Job creation and economic growth are two of the top priorities of the European Commission under President Juncker. Against this background, the Commission in November 2014 announced an Investment Plan aimed at unlocking public and private investments on the path to economic recovery. SMEs – as the backbone of the EU economy – will not only be a major target of the Investment Plan but will also require improvements in the regulatory environment. The second GreenEcoNet Annual Conference will discuss the impact of SMEs to growing a sustainable EU economy and will address issues such as the contribution of SMEs to developing green jobs as well as the growth and job opportunities arising from using resources more efficiently. The discussion will start with a presentation of the GreenEcoNet platform for SMEs, demonstrating its contribution to a sustainable EU economy. The event will feature a panel composed of experts from policy, research and business.
GreenEcoNet is a project financed by the European Commission, which brings businesses and academia together on an EU-wide platform to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the transition to a green economy. This platform allows SMEs in Europe to connect to each other and to share their experiences, innovations and best practices. It thus aims to assist SMEs in optimally reaping the business opportunities of a green economy.
Presentations
- What is GreenEcoNet and where is it heading? – Corrado Topi, Senior Research Fellow, University of York – SEI
- Eco-innovation and the circular economy – Peter Czaga, Policy Officer, DG Environment, European Commission
- Growing a Sustainable EU Economy through SMEs: Boosting jobs, growth and entrepreneurship – Franz Brudl, Advisor, Austrian Economic Chambers
- Techniwood – GreenEcoNet – Daniel Coulon, Managing Director, Techniwood International
