PBN HIGHLIGHTS - MAY NEWS SUMMARY
2025-05-30
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.
PBN Highlights HUMANoid project at major International Metaverse Event in Stuttgart
Pannon Business Network took part in the high-profile “Virtual Worlds & XR EXPO” event held on May 8, 2025, in Stuttgart, Germany—an international success that welcomed over 3,000 participants from more than 45 countries and featured 160+ exhibitors. At the invitation of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism, PBN experts represented the HUMANoid project, funded by the Interreg Danube Region Programme, and shared its innovative approach to combining artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics in key sectors such as agro-food, elderly care, and manufacturing. As the lead partner of the project consortium, PBN plays a central role in driving AI-based transformation in the Danube Region.
At the PBN booth, alongside the showcased humanoid robot, colleagues also presented a variety of cutting-edge XR solutions, which drew significant attention from international visitors, industry representatives, and researchers alike. In addition to the exhibition presence, the HUMANoid Symposium at the New Castle in Stuttgart enabled meaningful exchange among project partners from Hungary, Slovenia, Romania, and Moldova. PBN also co-organized the first “Identification of Lighthouses in the Danube Region” workshop within the framework of EUSDR Priority Area 8 (Competitiveness of enterprises), underlining its ongoing commitment to digitalisation, innovation, and cross-border cooperation. HUMANoid represents a powerful step toward the real-world application of cutting-edge AI technologies in sectors vital to the region’s future.
International cooperation for automotive innovation – Drive2Transform workshop in Budapest
PBN organized, the Drive2Transform transnational workshop and consortium meeting. The event took place in Budapest from May 13 to 15, 2025. The event offered a great opportunity for partners and experts to exchange ideas and collaborate on the future transformation of the European automotive sector, including topics like electrification, autonomous driving, and the platform economy. These insightful and engaging days strengthened cross-regional cooperation and contributed to shaping a shared strategic vision for mobility innovation in Europe.
Success for PBN-mentored team in the “Business Knowledge in Practice” course
As part of the “Business Knowledge in Practice” course, now organized for the fourth time, colleagues from PBN once again participated as mentors in the joint initiative of ELTE Savaria University Centre and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vas County.
In the first semester, students had the opportunity to learn about the many facets of entrepreneurship from experienced business professionals. This year, PBN contributed with a presentation on artificial intelligence solutions, offering valuable insights into this rapidly evolving field.
During the second semester, students formed teams to develop and present their own entrepreneurial ideas to a professional jury. The team mentored by PBN focused on creating a mobile application that promotes a healthy lifestyle, and their outstanding performance earned them an impressive third place in the final project showcase.
Empowering women entrepreneurs – Inspiring good practices and collaborative learning in Maribor
The WE.Circular project partners spent two inspiring days in Maribor, where intensive professional collaboration was paired with engaging and meaningful activities. During the meeting, participants explored best practices from Slovenia and Croatia, including initiatives supporting women entrepreneurs and innovative circular business models. As part of the training programme development, partners worked together to ensure that the upcoming materials will be truly useful, practice-oriented, and empowering for women in entrepreneurship. In developing the training material, PBN’s professional partner is the StartITup Association, which is producing video interviews with three inspiring experienced entrepreneurs and is also responsible for designing the pitch training module.
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AI-based development dissemination at an international workshop in Milan
This month, two colleagues from PBN participated in a professional workshop in Milan, where they introduced the PBN and am-LAB organizations to the attendees, along with a current development being implemented within the AI REDGIO project. The technical solution applied to the recycling module of the am-LAB production line uses artificial intelligence to improve energy efficiency by making smart, real-time decisions based on data from various sources. This supports sustainability and reduces environmental impact.
The workshop's technical section was organized by Fraunhofer IOSB, where they presented the so-called Asset Administration Shell (AAS) system, along with several related digital tools, such as a file generator, a validation tool, and a data mapper that operates with live data streams. The knowledge gained during the workshop can also be applied by PBN in its own developments.The day concluded with a visit to the MADE Competence Center.
International study visit in Ireland – Focusing on the future of the bioeconomy
The final international study visit of the 3F GREEN MODEL project took place in Ireland. The program began with the All-Island Bioeconomy Summit in Enfield, a nationwide event focused on the bioeconomy, where participants had the opportunity to meet Irish bioeconomy stakeholders and gain insights into local challenges and potentials.
Following the conference, the project partnership came together to evaluate the results achieved so far and discuss the future direction of the project. There was also a strong focus on sharing good practices, among which the innovative approach of the Spanish company Agrolinera was particularly inspiring. They demonstrated how dairy and cheese waste can be processed efficiently and economically using advanced sensors, hardware solutions, and cloud technology.
