The DiTNE, in collaboration with the Puglia Region – Department of Economic Development, Energy Transition Section, will host the 4th Interregional Event and Study Visit of the Interreg UNLOCK project, scheduled for February 5 and 6, 2025, in Bari. During the two-day event, partners and stakeholders from different European regions (the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden) will participate in a rich and varied program, designed by the two Italian partners to foster discussion and mutual inspiration, with topics focused on green hydrogen in Puglia and the opportunities this market offers for the benefit of SMEs.
The conference will begin with the UNLOCK Symposium, scheduled for February 5th from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Acquedotto Pugliese Conference Hall in Bari. The event will bring together institutional representatives, industry experts, businesses, and researchers to address key issues related to the development of green hydrogen. These include the Regional Hydrogen Strategy (#H2Puglia2030), overcoming regulatory barriers, engaging SMEs in sustainable development, and innovation and research in the green hydrogen sector. The conference will conclude with the roundtable discussion "Hydrogen Valleys for the Green Hydrogen Supply Chain," moderated by Francesco Corvace (Head of the Energy Transition Section, Puglia Region). During the roundtable, Arturo De Risi, President of the DiTNE, along with regional managers, experts, and UNLOCK project partners, will discuss strategies to strengthen the role of SMEs, foster sustainable growth, and promote collaboration among the various stakeholders in the sector.
In addition to representatives from DiTNE and the Puglia Region, representatives from the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, ARTI Puglia, Acquedotto Pugliese, ENEA, Edison Next, SNAM, and other key industry stakeholders will be present. At the end of the day, participants will visit the Isotta Fraschini Motori plant in Bari, part of the Fincantieri Group, where the latest innovations in hydrogen naval propulsion will be presented.
The second day will be dedicated to the project meeting between the UNLOCK partners and a Peer Review session, where updates on policy tools supporting hydrogen and stakeholder engagement activities will be shared, as well as progress towards the project's objectives will be monitored. The Study Visit will conclude with a visit to the AS Labruna company in Monopoli, where the innovative sustainable boating solutions developed under the "E-vision" program, which integrates electric, hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cell engines for the decarbonization of the sector, will be presented.
The UNLOCK project “Unlocking Green Hydrogen Economy for SMEs in European Regions”, funded by the Interreg Europe 2021/2027 Programme, aims to improve regional policy tools to foster sustainable economic growth, increase the competitiveness of SMEs, and create jobs in Europe's emerging green hydrogen economies. The Bari event will highlight the strategic role of regional policies in fostering the development of green hydrogen, creating new opportunities for SMEs, and strengthening collaboration between institutions, businesses, and stakeholders.
For more information about the UNLOCK project:
https://www.interregeurope.eu/unlock
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