The UNLOCK Symposium, held on February 5th at the Conference Hall of the Palazzo dell'Acquedotto Pugliese in Bari, concluded with great success. Organized by DiTNE in collaboration with the Puglia Region – Department of Economic Development, Energy Transition Section, the meeting was held as part of the 4th Interregional Event and Study Visit of the Interreg UNLOCK project. The Symposium, which welcomed partners and stakeholders from the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden, brought together institutional representatives, industry experts, academics, and entrepreneurs for a day full of insights into the strategies and opportunities related to the development of green hydrogen, with a particular focus on the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The official opening of the Symposium was marked by speeches by Arturo de Risi, President of DiTNE, Alessandro Delli Noci, Councilor for Economic Development of the Puglia Region, Gianna Elisa Berlingerio, Director of the Puglia Region's Department of Economic Development, and Domenico Laforgia, President of Acquedotto Pugliese SpA, who emphasized the importance of regional policies for strengthening the green hydrogen supply chain.
The Symposium program was divided into several high-level thematic sessions, each dedicated to a key aspect for the future of green hydrogen:
- Regional Hydrogen Strategy for Puglia – #H2Puglia2030: The conference offered an in-depth analysis of regional objectives and ongoing initiatives to foster innovation and investment in the sector. Speakers included Daniela Manuela Di Dio (Department of Economic Development, Puglia Region), Antonella Sasso (Competitiveness Section, Puglia Region), and Carmela Iadaresta (Transport Section, Puglia Region).
- Green Hydrogen Economy – Overcoming Regulatory Barriers and Engaging SMEs in Sustainable Development: An interactive workshop dedicated to strategies for overcoming regulatory barriers and encouraging the active involvement of SMEs. Participants included Francesco Corvace (Puglia Region Energy Transition Section) and Arturo de Risi (DiTNE).
- The entrepreneurial system for the development of green hydrogen: The event, dedicated to integrating SMEs into the hydrogen value chain and the applications of green hydrogen in the transportation, maritime, and manufacturing sectors, featured speakers Beata Kviatek (Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen and coordinator of the UNLOCK project), Leonardo Mazza (Edison Next SpA), Andrea Antenucci (SNAM SpA), Giovanni Bruni (Isotta Fraschini Motori SpA), and Giuseppe Rizzi (Acquedotto Pugliese SpA).
- Hydrogen Research and Innovation: Promoting the Competitiveness of SMEs in Green Technologies sessione focalizzata sulle tecnologie emergenti per la produzione, lo stoccaggio e la gestione intelligente dell’idrogeno. Hanno preso parte Luigi Sergi (Comes S.p.A.), Alberto Pasanisi (Edison S.p.A.), Enrico De Tuglie (Fondazione NEST), Giulia Monteleone (ENEA), Alessandro Monticelli (Green Independence) e Marcello Capra (Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica).
Il Simposio si è concluso con una tavola rotonda sul tema “Hydrogen Valleys per la filiera dell’idrogeno verde: opportunità per la crescita sostenibile delle PMI”, che ha visto la partecipazione di Arturo de Risi (DiTNE), Beata Kviatek (UNLOCK Project) e Gabriele Menotti Lippolis (Confindustria Puglia).
L’evento ha rappresentato un’importante occasione di scambio e confronto per consolidare la posizione della Puglia nel panorama europeo dell’energia pulita e dello sviluppo sostenibile.
The UNLOCK project “Unlocking Green Hydrogen Economy for SMEs in European Regions”, finanziato dal Programma Interreg Europe 2021/2027, mira a migliorare gli strumenti politici regionali per favorire la crescita economica sostenibile, incrementare la competitività delle PMI e creare occupazione nell’ambito delle economie emergenti dell’idrogeno verde in Europa.
For more information about the UNLOCK project:
https://www.interregeurope.eu/unlock
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