Welcome to the 2023 competition platform
REGIOSTARS 2023 winners have been announced by Commissioner Elisa Ferreira.
Congratulations to all winning projects: Edificio Fundación Pasqual Maragall, From mine to river. The Water Guardians!, Dynaxibility4CE, ProFem 2.0, EuregioFamilyPass, and Techgrounds West! The public choice award went for the Cultural Art Centre: Museum and Library in the city of Burgas. The winners will receive a local communication campaign hosted by the European Commission.
You can get to know all the winning projects and finalists here below.
We would like to take the opportunity, to thank everyone for their participation in this year’s competition. Next year’s competition will be launched in February 2024, stay tuned!
WINNERS
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A competitive and smart Europe
Edificio Fundación Pasqual Maragall
Spain
Construction of the building for research on Alzheimer and other age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Thanks to the EU-funding the foundation has now state-of-the-art infrastructure that enables research, digitalisation of all information, and networking with other EU countries to tackle the biggest social and health problem of the 21st century affecting more than 50M people.
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A green Europe
From mine to river. The Water Guardians!
Romania, Serbia
Water is essential to life, while mining provides economic resources. The Romania-Serbia underground is rich in resources, but the mining has affected the environment, transforming the water into the “mining’s most common casualty.” We must share data to understand how chemical pollution affects soil and water. Two universities and one NGO researched for a solution to cut the degree of pollution caused by mining activities and to restore the natural attractiveness of the border area.
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A connected Europe
Dynaxibility4CE
Germany, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Poland
Dynaxibility4CE improved low-carbon mobility and air quality across the Central European region by increasing the ability of public transport authorities to deal with new mobility trends, providing strategies and tools that enable dynamic and flexible planning in complex environments. The project supported 7 partner cities and regions with the implementation of sustainable urban mobility plans following the news trends.
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A social and inclusive Europe
ProFem 2.0
Czechia
ProFem 2.0 represents a significant shift in support for victims of sexual violence. With the active participation of both clients and professionals, we have improved and expanded the services of our non-profit organisation and shared this knowledge further. This makes our assistance effective, responds to the needs of the victims and has a systemic overlap. An important output of the project is the preparatory material of the Comprehensive Centre for Victims of Sexual Violence, on which we are working. It will be the first of its kind in the Czech Republic with all support services under one roof.
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A Europe closer to the citizens
EuregioFamilyPass
Italy, Austria
The "EuregioFamilyPass" is a card for families in the Euregio Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino. It offers numerous benefits at participating partners throughout region in the fields of leisure, mobility, culture, education, shopping, and more. Through increased mobility facilitated by special offers from participating partners, families can actively experience crossing the borders of the Euregio.
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Topic of the year: European year of skills
Techgrounds West
Netherlands
TechGrounds has the mission to solve the mismatch in the IT labour market. We do not think there is a shortage of IT people if we look at the talent differently. TechGrounds offers a walk-through approach to IT, from orientation to training. In Amsterdam’s New West, this project trained 227 hidden talents, 60 % of whom are now employed. The results validated the approach and led to a development of a sustainable business model to bring thousands of people into the IT labour market in the future.
WINNER PUBLIC CHOICE AWARD
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A Europe closer to the citizens
Cultural Art Centre: museum and library
Bulgaria
At the heart of the project is the idea of modernizing cultural infrastructure in the municipality of Burgas to support the development of the local community based on knowledge, creative innovation and joint cultural life. The project responds to contemporary challenges requiring support for strategically important initiatives such as preservation and promotion of cultural diversity, creative mobility, protection of cultural intellectual property, development of cultural and creative industries.
FINALISTS
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A competitive and smart Europe
DigiPro
Netherlands, Germany
Over the last 5 years Digipro has helped over 500 SMEs in the Dutch-German border area with their digital transformation. 140 initiatives were funded, 70 digital innovations were developed, and 40 best practices caught in 24 videos and 16 articles. It enhanced the digital capabilities and resilience of SMEs with a cross-border approach.
Technologický park TechTower
Czechia
TechTower is a unique space for innovators, tech-enthusiasts, programmers, start-ups and established firms in the market. A new Science and Technology park was created from a former Světovar brewery. It provides flexible office and coworking spaces, shared pilot facilities and unique test areas with a water reservoir. The project contributes to the development of innovative firms, provides a range of professional and specialised services and is a venue for major events.
