The digital and green transitions open unprecedented opportunities for Europe, yet they also bring certain challenges. Inequalities across Europe caused by globalisation, technological change, previous economic crisis or current COVID-19 pandemic are hampering sustainable growth and can lead to social conflict, reduced participation in society, increased social exclusion, potentially undermining the future of our youth. Joint forces of industry and civil society can provide solutions to those societal challenges beyond the creation of jobs and growth and become a resilient provider of prosperity, by making production respect the boundaries of our planet and placing the wellbeing and participation of the industry worker at the centre of the production process. At the same time, the industrial transformation should serve to create new relationship with a wide set of stakeholders at the local level and in our “proximity economies”. At this level, citizens engagement models can cross-fertilise with business models. Those belong to the heart of social economy. Those business models are very attractive for young entrepreneurs, but also for young citizens to engage in a business process, such as for example a cooperative society or a volunteer association amongst other forms. Bringing those actors together with public authorities in a “local proximity and social economy ecosystem” is therefore a promising avenue for new or reinforced public private partnerships.

Moderator:

• Diana Dovgan

Speakers:

• Mohammed Ridouani
• Francesca Montalti
• Anna Athanasopoulou
• Henrik Barkman
• Maryline Filippi

This session will explore the main actions and instruments that should be deployed for the acceleration of the sustainability transition of SMEs. The discussion will inspire and give advice to authorities, business and civil society organisations on how to jointly develop and put in place adequate mechanisms that identify and support SMEs access to green and sustainable technologies, business solutions, R&D partners and facilities, skills, dedicated funding and markets and thus facilitate their innovation, growth, resilience and competitiveness.

Change in climate, digital technologies and geopolitics are having a profound effect on the lives of Europeans and people around the world. These transformations are taking place at all levels, from grassrotts politics to global power structures. To support the transitions to a green, digital and fairer Europe, the EU and other institutions, e.g. OECD or national governments, are strenghtening their culture of preparedness and evidence-based anticipatory policy-making. This session will present foresight as a tool which helps policy makers and businesses prepare for and shape tomorrow. Speakers from the OECD? Finnish government and the European Commission will showcase specific foresights tools developed at different levels, and by different actors.

Starting with a short summary of the history of YEB and the SDG (YEB exists since many years, since December 2020 the SDG is the backbone of the portal, explaining what has changed: links to national pages, assistance service finder, search engine, feedback tool) and giving an outlook to the online procedures. · Showcasing the portal - what’s in for SMEs, giving concrete examples · Maybe using short video sequences from influencers who were involved in the digital roadshow · Presenting Your Europe Advice and Solvit and how SMEs can benefit from these two services Speakers (please give strong consideration to geographical, gender and age balance): · All are from within DG GROW, who exactly will be decided at a later stage.

Starting with a short summary of the history of YEB and the SDG (YEB exists since many years, since December 2020 the SDG is the backbone of the portal, explaining what has changed: links to national pages, assistance service finder, search engine, feedback tool) and giving an outlook to the online procedures. · Showcasing the portal - what’s in for SMEs, giving concrete examples · Maybe using short video sequences from influencers who were involved in the digital roadshow · Presenting Your Europe Advice and Solvit and how SMEs can benefit from these two services Speakers (please give strong consideration to geographical, gender and age balance): · All are from within DG GROW, who exactly will be decided at a later stage.

Introduction by Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights

We are organising an EU Industry Days Pitching contest for new business ideas supporting the transition to a sustainable, digital and resilient economy. Four finalists will pitch their business ideas live and get feedback from business experts and investors, as well as the audience. Two winners, by jury and audience vote, will be invited to participate at the next SME assembly in Prague, Czech Republic. During this session there will be also a short presentation of the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme, given by Mr Jakub Boratynski, Director of Networks and Governance Directorate in DG GROW of the European Commission.

Moderators:

• Anna Heijker, Moderator & Pitch Trainer, Pitches & Presentations
• Alex Glod

Jury members:

• Ulla Engelmann, Head of Unit, DG GROW, European Commission
• Ruxandra Creosteanu, Co-Founder, Babele Create Together
• Jeremy de France, Founder @ Graphee & VP French Tech Bucharest 

Finalists:

• David Pereira de Castro, Founder, Blueveg 
• Iulia Dorobantu, Co-founder, Charger.ro 
• Dimitri Ionescu, Founder, LightMirror
• Martin Branný, COUNTER SOMETHING s. r. o.  Kristina

Speaker:

• Jakub Boratynski, DG GROW Director of Network and Governance,  European Commission

The panel discussion will unpick how companies are dealing with current supply chains shortages and risks linked to the geographic concentration of some inputs. Particular attention will be paid to the role of public authorities, notably at the European level, and how they can support supply chain resilience and sustainable growth. The speakers will discuss the main challenges to supply chain resilience in their sectors of expertise and will be expected to offer insight on such questions as: - Could you tell us what are the main challenges your business faces when trying to diversify their supply chains. - How can partnerships create new business opportunities and supply chain resilience?- What can governments (especially EU) do to ensure security of supply of critical goods? - If you had one policy recommendation/priority to pitch to the EU, what would you say?

Solar energy is a central component of Europe’s transition to a climate-neutral economy. The Commission estimates that the deployment of new solar generation capacity will reach 18 GW per year from now to 2030 and as high as 34 GW per year 2030 onwards. It is therefore critical to ensure that the solar panels that will meet Europe’s energy demand are "Made in Europe" and trigger growth and job creation locally. The European Solar Initiative, firmly anchored in the new Industrial Strategy for Europe presented by the Commission, aims at scaling up the European solar PV industrial ecosystem at the 2025 horizon and at providing a for industry and policy-makers to come together and deliver this objective. This session will take stock of the initiative one year on, present three large-scale PV manufacturing projects across the value-chain, and discuss what can be done to help projects reach the scale and speed needed to reshore the PV industry.

Organiser: EIT InnoEnergy

This session will zoom in on the impact of the 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 pandemic crisis on the youth, by providing a space for discussion regarding youth unemployment, rising living costs, precarious work, among other similar topics.

The session will address from an industry perspective the remaining gaps and existing challenges threatening the resilience of European pharmaceutical supply chains. Ways to reinforce the transparency and robustness of industrial value chains will be explored to strengthen the strategic autonomy of the Health industry and its contribution to the EU preparedness for future health crisis.