News
PBN HIGHLIGHTS – OCTOBER NEWS SUMMARY
In October, PBN participated in several international projects focused on the practical application of innovation, artificial intelligence, and digitalisation. The meetings and events held throughout the month not only strengthened partnerships but also contributed to reinforcing PBN’s role in European knowledge exchange and technological development.
PBN HIGHLIGHTS – SEPTEMBER NEWS SUMMARY
In September, PBN’s international projects gained new momentum: meetings, professional forums, and events were held across several countries, all sharing the common goal of strengthening innovation, digitalization, and circular thinking. Throughout the month, several projects reached important milestones, demonstrating how international collaboration can turn into genuine value creation.
SHARPEI kick-off meeting
The on-site kick-off meeting of the SHARPEI project was held on 8–9 July 2025 in Bologna, hosted by the Emilia-Romagna Region. Over two days, partners from eight European countries—regional authorities, innovation agencies and policy experts—laid the groundwork for integrating data and artificial intelligence tools to improve the efficiency in managing Cohesion Policy and regional programmes.
PBN HIGHLIGHTS – JULY & AUGUST NEWS SUMMARY
Digital skills development at the Junior Engineering Camps, the SHARPEI project kick-off, an AI lecture in Szombathely, and a handicraft workshop in Sárvár – despite the summer slowdown, it was a truly active season with several successful events taking place.
Registration Now Open: Online Training Programme for Women Entrepreneurs – WE.Circular
Are you ready to grow your business with sustainable and digital solutions? The WE.Circular project is launching a free online training programme tailored to support women entrepreneurs across the Danube Region in building smart, future-ready, and circular businesses. This practice-oriented programme is designed to strengthen the digital, business, and entrepreneurial skills of participants. It supports women entrepreneurs in transitioning toward Circular Economy, Smart Specialisation Strategies, and Industry 4.0 through innovative learning tools and expert-led content.
PBN at the Heart of Healthy Ageing
From June 24–26, 2025, PBN, as the Lead Partner of the NOTRE Interreg Europe project, took part in a dynamic and insightful three-day programme in Hauts-de-France. The event, organized by the French project partners Eurasanté and the Hauts-de-France Region, combined strategic project discussions, interactive training, regional insights, and culminated in the high-level European Silver Day – a flagship European event dedicated to innovation in the Silver Economy.
Second Workshop on Circular Construction: “Mastering Circular Building Design”
On 8 July 2025, the Working Group 1 – Circular construction and restoration of buildings of public relevance held its second workshop titled “Mastering Circular Building Design: from principles to practice.”
PBN HIGHLIGHTS – JUNE NEWS SUMMARY
Collaboration, innovation, and inspiring encounters - in June, PBN took part in major international project events in Pécs, Prague, and Bologna. The meetings focused on circular economy, digitalisation, industrial AI, and international cooperation. These in-person gatherings not only supported professional progress but also sparked fresh ideas, new partnerships, and shared goals for future innovation.
Tradition Meets Innovation – Highlights from the DECORATOR Workshop in Szombathely
On 31 May, the DECORATOR project brought together experts, students, and the public at the Vas Open-Air Museum to explore the power of natural building materials in sustainable architecture.
PBN HIGHLIGHTS - MAY NEWS SUMMARY
In May, PBN staff took part in several prestigious international events and organized project activities focusing on digital innovation, the circular economy, bioeconomy, and educational development. The Drive2Transform workshop in Budapest addressed future strategies for the automotive industry, while in Milan, the energy-efficient AI-based development of the am-LAB was showcased. In Maribor, partners exchanged knowledge on supporting female entrepreneurs, and in Ireland, they explored best practices in sustainable biomass utilization. In the Riga area, PBN colleagues attended two major events, while in Split and Eisenstadt, efforts focused on platform and methodological development. A highlight of the month was the HUMANoid presentation in Stuttgart, which spotlighted advancements in artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics.
Kick-off for DRIVE2TRANSFORM Expert Groups – Starting the Dialogue Across Europe
In the past two weeks, the four expert groups in DRIVE2TRANSFORM have officially kicked off!
Strengthening the Social Economy in Western Hungary - A Regional Success Story
Through the 3P4SSE project, Western Hungary has taken meaningful steps to strengthen its local social economy. By bringing stakeholders together and embedding social enterprise support into city-level strategy, the Local Action Plan is turning cooperation into real, lasting impact.
Transnational Workshop & Consortium Meeting in Budapest
From May 13 to 15, 2025, the Drive2Transform project team came together in Budapest for a transnational workshop and consortium meeting — a key milestone in our cross-regional collaboration to shape the future of mobility in Europe.
