promote citizen-centered approaches to development.

Detailed stand information is available on the official EUSEW website 👉 https://interactive.eusew.eu/platform/eusew-2026/fair?exhibitor=municipality-of-velenje-cmnyky

EU Science Hub - Joint Research Centre EU Climate Action Evropska komisija v Sloveniji Združenje mestnih občin Slovenije

29/05/2026

🌍 🌱 🚀 We're excited to see taking an important step toward a -neutral future by joining the international project IPPCP – Platform for Carbon Neutral Cities!

In collaboration with and leading European partners, the city is helping to build a next-generation public–private data space designed to transform how climate data is collected, shared, and used. Funded by the Digital Europe Programme under the “Data Spaces for Smart Communities” initiative (European Data Space for Smart Communities / DS4SSCC), the €2.5 million project has been running since May 2025 and is scheduled to conclude in August 2026!

It is led by the City of , with a strong consortium that includes Ljubljana, Technical University of Madrid (UPM), Geospatiumlab, and d.o.o.!

To learn more about the project, visit the project page: https://www.ds4sscc.eu/ippcp

Mestna občina Ljubljana Združenje mestnih občin Slovenije Evropska komisija v Sloveniji Assembly of European Regions - AER Eurocities

28/05/2026

The Slovenian Business & Research Association - SBRA is pleased to invite you to the official launch of the White Book on manipulation, created within the ROMANDIC project, taking place on 18 June 2026 in Brussels. Under the theme “Closing the Gap: for Textile Handling in Europe contributing to competitiveness”, this high-level in-person event will bring together policymakers, researchers, technology developers, and industry leaders to explore how advanced robotics can strengthen Europe’s textile and accelerate the transition toward and production models! 🤖 ✂🏭

As Europe’s textile sector faces increasing pressure to innovate and remain globally competitive, robotics for textile handling is emerging as a key strategic enabler. The event will provide first-hand insights into the technical challenges of manipulating deformable , while presenting a shared European vision and roadmap for textile automation and hashtag !

Participants will have the opportunity to:
+ Discover the White Book on robotic textile manipulation, developed as part of the ROMANDIC project
+ Engage with representatives from the European Commission on the role of robotics in Circular Economy and Industry 5.0 policies
+ Explore cutting-edge European research projects including ROMANDIC, SoftEnable, Tornado and Flexcycle
+ Hear industrial perspectives on market needs, barriers, and opportunities for automation
+ Attend the launch of the new European Network of Excellence dedicated to long-term coordination in textile robotics
+ Participate in a moderated debate on the future of automation and competitiveness in the European textile sector

We would be delighted to welcome you to this important discussion shaping the future of European manufacturing and the circular textile economy!

Discover the full programme here 👉https://www.sbra.be/sites/default/files/Closing%20the%20Automation%20Gap%20-%20Programme%20-%2018%20June%202026%20(v21.5)_1.pdf
Register here to ensure your place at the event 👉 https://www.sbra.be/en/content/closing-automation-gap

The event is co-financed by the SPIRIT Slovenia Business Development Agency and the Ministry of Economy, Tourism, and Sport. Additionally, this event is co-financed by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Assembly of European Regions - AER EU Science Hub - Joint Research Centre 3D Robotics Inc. ECOVACS ROBOTICS NVIDIA Robotics European Textile Network - ETN Fashion & Textiles Orient Textiles

20/05/2026

🌍 ♻️ 🧲 Yesterday’s event, “Bridging Circular Value Chains for Permanent Magnets”, co-organised by the SICAPERMA project partners in coordination with TECOS Razvojni center orodjarstva Slovenije and Universidad de Jaén, in collaboration with Slovenian Business & Research Association - SBRA, N-ABLE, and OnProjects, and in partnership with PERMANENT, was a tremendous success!

Bringing together policymakers, leaders, , and EU-funded , the discussions highlighted both the urgency and the opportunity of building resilient, , and strategically autonomous European value chains for rare earths and permanent ; some of which were on display! 👏

From insightful keynote presentations and engaging panel discussions to hands-on workshops focused on dismantling, , re- , and innovative magnet , the event demonstrated the power of collaboration across the European .

Many thanks to all our speakers and moderators: Drasko Veselinovic, Peter Fajs, Sebastián García Galán, Kristiina Jokelainen, Nabeel Mancheri, Milan Grohol, Josep Marí Cervera, Bianca Maestrelli, Alessandro Silvestri, Marco Antonio Segovia Bifarini, Pierre Padilla, André Carvalho, Cristian Aionesei, Sophie Rivoirard, Emeline Saracco, Kaouther Zaara, Ana Drmota Petrič, Alen raganovičć, Irena Janotova and Ahmed Talaat!

