News
PBN NEWS SUMMARY – JUNE
In June, PBN’s projects once again delivered tangible results across a wide range of professional fields. International study visits, partner meetings, local educational programmes and new communication materials all contributed to strengthening our professional connections and knowledge-sharing activities. The month’s highlights covered topics ranging from life sciences innovation and industrial artificial intelligence to maker education, labour mobility, talent attraction, cultural heritage and the circular economy.
Reviving Rural Communities Through Collaborative Governance
The RURALL project offers a practical, step-by-step toolkit for rural communities, local governments, and development professionals who want to tackle depopulation, underused buildings, and shrinking public services — together.
PBN NEWS SUMMARY – APRIL AND MAY
For PBN, April and May were shaped by innovation ecosystems, digital and green transition, health industry development and the strengthening of future-proof skills. The professional programmes of the two months showed how artificial intelligence, rehabilitation technologies, circular economy, space-related inspiration, rural regeneration and business development are not separate topics, but mutually reinforcing development directions. Across these collaborations, PBN acted as Lead Partner, host, professional contributor and good practice provider, while supporting regional knowledge, international connections and practical innovation solutions through several European programmes.
Innovation Services Beyond Borders 2026: IaaS4DR Final Conference
Innovation Services Beyond Borders 2026: IaaS4DR Final Conference
Press release | Is digitalisation making our work easier – or simply creating new pressures?
Digitalisation is transforming the way organisations work, communicate and provide services. While new technologies create significant opportunities, they also bring new challenges related to employee well-being, digital stress and organisational adaptation.
Health Innovation Ecosystem, Talent Development and International Cooperation – MAGNET Study Visit in Sárvár and Szombathely
Between 28-29th April 2026, PBN hosted the international partners of the MAGNET project in Sárvár and Szombathely for a two-day study visit. The program focused on how regional economic development, talent retention and investment promotion can be aligned through a health innovation and innovation-driven ecosystem approach.
Where Innovation Meets Tradition in Rehabilitation – PBN Pilot Experiences in the RehAllianCE Project
The future of rehabilitation is increasingly shaped at the intersection of technological innovation and real-life validation. Following this approach, the RehAllianCE project supports the development and testing of new solutions while ensuring their functionality in real user and clinical environments. Within the project, PBN participated in two distinct types of pilots: a transnational validation based on digital technology, and a regional pilot implemented in a healthcare service setting. Together, these approaches not only generated valuable technological and clinical insights but also clearly outlined future directions for rehabilitation innovation.
PBN Highlights – March news summary
March was a month of closures and new beginnings for PBN. Several of our international projects reached important milestones through final conferences, review meetings and professional events, while at the same time new collaborations, innovation directions and practical solutions began to take shape. The activities of the past month clearly demonstrate how we are moving from strategic planning towards real implementation: experiences gained in the fields of circular economy, artificial intelligence and social innovation are increasingly translating into tangible results and scalable solutions.
SMERF project comes to an end: practical support for SMEs in Western Transdanubia to face future challenges
After three years of professional cooperation, the international project SMERF | SMEs Ready for the Future is coming to an end. The project aimed to help small and medium-sized enterprises prepare for future economic, technological and sustainability-related challenges through practical tools, methods and tailored support.
PBN HIGHLIGHTS – 2026- January-February news summary
How can labour shortages be addressed, how can professionals be prepared for the future labour market, and how can artificial intelligence be applied in industrial processes? How can regions strengthen their innovation ecosystems and support companies in the digital and green transition? These were some of the key questions explored by international project partners who met at professional events across several European cities during the first months of 2026. PBN actively participated in many of these collaborations and also plays a leading role in several initiatives. Below we summarise the most important project events from January and February.
3F GREEN MODEL SWOT analysis highlights opportunities for greener regional value chains
The 3F GREEN MODEL project has published a comprehensive SWOT analysis exploring how agriculture, forestry and food value chains in several European regions can adapt to the European Green Deal and circular economy principles. The study examines regional strengths, challenges and development opportunities in Asturias (Spain), Vidzeme (Latvia), Sicily (Italy), Western Transdanubia (Hungary) and Munster (Ireland), highlighting how innovation capacity, resource efficiency, sustainable production and policy support can accelerate the transition towards more sustainable and resilient bio-based economies.
KARMA project's Newsletter
We’re back with updates from the KARMA project as we continue driving forward circular solutions in the built environment.
Circular Construction Study Visit
In January, PBN travelled to Hamburg for the KARMA Interregional Meeting with project partners from Italy, Belgium, Romania and Germany.
PBN HIGHLIGHTS – NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER NEWS SUMMARY
The last two months of the year were another dynamic and impactful month for PBN, marked by a series of international project meetings, professional presentations, and new collaboration opportunities across Europe. From Sarajevo to Bologna, Sofia, and Barcelona, partners came together to advance topics ranging from craft heritage preservation to AI-driven energy optimisation, digital transformation guidelines, and high-performance computing–supported innovation.
Driving Circular Innovation: Insights from the KARMA Staff Exchange in Szombathely
In December 2025, Szombathely, Hungary, hosted a dynamic two-day staff exchange as part of the KARMA project, bringing together international partners to explore innovative approaches to circular economy, sustainable policy-making, and advanced technological solutions.
AI REDGIO 5.0 collaboration continues in Bologna
In early November 2025, Bologna was the next key stop for the AI REDGIO 5.0 international collaboration. During the two-day meeting, consortium partners – including the PBN team – reviewed the project’s main professional achievements and discussed the tasks remaining until the end of the year, which also marks the official conclusion of the project.
Discover SHARPEI – Our first project newsletter
SHARPEI aims at enhancing the efficiency and impact of Cohesion Policy and regional programme management through the integration of advanced data-driven decisionmaking and artificial intelligence tools. Discover the project's first newsletter!
First Automotive Transformation Conference 2025
The first Automotive Transformation Conference at NOI Techpark Bruneck marked an important milestone for Europe’s collaborative mobility transformation.
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!