Junior Centrum Excellence
Czechia
The established Cybersecurity and ICT Technology Centre is unique in a secondary school environment in Czech Republic. It provides cybersecurity training for pupils, thus increasing the quality of graduates for the labour market or higher education. Remote access allows for the pooling of resources to other schools in the area.
CIRCULAR 4.0
Slovenia, Italy, Austria, France, Germany
Circular4.0 project trained nearly 300 SMEs to adopt digitalization processes that drive innovation, reshape business models, and boost investments. The project raised the importance of digitalization and the pivotal role it plays in the circular economy transition of SMEs in the Alpine region. Circular4.0 toolset and trainings empowered SMEs and equipped them with the know-how to embrace Industry4.0 and supported them towards their tween transition.
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A green Europe
Green Screen
United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain, Romania, Belgium, France, Poland, Slovakia
Green Screen’s mission is to inspire the world of filming by creating sustainable practices. The partnership delivered two exciting pilots. The Grid Project in London is supplying renewable energy to productions on a unit basis. Eureca is an online tool, helping the European industry to better understand and evaluate the environmental impact of filming.
NonHazCity
Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, Finland, Germany
Only 38% of the EU's surface waters are not polluted with chemicals. Half of the substances polluting our environment come from urban sources. Thus, cities and citizens have a great influence on how to make Europe greener. In our project NonHazCity and its extension, we developed a comprehensive urban detoxification package. Our tailored solutions include chemical action plans for cities, information material for entrepreneurs and training for residents on how to detoxify their homes.
Smart altitude
France, Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Switzerland
Winter tourism is a vital resource for most Alpine valleys. Deeply affected by the consequences of climate change, this economic activity calls for adaptation and mitigation strategies, and guidance for field actions to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint. Smart Altitude tested and documented efficient technical solutions in four living labs, implemented a decision-making process for ski operators and policy makers, and built a replication network of 26 ski resorts across the Alps.
COMPOSE
Slovenia, Croatia, Cyprus, Portugal, Spain, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, France, Greece, Italy
COMPOSE empowers communities to decarbonise their energy system and reach climate neutrality. An integrated, bottom-up, holistic model, based on co-creation modes, local partnerships and energy democracy, is tested and verified with 15 real energy projects in 11 Mediterranean countries and endorsed by 240 decision makers & development planners. The key legacy, the web based Sustainable Energy Local Planning Toolbox, guides to a more efficient local energy planning process.
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A connected Europe
ANTeTUL
Czechia
There is no doubt that autonomous vehicles (AV) will change the world of logistics. ANTeTUL project aimed to develop a competitive utility AV for challenging conditions and move Czech Republic to the forefront in the field with significant innovation potential. The resulting modular autonomous electric utility vehicles help to support the irreversible transformation of logistics.
EfficientFlow
Sweden, Finland
EfficientFlow made real time port information available for all the actors involved when a ship arrives to a port. Having the information at everyone’s fingertips, resulted in easier planning, more efficient use of resources, lower emissions and cost savings. The solution is available to anyone in the world since it is based on open-source code. Starting with two ports in the project, the solution is now used operationally in more than 25 ports in the region.
Danube Cycle Plans
Austria, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria
Danube Cycle Plans aimed to improve conditions for cycling in the Danube Region. Nine countries set activities like developing national cycling strategies, creating a “DanuVelo” network and better framework conditions for infrastructure improvements, such as route development, investment plans and minimum infrastructure standards to awareness-raising activities and the involvement of relevant stakeholders.
Diglogs
Croatia, Italy
Pioneering cutting-edge digital solutions, transforming logistics for multimodal freight transport and passenger services. Our focus is on creating deployment roadmaps to boost competitiveness and harmonize services, leading to a digitalized transportation network. Through seven pilot implementations, using innovative ICT solutions, logistics operators, industrial users, passengers, and authorities benefit from enhanced monitoring, increased efficiency, and improved sustainability.
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A social and inclusive Europe
Nobody without your daily ration
Spain
“Nobody without your daily ration” is about digitisation of food donation systems, in order to facilitate the donation process and promote the social inclusion of people who need to receive food aid through food banks and social entities. The project is made possible through a line of participatory loans launched by the Valencian Institute of Finances that contribute to diversify the business fabric of the Valencian Community by supporting projects with social dimension.
