PBN HIGHLIGHTS – OCTOBER NEWS SUMMARY
2025-10-31
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.
Creating new opportunities for rural communities – RurALL project partner meeting in Prijedor
PBN is glad to participate in the Interreg RurALL project meeting hosted by PREDA – Development Agency of the City of Prijedor. Over the past two days, partners gathered to discuss innovative solutions for revitalizing rural areas and tackling depopulation across the Danube Region. The program included workshops on community engagement, business model development, and project synergies, as well as inspiring site visits such as the Smart Village Knežica and its pilot vineyard.
The meeting provided an excellent opportunity for knowledge exchange, networking and strengthening collaboration among project partners to create new opportunities for rural communities.
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Developing unicorn ventures – UnicornQuest study visit in Galway
The latest UnicornQuest inter-regional learning event took place in Galway, Ireland on 7-8 October 2025, hosted by WestBIC. The meeting gathered project partners and stakeholders from across Europe – including PBN – to explore Ireland’s collaborative approach to supporting start-ups and scaling enterprises.
The partners reported on the policy measures and future plans aimed at developing local ecosystems (“Unicorn Valleys”) designed to attract and retain start-ups and, ideally, unicorn companies through various local development initiatives and policy support schemes. They also presented specific regional action plans supporting high-growth potential companies in the partner regions.
During the event:
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AI for a Smarter Danube Region – BrAIn partner meeting in Timișoara
The 5th partner meeting of the BrAIn project took place in Timișoara, Romania, organized by WRDA. The event was coordinated by PBN, the project’s Lead Partner, bringing together representatives from 10 European countries to discuss how AI-driven innovation can strengthen regional ecosystems and support SMEs in their digital transformation.
The meeting combined strategic discussions and practical sessions focused on the integration of artificial intelligence into product and service development – from healthcare and manufacturing to agriculture. The event also included an open session for local start-ups, entrepreneurs, and university representatives, creating a vibrant dialogue between regional innovators and international experts.
Companies such as Rayscape, The Home Care, 123FormBuilder, and Nomad SW shared insights on real-world AI applications, benefits, and challenges – highlighting both the efficiency potential and the responsibility of using AI safely and transparently.
Participants also visited Nokia Romania Garage, a space dedicated to research and innovation, as well as Politehnica University of Timișoara, learning about ongoing collaborations between academia and industry.
The second day of the meeting was dedicated to BrAIn Demo Cases, showcasing practical examples of AI adoption across the Danube Region.
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Insights into Open Data Applications Across Europe - OD4GROWTH Knowledge Exchange
The OD4GROWTH project held its second transnational knowledge exchange event on 9-10 October 2025 in Alexandroupoli, where partners discussed the opportunities and challenges of using open data through various regional best practices. During the first day of the event, several European good practices were presented:
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Talent attraction and investment in innovation – MAGNET project kick-off meeting
The MAGNET project officially began with its Kick-off Meeting in Reggio Emilia, Italy, where partners from 7 European regions met to launch four years of cooperation focused on strengthening regional and local hubs for attracting talent, investment, and innovation. Over the two days, discussions covered project governance and management, partner roles, communication strategies, and plans for upcoming study visits and interregional learning events.
Partners also exchanged first insights on how regional hubs can enhance economic development through improved services, collaboration and innovative talent-retention approaches. The meeting successfully established a strong cooperative spirit and laid the foundation for the next steps, including diagnostic assessments, identification of good practices and the preparation of regional action plans.
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Supporting business succession and generational change – SuccessSkills partner meeting
Partners of the SuccessSkills project gathered in Plungė, Lithuania, for an in-person meeting dedicated to discussing business succession challenges and ways to support SMEs and family enterprises during the transition process.
The meeting focused on sharing regional experiences and identifying effective tools to strengthen succession planning, especially in countries where many family-owned businesses lack a structured approach to generational change. Among others, participants had the opportunity to meet local entrepreneurs and representatives of the Baltic Family Firm Institute, who presented valuable case studies and best practices from their long-standing work in the field of family business succession. Together, we discussed strategies to develop the skills of both successors and professionals involved in the transfer process, aiming to ensure long-term business continuity and regional competitiveness.