As part of the programme, the partners also visited the Centre for Advanced Biopolymer Research (CABR) at the Technological University of the Shannon in Limerick. Here, they were introduced to research activities focused on sustainability and biomass valorisation – including promising use cases for wool and seaweed.
Two projects, one inspiring location!
During the month, PBN colleagues participated in two international meetings in parallel around Riga, gaining intense and valuable learning experiences in the fields of startup support and innovation policy.
The SKALE2CT consortium held its 4th international workshop in Latvia, with the focus: “New Needs for New Advanced Digital Companies” in the invitation of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Partners gathered to exchange insights on Europe’s evolving tech landscape. Highlights included Latvian digital strategies, EU-funded innovation, and visits to leading tech hubs.
As part of the UnicornQuest project, PBN and the consortium enjoyed the hospitality of Zemgale Planning Region during the 2-day international event. Key players from the Latvian innovation ecosystem joined us for insightful presentations and discussions. Highlights included startup support from Invest in Latvia and funding insights from ALTUM. We also visited local startups—an inspiring glimpse into Riga’s vibrant innovation scene.
Both events wrapped up with cutting-edge research at Riga Technical University and DeepTechAtelier2025.
Platform development workshop for social economy stakeholders
During the two-day 3P4SSE project meeting held in Split, the partners worked together through multiple workshops to achieve shared goals, with a special focus on promoting the social and solidarity economy (SSE).
On the first day of the meeting, participants took part in networking workshops and discussed communication activities as well as the next steps in curriculum development. PBN played a key role in facilitating the workshop on content development for the Social and Solidarity Economy Platform. In the online workshop led by PBN, participants jointly worked on the following topics:
PBN Highlights HUMANoid project at major International Metaverse Event in Stuttgart
Pannon Business Network took part in the high-profile “Virtual Worlds & XR EXPO” event held on May 8, 2025, in Stuttgart, Germany—an international success that welcomed over 3,000 participants from more than 45 countries and featured 160+ exhibitors. At the invitation of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism, PBN experts represented the HUMANoid project, funded by the Interreg Danube Region Programme, and shared its innovative approach to combining artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics in key sectors such as agro-food, elderly care, and manufacturing. As the lead partner of the project consortium, PBN plays a central role in driving AI-based transformation in the Danube Region.
At the PBN booth, alongside the showcased humanoid robot, colleagues also presented a variety of cutting-edge XR solutions, which drew significant attention from international visitors, industry representatives, and researchers alike. In addition to the exhibition presence, the HUMANoid Symposium at the New Castle in Stuttgart enabled meaningful exchange among project partners from Hungary, Slovenia, Romania, and Moldova. PBN also co-organized the first “Identification of Lighthouses in the Danube Region” workshop within the framework of EUSDR Priority Area 8 (Competitiveness of enterprises), underlining its ongoing commitment to digitalisation, innovation, and cross-border cooperation. HUMANoid represents a powerful step toward the real-world application of cutting-edge AI technologies in sectors vital to the region’s future.
International cooperation for automotive innovation – Drive2Transform workshop in Budapest
PBN organized, the Drive2Transform transnational workshop and consortium meeting. The event took place in Budapest from May 13 to 15, 2025. The event offered a great opportunity for partners and experts to exchange ideas and collaborate on the future transformation of the European automotive sector, including topics like electrification, autonomous driving, and the platform economy. These insightful and engaging days strengthened cross-regional cooperation and contributed to shaping a shared strategic vision for mobility innovation in Europe.
Success for PBN-mentored team in the “Business Knowledge in Practice” course
As part of the “Business Knowledge in Practice” course, now organized for the fourth time, colleagues from PBN once again participated as mentors in the joint initiative of ELTE Savaria University Centre and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vas County.
In the first semester, students had the opportunity to learn about the many facets of entrepreneurship from experienced business professionals. This year, PBN contributed with a presentation on artificial intelligence solutions, offering valuable insights into this rapidly evolving field.
During the second semester, students formed teams to develop and present their own entrepreneurial ideas to a professional jury. The team mentored by PBN focused on creating a mobile application that promotes a healthy lifestyle, and their outstanding performance earned them an impressive third place in the final project showcase.
Empowering women entrepreneurs – Inspiring good practices and collaborative learning in Maribor
The WE.Circular project partners spent two inspiring days in Maribor, where intensive professional collaboration was paired with engaging and meaningful activities. During the meeting, participants explored best practices from Slovenia and Croatia, including initiatives supporting women entrepreneurs and innovative circular business models. As part of the training programme development, partners worked together to ensure that the upcoming materials will be truly useful, practice-oriented, and empowering for women in entrepreneurship. In developing the training material, PBN’s professional partner is the StartITup Association, which is producing video interviews with three inspiring experienced entrepreneurs and is also responsible for designing the pitch training module.
