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Author: indy

Webinar: Digital & AI Deployment within Existing Companies

A webinar hosted by Sisak-Moslavina County (Croatia) was held on May 26, 2026 on behalf of the Community of Practice for Industrial Modernization and AI – Human-Centric Digital & AI Transformation. The session, which drew approximately 80 participants, highlighted practical pathways for SMEs to adopt AI, drawing on case studies from Croatia and Japan as well as cross-regional expert panel...

C2C CoP 12: Economy in cities – StartUps, Innovation Ecosystems, Branding

“Green transition” refers to an economy-wide shift away from high-impact, resource-intensive activities toward practices that remain within planetary boundaries and support long-term sustainability, resilience, and well-being (OECD, 2025). Its aim is to reduce—and keep—the cumulative impacts of human activity within Earth’s ecological limits (OECD, 2025). Deep technologies—advanced, emerging technological solutions to major societal challenges—are one pathway to accelerate this transition....

EU–Japan Cooperation Enters Intensive Implementation Phase

The EU-funded International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme has entered an intensive implementation phase in 2026, further strengthening city-to-city and region-to-region cooperation between the European Union and partner countries. Cooperation is structured through Communities of Practice (CoPs)—thematic platforms coordinated by leading EU regions or cities—which bring together public authorities, industry, research organisations, and universities under a quadruple-helix approach. Each...

From Slovenia to New Zealand: Cultivating Global Innovation in Agri-Food

Can international collaboration solve the future of food? On March 12, 2026, a significant step was taken toward answering that question. Facilitated by the EU International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme, an online Academic Exchange Workshop brought together the Regional Development Agency of the Ljubljana Urban Region (RRA LUR) and Massey University in New Zealand. The goal? To bridge the gap between Europe and the Pacific...

Bridging Kyoto and Ljubljana: A New Era of Academic Collaboration between KIT and UL

The partnership between the University of Ljubljana (UL) in Slovenia and Kyoto Institute of Technology (KIT) in Japan is reaching exciting new heights. As active participants in the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) program, both regions are collaborating within the Community of Practice for Agriculture and Innovation. Throughout February and March 2026, a series of strategic meetings and faculty visits have laid the groundwork for expanded...

Melbourne joins the Community of Practice for StartUps, Innovation Ecosystems, Branding

The Community of Practice has officially moved into its implementation phase following the approval of the Urban Cooperation Action Plan (UCAP). The first meeting after approval marked a key turning point, bringing partner cities together to align on next steps, confirm leadership roles, and shift the focus from strategy to concrete action. The CoP is designed as a strategic bridge...

Sustainable Industrial Ecosystems: Connecting European and Japanese Regions through Human-Centric Digitalization

The regional Community of Practice 5 (CoP5) for Industrial Modernization: Human-Centric Digital and AI Transformation within the IURC (International Urban and Regional Cooperation) program convened for its third meeting on 17 February 2026. This CoP, coordinated by Auvergne–Rhône-Alpes, brings together leading industrial regions from Europe and Japan. The members include Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (France), Emilia-Romagna (Italy), Catalonia (Spain), Sisak Moslavina (Poland), Western...

Urban Innovation: The Europe-Asia Deep-Tech Bridge

The Community of Practice 12 (CoP12) for cities, on economy, cities, startups, and innovation ecosystem branding within the IURC (International Urban and Regional Cooperation) programme convened for the second time on 17 February 2026. CoP12 is represented by Grenoble Alpes Métropole (France), Nagoya (Japan), Warsaw (Poland), Espoo (Finland), Torino (Italy), Bielsko-Biała (Poland), Leuven (Belgium), Tallinn (Estonia), and Pimpri Chinchwad (India,...