A big thank you to all speakers, partners, and participants who contributed their expertise, energy, and vision throughout the day. Special thanks to the SICAPERMA, PERMANENT, and REMHub projects for driving this important initiative forward!

The momentum created yesterday reinforces ’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and strategic autonomy under the Critical Raw Materials Act!

Take a look at all the presentations here 👉 https://www.sbra.be/en/content/bridging-circular-value-chains-permanent-magnets

20/05/2026

12/05/2026

across are under increasing pressure to turn ambitions into real, scalable implementation. The key challenge remains: bridging the gap between policy intent and operational capacity!

On Thursday, 2 July 2026 (09:00–13:00), the Slovenian Business & Research Association (SBRA), acting as co-organiser together with our partners CircOS and CircularAI on behalf of the CircularPSP consortium, is pleased to invite you to:

📍 Circular in Action: -Powered Tools for Circular Transition at Scale
University Foundation (Room Félicien Cattier)
Rue d’Egmont 11, 1000 Brussels

This closing event of the CircularPSP programme will showcase how AI can actively support cities in accelerating their circular transition through practical, deployable tools!

🔍 What to expect
+ Live demonstrations of CircOS and CircularAI platforms
+ City testimonials from Guimarães and Circular Berlin
+ Keynote intervention from the European Commission
+ Roundtable discussion with insights from Eurocities and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
+ Exchange on procurement, policy, and funding pathways for scaling innovation
+ Informal lunch and hands-on platform demonstrations

📄 Check out the full programme and register to secure your place 👉 https://www.sbra.be/en/content/circular-cities-action

EU Science Hub - Joint Research Centre European Office of Cyprus European Commission

05/05/2026

🌲 IGLO Open: Science-Led Transitions – a successful exchange in Brussels! Earlier today, the we had the pleasure of supporting and co-organising the Open at the University Foundation, within the framework of the Informal Group of R&D Liaison Offices!

The event brought together , , and for a timely discussion on how science can drive the transition toward climate-resilient forests across Europe.

🌱 Key highlights included:
• Insights from Slovenian Forestry Institute (SFI), showcasing over 80 years of expertise
• Valuable exchanges on policy frameworks, opportunities, and collaborative
• A strong dialogue bridging , policy, and practice

👏 A big thank you to all speakers and participants who made this IGLO Open a success!

22/04/2026

🔔 Join us in Brussels on 19 May 2026, from 09:00 to 16:00 at the University Foundation for the inaugural SICAPERMA event: Bridging Circular Value Chains for Permanent !

We are pleased to invite hashtag leaders, policymakers, , and innovation stakeholders to this flagship event of the SICAPERMA project, funded by the European Union! As Europe accelerates efforts around critical raw , , and strategic autonomy, this event will focus on one of the most important enabling technologies of the and transition: permanent magnets.

🔹 What to expect:
✔️ Keynote presentations on the European landscape for Critical Raw Materials, circular value chains, and interregional collaboration
✔️ Showcases from leading EU-funded projects including SICAPERMA, PERMANENT, IN-MOB, EVEN CLOSER, IRM HUB, and REMHub
✔️ Expert panel discussion on challenges and opportunities for circular magnet value chains
✔️ Hands-on workshop on dismantling and pre-processing magnet-containing products
✔️ Afternoon session on innovative permanent magnet production using recycled materials and advanced manufacturing

🤝 With dedicated networking breaks and lunch, the day offers an excellent opportunity to connect with key actors shaping Europe’s sustainable materials future.

Discover the full programme and register now to secure your place 👉 https://www.sbra.be/en/content/bridging-circular-value-chains-permanent-magnets

European Office of Cyprus EU Science Hub - Joint Research Centre Assembly of European Regions - AER

15/04/2026

🌿 Join us for an engaging discussion on the future of Europe’s forests! The Slovenian Business & Research Association - SBRA is pleased to invite you to IGLO Open: Science-Led Transitions - an insightful afternoon event bringing together policymakers, researchers, and key stakeholders taking place on 5 May 2026!

As climate change continues to impact Europe’s forests, the need for science-based, forward-looking forest management is more critical than ever. This IGLO Open will explore how excellence can support the transition toward a -resilient forest sector.

🌱 Key highlights:
+ Focus on close-to-nature forest management and adaptive strategies
+ Insights from the Slovenian Forestry Institute (SFI) (80+ years of expertise)
+ Connections to European policy, opportunities, and EU
+ Opportunities to exchange ideas across hashtag , policy, and practice

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation shaping sustainable forest transitions in Europe!

👉 Discover the full programme and secure your spot by registering today: https://www.sbra.be/en/content/iglo-open-science-led-forest-transitions

Gozdarski inštitut Slovenije - Oddelek za gozdno tehniko in ekonomiko European Forum on Urban Forestry - EFUF