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New approaches in rehabilitation technologies – RehAllianCE meeting in Szombathely
The 4th international meeting of the RehAllianCE project was hosted at PBN’s headquarters in Szombathely, bringing together partners from Poland, Germany, Austria, Italy and Hungary.
On the first day, PBN presented the report summarizing national rehabilitation programs and guidelines, which aims to evaluate the national frameworks regulating the financing and reimbursement of rehabilitation technologies, providing a comprehensive overview of the related policies in the partner countries. Additionally, representatives from each partner country reported on the current status of the transnational and regional pilots.
In the afternoon, participants visited PBN’s innovation laboratories, including the am-LAB manufacturing digitalization centre and the at.home showroom, where, in connection with PBN’s transnational pilot, they were introduced to the testing and validation environment – designed to enable the testing and development of prototypes of healthcare and elderly care products – and where they could also explore digital rehabilitation solutions and meet a social humanoid robot.
On the second day, the focus was placed on the establishment of the RehAllianCE Competence Centre and the presentation of the Smart-Rehab-Index, a tool designed for regional comparison of rehabilitation service efficiency and monitoring healthcare system performance (e.g. waiting times, recovery duration, cost-efficiency and technology utilization), supporting decision-makers in planning and evaluating healthcare and innovation programs.
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Automotive transformation and sustainable mobility - Drive2Transfrom conference in Bruneck
The Automotive Transformation Conference took place successfully in Bruneck, as part of the Drive2Transform project, focusing on the technological transformation of the automotive industry and sustainable mobility.
The event was hosted by NOI Techpark Bruneck, bringing together industry experts, researchers, and business leaders — including Árpád Boros from Ingenics Consulting Hungary Ltd.
As part of the program, participants gained insights into the latest developments in electric drive systems, e-mobility, and autonomous vehicle technologies. During the company visits, several key locations were explored in Bruneck, Brixen, and Sterzing, where leading companies such as GKN Automotive, Intercable, and TTControl opened their doors to visitors.
The Automotive Transformation Conference served as a valuable professional platform for showcasing future mobility trends, technological innovations, and opportunities for international collaboration, strengthening connections between regional and European automotive industry players.
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Innovation and competitiveness in the health sector – the first Health Cities partner meeting
The first Health Cities interregional study visit and in-person project meeting took place in Sant Cugat del Vallès and Barcelona, bringing partners together to exchange ideas on promoting innovation and competitiveness in the health and life sciences sector in medium-sized European cities.
The three-day program featured a series of engaging thematic sessions. Financing Day focused on early-stage investment opportunities through discussions with representatives from business support organizations and financial institutions. The day concluded with a visit to ALBA Synchrotron, where participants explored how research infrastructures can transform scientific knowledge into market-oriented innovation.
Talent Day, hosted by MERCANTIC and Tech Barcelona, emphasized collaboration between academia and industry, showcasing effective models for startup incubation and acceleration. Finally, Regulatory Day wrapped up the event with visits to HP, Roche Diagnostics, and Grifols, offering valuable insights into how innovation and regulation work hand in hand to create sustainable healthcare solutions across Europe.
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Digitalisation and circular solutions in the plastics industry – SMART CIRCUIT conference
Digitalisation now plays a key role in every industry from manufacturing and logistics to packaging and recycling. This message was reinforced at the SMART CIRCUIT Conference, held on 28 October 2025 in Zadar, Croatia. The event focused on the future of the plastics sector and advanced materials that fit into the circular economy, with a particular emphasis on the practical role of digitalisation and innovation.
The afternoon panel “Green Transition in Factories” drew special attention, showcasing good practices and innovative developments from various sectors. During this session, am-LAB’s development, the Automated Material Refill System pilot project, was also presented. The solution uses a humanoid robot to make material refilling processes on production lines more efficient, reducing human error and increasing productivity.
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Shaping Regional Action Plans for Women Entrepreneurs – WE.Circular vent in Varaždin
At the end of the month, the WE.Circular project held its transnational event in Varaždin, Croatia. The two-day meeting focused on the practical steps to support female entrepreneurs.
On the first day, the HNK Varaždin Theatre hosted the dissemination event, featuring inspiring presentations on Industry 5.0 trends and good practices in the circular economy. In the afternoon, project partners discussed the progress of the training programme, which has already attracted over 400 participants from the partner countries.
