2026 High-Level Dialogue on Clean Energy, Agriculture AI, Regional Innovation and Skills
We are pleased to open the registration for the Brussels Study Trip, EU Funding Networking and Horizon Europe Project Writing Training, taking place in Brussels from 8–11 June 2026.
Please register here to confirm your interest before 19th of April 2026 and make online payment (click HERE, or bank transfer request) to confirm.
Why join?
This is a strong opportunity to:
- connect with credible project partners
- gain direct exposure to the Brussels / EU environment
- meet EU representatives
- meet ministers and deputy ministers from different countries
- strengthen your EU project pipeline
- combine learning, networking and institutional visits in one high-level programme
- European Commission and Members of the Parliament
- Ministers/Deputies of Energy, Environment and Agriculture from the EU Associate and Candidate Countries, representatives for EU Affairs
- Mayors and deputy mayors
- Ambassadors and diplomats
- SMEs and innovative companies
- Rectors, Deans, Professors and university student leaders
Participation package price will be:
Last Ticket Confirmation 772 EUR – Last Standard Package (click HERE, or bank transfer request)
for participants who register and pay between 11 and 19 April 2026
Payment possible in 2 instalments of EUR 386 in April and May
After these dates, registration will still be possible for the side events agenda and the agenda for the Horizon Europe training only.
We will publish the terms on 20th April, however:
- Prices may be much higher and there will be no discounted package price for travel, accommodation and for the HE training day, and
- There will be no guarantee of access to the Horizon Europe training nor to the European Commission visit or the European Parliament debate sessions.
Discounts and special conditions
- 10% discount for 2 or more participants from the same organization
- 50% discount for 2 or more participants from an ACRID Network member organization with paid membership for 2026
The package is planned to include
- Return flight ticket from your closest and/or main airport
- 3 nights accommodation in Brussels, with breakfast included
- Lunches and dinners included in the official agenda and institutional programme
- Local travel and logistics support related to the official agenda
- Participation in the Horizon Europe project writing training
Important note
Entrance to EU institutions and the European Parliament is free of charge.
These access-related costs are covered by the organizing bodies and supporting sponsors.
This applies also to ACRID Network members and participants in the EU funding networking and training programme.
Draft Agenda – High-Level Dialogue on Clean Energy, Agriculture AI, Regional Innovation and Skills
Brussels, 8–11 June 2026
The High-Level Dialogue on Clean Energy, Agriculture AI, Regional Innovation and Skills will bring together Members of the European Parliament, representatives of the European Commission, ministers, regional and local authorities, universities, companies, clusters and project partners for a focused exchange on Europe’s green and digital future. This year’s Brussels gathering is especially inspired by the women-led activities developed under the ELeVATE project, which have highlighted the importance of inclusion, skills, innovation and leadership in shaping the net-zero transition. Building on this momentum, the event will serve as a high-level platform for dialogue, networking and future project cooperation.
A central theme of the event is the growing importance of digitalization and artificial intelligence in future development — from clean energy and smart buildings to agriculture, regional resilience, skills and innovation ecosystems. At the same time, the event places strong emphasis on science, research and EU project development as key priorities for the members and partners of the ACRID Network. Our goal is to support the design and implementation of meaningful and impactful projects under centralized EU programmes such as Erasmus+, Horizon Europe and other direct EU funding instruments, with the ambition to create visible change at European, regional and local level.
For this reason, each year we bring together the private, public and academic sectors in Brussels, with the aim of strengthening collaboration among institutions, companies, universities, project partners and policy makers. Through high-level debates, networking sessions and project-oriented discussions, participants will explore practical cooperation opportunities in the fields of clean energy, smart buildings, net-zero skills, smart agriculture, rural resilience, innovation ecosystems and future EU-funded project development. The event will also provide a platform to present and discuss the projects ELeVATE, SEBCoVE, MOBUILDING and CAAIVE, while helping to build new partnerships, future consortia and stronger links between policy priorities and project implementation across the EU and the Western Balkans.
8 June 2026 | Afternoon Debate
Regions, Skills Ecosystems and Green Transition Partnerships
MEP Keynote
Short explanation:
This opening debate will focus on how regions, universities, companies and public institutions can work together to build stronger skills ecosystems for the green and digital transition. The discussion is especially relevant for local authorities, universities, VET providers, project coordinators, clusters and companies looking to scale cooperation across Europe and the Western Balkans.
Session block flow:
Welcome coffee → opening remarks → keynote interventions → short moderated discussion on skills, knowledge triangles and project partnerships → networking and bilateral meetings.
9 June 2026 | Afternoon Debate
Clean Energy, Smart Buildings and Industrial Innovation
MEPs keynotes
Short explanation:
This debate will address how Europe can connect clean energy, smart buildings, industrial innovation and research funding to deliver practical results. It is the strongest policy block for projects such as SEBCoVE and the energy and technology side of ELeVATE, while also speaking directly to companies, universities, innovation centres and public authorities.
Session block flow:
Host opening → keynote interventions → project showcase (SEBCoVE / ELeVATE) → panel discussion with companies and universities.
9 June 2026 | Evening Debate
Net-Zero Skills, Women in Technology and Competitive Green Transition
MEPs: keynotes
Short explanation:
This evening dialogue should connect skills, inclusion, competitiveness and innovation in a more strategic and human-centred way. It is the best political setting for ELeVATE and MOBUILDING, while also giving visibility to women in net-zero technologies, future-oriented skills, and workforce preparation for the green transition.
Session block flow:
Welcome dinner remarks → keynote intervention → MOBUILDING spotlight → ELeVATE spotlight → roundtable on skills, inclusion, women in technology and future European cooperation → dinner networking.
Presentation by the Role Model’s, Women ministers, mayors, rectors, deans, managers.
10 June 2026 | Morning Debate
Smart Agriculture, Rural Development and Regional Resilience
MEPs: keynotes
Short explanation:
This debate will focus on how smart agriculture, AI, regional resilience and rural development can work together to modernise local economies. It is the best political block for CAAIVE, and it should be understandable to ministries, farmers’ organisations, local authorities, deans, innovation actors and media.
Session block flow:
Breakfast discussion → keynote interventions → CAAIVE showcase → dialogue with deans, local authorities and innovation actors.
10 June 2026 | Lunch Debate
From EU Projects to Policy Impact: Energy, Agriculture, Regions and Skills
MEPs: Confirmed MEPs
Short explanation:
This closing lunch debate should bring together the main political message of the event: how concrete EU-funded projects can move from pilot actions to long-term policy impact. It is the right place to connect the four flagship projects — ELeVATE, SEBCoVE, MOBUILDING and CAAIVE — with future project pipelines, regional cooperation and enlargement-related opportunities.
Session block flow:
Short high-level interventions → concluding panel → closing remarks → networking lunch
Please register here to confirm your interest before 19th of April 2026.
This positioning is in line with the official EU Green Week events, and EUSEW 2026 timing in Brussels and allows the first day to focus more strongly on environment, nature-positive transition, climate resilience, and the role of digital solutions in sectors such as agriculture, water and land use.
