The European Commission's Europe 2020 strategy suggests that increasing resource efficiency is key to securing growth and jobs for Europe. Green innovations can help to deliver this aim by addressing environmental challenges, increasing productivity and creating new markets.

Home_page By adopting eco-innovations, a company can reduce costs, improve its capacity to capture new growth opportunities and enhances its reputation among customers. Eco-industries and related services have emerged as an important segment of the European economy. The sector has an estimated turnover of €319 billion, corresponding to 3.5% of EU GDP, and directly employs 3.4 million people. Eco-innovations are therefore a prevailing instrument with a positive impact on the economy and society.

This conference will discuss the role of eco-innovation policies and businesses in supporting European competitiveness, jobs creation, environmental protection and the well-being of European citizens.

Following a policy introduction, the conference will focus on concrete examples of today’s eco-technologies, services and processes, which are flagship initiatives for Europe green economy and society (City, Materials Research & Innovation and Enhanced collaboration). Particular attention will be given to the role of entrepreneurship and business incubation as an engine for microeconomic growth.

In addition to providing an excellent opportunity for networking, the conference will showcase the latest European policies and will lay the foundations for future collaborative project opportunities. An exhibition area will display examples of regional microeconomic accelerators as well as related EU initiatives.

Eco-innovation?
“An eco-innovation is any form of innovation resulting in or aiming at significant and demonstrable progress towards the goal of sustainable development, through reducing impacts on the environment, enhancing resilience to environmental pressures, or achieving a more efficient and responsible use of natural resources” (EcoAP, European Commission)

New materials play their part!
Key enabling technologies (such as nanotechnologies, nanoelectronics, photonics, etc.) are at the forefront of managing the shift to a low carbon knowledge-based society. Advanced materials facilitate recycling, lowering the carbon footprint and energy demand as well as limiting the need for raw materials, which are scarce in Europe.