The second day took place at the Varaždin Technology Park, where representatives from each country presented their regional action plans. The presentations were followed by professional evaluation and interactive feedback, fostering joint learning and international cooperation.
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Digital innovation ecosystems in Finland and Emilia-Romagna – Study visits in the BEST DIH projects
The BEST DIH Study Visit in Tampere held alongside the Future Mobile Work Machines event, provided valuable insights into Finland’s regional digital innovation ecosystem. Participants visited leading companies during the Industry Showcase Tours and explored the Technology EXPO, fostering cross-regional networking and knowledge exchange.
The second day’s sessions focused on the role of data as an enabler of new value from different perspectives concluding with presentations on Tampere’s Regional Digital Strategy and good practices in sustainable industrial transition. The visit offered meaningful inspiration for advancing digital innovation and collaboration models across Europe.
At the end of October, the BEST DIH partnership went on another study visit, this time to Bologna, to gain insight into one of Europe’s most advanced regional innovation systems in Emilia-Romagna. Over two days, we moved from policy to practice – seeing how the region orchestrates funding, data, and infrastructure so that digitalisation became tangible for SMEs.
Throughout the event, the participants connected with practitioners – regional officers, hub managers, cluster stakeholders, and research organisations. The ambition was clear: to bring home practical insights on funding mixes, shared metrics, and service models that DIHs could adapt to their own contexts.
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Creating new opportunities for rural communities – RurALL project partner meeting in Prijedor
PBN is glad to participate in the Interreg RurALL project meeting hosted by PREDA – Development Agency of the City of Prijedor. Over the past two days, partners gathered to discuss innovative solutions for revitalizing rural areas and tackling depopulation across the Danube Region. The program included workshops on community engagement, business model development, and project synergies, as well as inspiring site visits such as the Smart Village Knežica and its pilot vineyard.
The meeting provided an excellent opportunity for knowledge exchange, networking and strengthening collaboration among project partners to create new opportunities for rural communities.
Developing unicorn ventures – UnicornQuest study visit in Galway
The latest UnicornQuest inter-regional learning event took place in Galway, Ireland on 7-8 October 2025, hosted by WestBIC. The meeting gathered project partners and stakeholders from across Europe – including PBN – to explore Ireland’s collaborative approach to supporting start-ups and scaling enterprises.
The partners reported on the policy measures and future plans aimed at developing local ecosystems (“Unicorn Valleys”) designed to attract and retain start-ups and, ideally, unicorn companies through various local development initiatives and policy support schemes. They also presented specific regional action plans supporting high-growth potential companies in the partner regions.
During the event:
- Sessions opened at Platform94 with introductory remarks by WestBIC’s Chair and the President of EBN.
- Presentations explored the West Regional Enterprise Plan and Ireland’s national Action Plan for Policy Improvement.
- A workshop led by CPU Reuse Center focused on sharing action plans and monitoring strategies across partner regions.
- The partner group visited the ATU Innovation Hubs, where commercialisation supports and entrepreneurship programmes were showcased.
- On day two, the meeting continued at the Galway Chamber of Commerce discussing next steps in policy, monitoring and project communications.
- A presentation at BioInnovate Ireland (hosted by the University of Galway) highlighted med-tech start-ups and scale-ups.
AI for a Smarter Danube Region – BrAIn partner meeting in Timișoara
The 5th partner meeting of the BrAIn project took place in Timișoara, Romania, organized by WRDA. The event was coordinated by PBN, the project’s Lead Partner, bringing together representatives from 10 European countries to discuss how AI-driven innovation can strengthen regional ecosystems and support SMEs in their digital transformation.
The meeting combined strategic discussions and practical sessions focused on the integration of artificial intelligence into product and service development – from healthcare and manufacturing to agriculture. The event also included an open session for local start-ups, entrepreneurs, and university representatives, creating a vibrant dialogue between regional innovators and international experts.
Companies such as Rayscape, The Home Care, 123FormBuilder, and Nomad SW shared insights on real-world AI applications, benefits, and challenges – highlighting both the efficiency potential and the responsibility of using AI safely and transparently.
Participants also visited Nokia Romania Garage, a space dedicated to research and innovation, as well as Politehnica University of Timișoara, learning about ongoing collaborations between academia and industry.
