EURADA – The European Association of Development Agencies is organizing a high-level Workshop about Green Innovations and the Key Role of Regions, Cities and SMEs in Brussels. The Workshop will take place at EURADA premises, Rue Montoyer 24, on Friday the 20th of March 2020 and will gather Belgian local/regional authorities and innovative green SMEs at the same table as well as some representatives from European institutions.
The workshop is organized in the context of the H2020 project XPRESS. This project supports collaborative efforts of local authorities and SMEs in developing and implementing innovations in renewable energy sources via Green Public Procurement.
The energy, industry, building and mobility sectors have never been so at the centre of public debate as it is today. While EU Institutions set the frame for new policies and programmes for the future of a green and inclusive transition, regions, cities and companies are now struggling to make the most out of the current bureaucratic, financial and technological instruments to deliver on the challenges of climate change.
Europe’s public authorities are major consumers. By using their purchasing power to choose eco-friendly goods and services, they play a key role to fostering sustainable consumption and production. This “green purchasing” is Green Public Procurement (GPP). GPP is also a strong incentive for eco-innovation. In fact, it stimulates a critical mass of demand for more sustainable goods and services which otherwise would not easily get into the market. But there are also barriers that need to be overcome.
The goal of this participative workshop “Green Companies for green regions and green cities: The role of green public procurement to foster innovations in renewables” is to discuss and find solutions concerning:
- EU and Belgian procurement rules with emphasis on the terms and conditions for innovative GPP;
- Latest international research on green supply;
- Barriers and/or solutions to regional and public authorities to promote GPP;
- Barriers and/or solutions to SMEs to apply for GPP.
The event is free of charge and open to the public. Please find here the drafts of the workshop’s agenda. If this topic interests you, please register as soon as possible at this page.
Source: EURADA - The European Association of Development Agencies