SIforREF
Italy, Slovenia, Germany, Austria
SIforREF helped to overcome the widespread short-sightedness of refugee policies. It showed policymakers that effective practices are possible and feasible, and can increase the social cohesion of our communities. Inspired by the social innovation approach, we strengthened the networks between public and private actors, supporting them to bring out ideas on the topic of refugee inclusion after the reception phase. Seven pilots in 5 cities have given tangible forms to inclusive practices.
Invisible Heritage
Poland, Ukraine
Can you touch the past? This is certainly the case in Lublin and Ivano-Frankivsk. The objective of the project was to bring the most important monuments and museum objects of Lublin and Ivano-Frankivska closer to the blind and visually impaired inhabitants and visitors of these cities, thereby showing respect for their right to enjoy their heritage. This was achieved through preparation of tactile adaptations of selected monuments and museum objects in the form of 3-D models, and audio descriptions.
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A Europe closer to the citizens
CINEMA
Slovenia, Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Romania, Slovakia, Moldova, Serbia
8 cities from the Danube Region redesigned their abandoned centres or empty spaces by harnessing the potential of creative industries and building a more resilient future based on local values and traditions. The success stories, written by Creative Urban Revitalisation Tools, showcased how innovative framework conditions can unlock the creative sector and cross-innovation. Through cooperation with citizens, policymakers, business support organizations and entrepreneurs, CINEMA has helped to regenerate urban economies.
Reconversion and Renovation Wintercircus
Belgium
Wintercircus: Where history meets innovation in the heart of Ghent. From a circus to a garage, this neglected gem has been acquired by sogent, the city renewal company, for extensive renovation. Today the building offers workspaces, a concert hall, a conference room, a restaurant, a roof garden, and a 1,200 sqm covered square for public events. Wintercircus revitalizes Ghent with startups, cultural events, and a vibrant atmosphere, integrating into the thriving district of De Krook.
Aldeias do Xisto
Portugal
The region of the Schist Villages was a paradigmatic example of rural depopulation. Today, these 27 villages are a privileged destination to visit, live and invest in. Aldeias do Xisto project implemented an integrated regional development strategy, which boosted the local economy and attracted investors. The restoration of 500 properties, the creation of 90 tourism infrastructures and 2,000km of routes made the Schist Villages a differentiating brand of sustainable tourism.
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Topic of the year: European year of skills
CBET
Italy, France
The project created a model to support training and increase in technical and transversal skills in renewable energy, eco-sustainable construction and bioconstruction. It aimed at bridging the gap between the sectors’ labour supply and demand in the cross-border region. CBET targeted secondary school students and young people who are not in employment.
Regional Training Programme
France
The Regional Training Programme is a financing scheme that enables people, in particular job seekers, to participate in trainings to acquire a complementary qualification or new skills. Through promotion of acquisition of new skills, the programme aims to mitigate social and employment effects of the crisis and respond to the needs of the region.
Higher quality vocational education
Poland
The project ‘Shaping the network of vocational schools in the region’ built a model of support for career guidance based on joint activities of regional and district educational and professional counsels. A network of district counsels has been set up to support the development of student counselling and increase their chances of finding employment. New qualifications and skills have been acquired by students and teachers in Pomeranian medical vocational schools in the health and care sector.
INTERPYME
Spain, Portugal
The agricultural and tourism potential of southern Europe is of international importance, and its potential contribution to employment and GDP or the region is not well understood. INTERPYME has helped almost 400 SMEs and entrepreneurs in the region to ensure that the added value of these sectors remains in the region.
REGIOSTARS are the yearly competition organised by the European Commission’s Directorate General Regional and Urban Policies since 2008. Over the years it has become the Europe’s label of excellence for EU-funded projects, which demonstrate the impact and inclusiveness of regional development. 2023 is the year of renewal and re-launch of the competition.
From this year the REGIOSTARS are awarded to projects in six thematic categories:
• Category 1) A COMPETITIVE AND SMART EUROPE
• Category 2) A GREEN EUROPE
• Category 3) A CONNECTED EUROPE
• Category 4) A SOCIAL AND INCLUSIVE EUROPE
• Category 5) A EUROPE CLOSER TO THE CITIZENS
• Category 6) TOPIC OF THE YEAR (European Year of Skills 2023)
By putting forward solutions to common challenges and tapping into the biggest opportunities, the REGIOSTARS have inspired regions to deliver evermore-impactful EU regional policy.