The second day of the meeting was dedicated to BrAIn Demo Cases, showcasing practical examples of AI adoption across the Danube Region.
Insights into Open Data Applications Across Europe - OD4GROWTH Knowledge Exchange
The OD4GROWTH project held its second transnational knowledge exchange event on 9-10 October 2025 in Alexandroupoli, where partners discussed the opportunities and challenges of using open data through various regional best practices. During the first day of the event, several European good practices were presented:
- The Veneto Region introduced its Digital Labs and Digital Gyms initiatives, aimed at developing citizens’ digital skills through trainings and community events.
- The GFOSS (Open Technologies Alliance) presentation highlighted current trends in open data utilization (e.g., AI, participatory platforms, real-time data sharing) and pointed out regional challenges related to human resources and interoperability.
- The Greek Ministry of Digital Governance presented its Open Data Platform under development, which aims to create new public services based on high-quality data while maintaining a balance between data protection and transparency.
- The Andalusian Government, through the Junta de Andalucía portal, showcased the social, economic, and environmental benefits of open data, as well as the legal framework for targeted data publication.
- The Grand Est Region (France) presented its DataGrandEst network, which brings together more than 500 organizations to promote the practical, local use of open data and to support informed decision-making.
- The City of Kavala presented its own Digital Roadmap and data strategy, while the company I-MAGIC introduced the SCMI.io platform, which integrates various city data sources (e.g., events, air quality, parking) into a smart city system.
Talent attraction and investment in innovation – MAGNET project kick-off meeting
The MAGNET project officially began with its Kick-off Meeting in Reggio Emilia, Italy, where partners from 7 European regions met to launch four years of cooperation focused on strengthening regional and local hubs for attracting talent, investment, and innovation. Over the two days, discussions covered project governance and management, partner roles, communication strategies, and plans for upcoming study visits and interregional learning events.
Partners also exchanged first insights on how regional hubs can enhance economic development through improved services, collaboration and innovative talent-retention approaches. The meeting successfully established a strong cooperative spirit and laid the foundation for the next steps, including diagnostic assessments, identification of good practices and the preparation of regional action plans.
Supporting business succession and generational change – SuccessSkills partner meeting
Partners of the SuccessSkills project gathered in Plungė, Lithuania, for an in-person meeting dedicated to discussing business succession challenges and ways to support SMEs and family enterprises during the transition process.
The meeting focused on sharing regional experiences and identifying effective tools to strengthen succession planning, especially in countries where many family-owned businesses lack a structured approach to generational change. Among others, participants had the opportunity to meet local entrepreneurs and representatives of the Baltic Family Firm Institute, who presented valuable case studies and best practices from their long-standing work in the field of family business succession. Together, we discussed strategies to develop the skills of both successors and professionals involved in the transfer process, aiming to ensure long-term business continuity and regional competitiveness.
New approaches in rehabilitation technologies – RehAllianCE meeting in Szombathely
The 4th international meeting of the RehAllianCE project was hosted at PBN’s headquarters in Szombathely, bringing together partners from Poland, Germany, Austria, Italy and Hungary.
On the first day, PBN presented the report summarizing national rehabilitation programs and guidelines, which aims to evaluate the national frameworks regulating the financing and reimbursement of rehabilitation technologies, providing a comprehensive overview of the related policies in the partner countries. Additionally, representatives from each partner country reported on the current status of the transnational and regional pilots.
In the afternoon, participants visited PBN’s innovation laboratories, including the am-LAB manufacturing digitalization centre and the at.home showroom, where, in connection with PBN’s transnational pilot, they were introduced to the testing and validation environment – designed to enable the testing and development of prototypes of healthcare and elderly care products – and where they could also explore digital rehabilitation solutions and meet a social humanoid robot.
On the second day, the focus was placed on the establishment of the RehAllianCE Competence Centre and the presentation of the Smart-Rehab-Index, a tool designed for regional comparison of rehabilitation service efficiency and monitoring healthcare system performance (e.g. waiting times, recovery duration, cost-efficiency and technology utilization), supporting decision-makers in planning and evaluating healthcare and innovation programs.
Automotive transformation and sustainable mobility - Drive2Transfrom conference in Bruneck
The Automotive Transformation Conference took place successfully in Bruneck, as part of the Drive2Transform project, focusing on the technological transformation of the automotive industry and sustainable mobility.