Rediscover the Future Through the Materials of the Past
On 19 March, Budapest hosted the DECORATOR pilot kick-off innovation workshop, introducing the Hungarian pilot activities and spotlighting three inspiring practices:
KARMA’s 7th online learning event (WG4) (May 2025)
On May 8th, 2025, Circular Flanders (BE), a partner in the Interreg Europe KARMA project, hosted the second workshop of Working Group 4 (WG4): Governance of Climate Plans and Circular Economy Strategies. The session focused on a timely and complex issue -integrating circular economy principles into the construction and renovation of school buildings.
PBN HIGHLIGHTS - APRIL NEWS SUMMARY
In April, Pannon Business Network engaged in a diverse range of international project activities. RurALL workshops in Sárvár and Bystrice focused on rethinking abandoned spaces for community use, while the IPR4SC final conference in Ljubljana emphasized the role of intellectual property in driving sustainable innovation. Following the successful closure of the DigiTwinGreen and ConFacts projects, achievements in digital training and industrial collaboration were highlighted. One of the month’s standout events was the Sárvár showcase of Ameca, one of the world’s most advanced humanoid robots, which opened a local dialogue on the future of AI. Additional highlights included the eTOM workshop, the AI REDGIO 5.0 knowledge exchange, and the OD4GROWTH meeting in Warsaw.
How is digitalisation transforming work?
Digital transformation is reshaping our everyday work and the future of organizations. But what trends are driving this change?
Drive2Transform Expert Group
One month after our call for participation, we’re proud to announce that 51 outstanding experts have been nominated to join our transnational Drive2Transform Expert Group!
PBN HIGHLIGHTS - MARCH NEWS SUMMARY
In March, the Pannon Business Network concluded an intensive month of activities: the SMART CIRCUIT conference, focusing on the digital and circular transformation of manufacturing SMEs, was held in Szombathely, while transnational training sessions showcasing the application of AI were organized in both Slovenia and Hungary under the BrAIn project. The annual reviews of the WE.Circular and DECORATOR projects confirmed the successful cooperation among partners, while the NOTRE project explored new opportunities in healthcare robotics through a Finnish-Hungarian professional exchange program. Additionally, the international meetings of the BEST DIH and KARMA projects were of great significance, along with the CIRCES initiatives aimed at engaging the younger generation
Drive2Transform Workshops for Regional Transformation Scenarios (January to March 2025)
To assess the current state of transformation readiness, the Drive2Transform consortium first developed a Transformation Readiness Index. Based on the results, nine workshops have been conducted simultaneously across all regions, involving more than 135 participants, to explore future scenarios fitting to the identified challenges.
KARMA’s 6th Interregional meeting in Flanders (March 2025)
The 6th interregional KARMA meeting, held in Mechelen from March 24th to 25th, 2025, brought together project partners and stakeholders from Romania, Hungary, Italy, Germany, and Flanders to deepen collaboration and strengthen regional approaches to circular (re)construction.
Pilot project kick-off DECORATOR
On 19 March, Budapest hosted the DECORATOR pilot kick-off innovation workshop
DECORATOR Project Pilot Kick-Off in Hungary!
Join us for the national pilot kick-off event on 19 March in Budapest, where we’ll introduce the project’s local activities and present innovative practices from the construction industry.
Building the Future with Heritage and Innovation – Hungary’s Contribution to the DECORATOR Project
In Hungary, the DECORATOR project pilots are bridging tradition and innovation in the construction sector.
PBN HIGHLIGHTS - FEBRUARY NEWS SUMMARY
February brought several significant events for PBN and its partners, focusing on innovation, training programs, and international collaborations.
SmartProTech project, empowering digital manufacturing – launched!
Join us as we drive the future of digital manufacturing and transform production processes through innovative, smart technologies.
KARMA's 5th online learning event
On February 27th, 2025, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (DE), the lead partner in the KARMA project, hosted the second online workshop organized by Working Group 3: "Cost Efficiency and Environmental Impact of Circular Economy Processes." This event brought together experts, researchers, and key stakeholders to explore how circular economy principles can be integrated into construction while balancing environmental sustainability with economic feasibility.
KARMA's 4th online learning event (WG4)
On February 25th, 2025, Circular Flanders (BE), partner in the KARMA project, hosted the first workshop organized by Working Group 4: Governance of Climate Plans and Circular Economy Strategies. The event brought together researchers and local authorities to explore governance models that facilitate the implementation of circular economy principles and climate action at different governmental levels.
Co-Design Jam by IPR4SC project
Join us and engage in dynamic, collaborative workshops focused on applying CBMC to real use cases.