AI-based development dissemination at an international workshop in Milan
This month, two colleagues from PBN participated in a professional workshop in Milan, where they introduced the PBN and am-LAB organizations to the attendees, along with a current development being implemented within the AI REDGIO project. The technical solution applied to the recycling module of the am-LAB production line uses artificial intelligence to improve energy efficiency by making smart, real-time decisions based on data from various sources. This supports sustainability and reduces environmental impact.
The workshop's technical section was organized by Fraunhofer IOSB, where they presented the so-called Asset Administration Shell (AAS) system, along with several related digital tools, such as a file generator, a validation tool, and a data mapper that operates with live data streams. The knowledge gained during the workshop can also be applied by PBN in its own developments.The day concluded with a visit to the MADE Competence Center.
International study visit in Ireland – Focusing on the future of the bioeconomy
The final international study visit of the 3F GREEN MODEL project took place in Ireland. The program began with the All-Island Bioeconomy Summit in Enfield, a nationwide event focused on the bioeconomy, where participants had the opportunity to meet Irish bioeconomy stakeholders and gain insights into local challenges and potentials.
Following the conference, the project partnership came together to evaluate the results achieved so far and discuss the future direction of the project. There was also a strong focus on sharing good practices, among which the innovative approach of the Spanish company Agrolinera was particularly inspiring. They demonstrated how dairy and cheese waste can be processed efficiently and economically using advanced sensors, hardware solutions, and cloud technology.
As part of the programme, the partners also visited the Centre for Advanced Biopolymer Research (CABR) at the Technological University of the Shannon in Limerick. Here, they were introduced to research activities focused on sustainability and biomass valorisation – including promising use cases for wool and seaweed.
Two projects, one inspiring location!
During the month, PBN colleagues participated in two international meetings in parallel around Riga, gaining intense and valuable learning experiences in the fields of startup support and innovation policy.
The SKALE2CT consortium held its 4th international workshop in Latvia, with the focus: “New Needs for New Advanced Digital Companies” in the invitation of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Partners gathered to exchange insights on Europe’s evolving tech landscape. Highlights included Latvian digital strategies, EU-funded innovation, and visits to leading tech hubs.
As part of the UnicornQuest project, PBN and the consortium enjoyed the hospitality of Zemgale Planning Region during the 2-day international event. Key players from the Latvian innovation ecosystem joined us for insightful presentations and discussions. Highlights included startup support from Invest in Latvia and funding insights from ALTUM. We also visited local startups—an inspiring glimpse into Riga’s vibrant innovation scene.
Both events wrapped up with cutting-edge research at Riga Technical University and DeepTechAtelier2025.
Platform development workshop for social economy stakeholders
During the two-day 3P4SSE project meeting held in Split, the partners worked together through multiple workshops to achieve shared goals, with a special focus on promoting the social and solidarity economy (SSE).
On the first day of the meeting, participants took part in networking workshops and discussed communication activities as well as the next steps in curriculum development. PBN played a key role in facilitating the workshop on content development for the Social and Solidarity Economy Platform. In the online workshop led by PBN, participants jointly worked on the following topics:
- the design and structure of the IT platform,
- content development (training materials, good practices, guidelines),
- services provided through the platform, such as a forum and online expert advice.
As the next step, the development of the platform can begin based on the partners' feedback.
Maker guide for educators – A toolkit of creative pedagogical ideas and practices
As part of the eTOM AT-HU project, the 5th meeting took place in Eisenstadt, focusing on the development of the Maker Concept. The Concept will result in a guide containing 21 practical, maker pedagogy-based solutions designed to support educators in integrating the principles of "making" into their classrooms.
The aim of the meeting was to review the progress achieved so far and jointly define the tasks related to the next steps. The programme began with a project update, followed by an overview of the current status of the theoretical part of the Maker Guide, which is expected to be finalized soon. Afterwards, partners presented their progress reports and evaluated the online knowledge transfer event held on 12 May.
Maker guide for educators – A toolkit of creative pedagogical ideas and practices
As part of the eTOM AT-HU project, the 5th meeting took place in Eisenstadt, focusing on the development of the Maker Concept. The Concept will result in a guide containing 21 practical, maker pedagogy-based solutions designed to support educators in integrating the principles of "making" into their classrooms.
The aim of the meeting was to review the progress achieved so far and jointly define the tasks related to the next steps. The programme began with a project update, followed by an overview of the current status of the theoretical part of the Maker Guide, which is expected to be finalized soon. Afterwards, partners presented their progress reports and evaluated the online knowledge transfer event held on 12 May.