The event was hosted by NOI Techpark Bruneck, bringing together industry experts, researchers, and business leaders — including Árpád Boros from Ingenics Consulting Hungary Ltd.
As part of the program, participants gained insights into the latest developments in electric drive systems, e-mobility, and autonomous vehicle technologies. During the company visits, several key locations were explored in Bruneck, Brixen, and Sterzing, where leading companies such as GKN Automotive, Intercable, and TTControl opened their doors to visitors.
The Automotive Transformation Conference served as a valuable professional platform for showcasing future mobility trends, technological innovations, and opportunities for international collaboration, strengthening connections between regional and European automotive industry players.
Innovation and competitiveness in the health sector – the first Health Cities partner meeting
The first Health Cities interregional study visit and in-person project meeting took place in Sant Cugat del Vallès and Barcelona, bringing partners together to exchange ideas on promoting innovation and competitiveness in the health and life sciences sector in medium-sized European cities.
The three-day program featured a series of engaging thematic sessions. Financing Day focused on early-stage investment opportunities through discussions with representatives from business support organizations and financial institutions. The day concluded with a visit to ALBA Synchrotron, where participants explored how research infrastructures can transform scientific knowledge into market-oriented innovation.
Talent Day, hosted by MERCANTIC and Tech Barcelona, emphasized collaboration between academia and industry, showcasing effective models for startup incubation and acceleration. Finally, Regulatory Day wrapped up the event with visits to HP, Roche Diagnostics, and Grifols, offering valuable insights into how innovation and regulation work hand in hand to create sustainable healthcare solutions across Europe.
Digitalisation and circular solutions in the plastics industry – SMART CIRCUIT conference
Digitalisation now plays a key role in every industry from manufacturing and logistics to packaging and recycling. This message was reinforced at the SMART CIRCUIT Conference, held on 28 October 2025 in Zadar, Croatia. The event focused on the future of the plastics sector and advanced materials that fit into the circular economy, with a particular emphasis on the practical role of digitalisation and innovation.
The afternoon panel “Green Transition in Factories” drew special attention, showcasing good practices and innovative developments from various sectors. During this session, am-LAB’s development, the Automated Material Refill System pilot project, was also presented. The solution uses a humanoid robot to make material refilling processes on production lines more efficient, reducing human error and increasing productivity.
Shaping Regional Action Plans for Women Entrepreneurs – WE.Circular vent in Varaždin
At the end of the month, the WE.Circular project held its transnational event in Varaždin, Croatia. The two-day meeting focused on the practical steps to support female entrepreneurs.
On the first day, the HNK Varaždin Theatre hosted the dissemination event, featuring inspiring presentations on Industry 5.0 trends and good practices in the circular economy. In the afternoon, project partners discussed the progress of the training programme, which has already attracted over 400 participants from the partner countries.
The second day took place at the Varaždin Technology Park, where representatives from each country presented their regional action plans. The presentations were followed by professional evaluation and interactive feedback, fostering joint learning and international cooperation.
Digital innovation ecosystems in Finland and Emilia-Romagna – Study visits in the BEST DIH projects
The BEST DIH Study Visit in Tampere held alongside the Future Mobile Work Machines event, provided valuable insights into Finland’s regional digital innovation ecosystem. Participants visited leading companies during the Industry Showcase Tours and explored the Technology EXPO, fostering cross-regional networking and knowledge exchange.
The second day’s sessions focused on the role of data as an enabler of new value from different perspectives concluding with presentations on Tampere’s Regional Digital Strategy and good practices in sustainable industrial transition. The visit offered meaningful inspiration for advancing digital innovation and collaboration models across Europe.
At the end of October, the BEST DIH partnership went on another study visit, this time to Bologna, to gain insight into one of Europe’s most advanced regional innovation systems in Emilia-Romagna. Over two days, we moved from policy to practice – seeing how the region orchestrates funding, data, and infrastructure so that digitalisation became tangible for SMEs.
Throughout the event, the participants connected with practitioners – regional officers, hub managers, cluster stakeholders, and research organisations. The ambition was clear: to bring home practical insights on funding mixes, shared metrics, and service models that DIHs could adapt to their own contexts.