80 innovative European projects unveiled in Barcelone
The goal is to prepare the future of the professional events sector.
Eighty innovation projects developed by SMEs across Europe are presented at IBTM. These concrete, ready-to-deploy solutions aim to make the professional events sector more sustainable and resilient. This announcement comes at a decisive moment for the industry, as destinations, venues, and organizers accelerate their transition toward low-carbon business models that better integrate technology.
A FRESH LOOK BEFuture, an EU-funded initiative under the Single Market Programme (SMP), has invested €2.4 million to accelerate these projects and provide the sector with concrete and operational tools. From carpooling to ocean conservation, smart cloakrooms to real-time transcription or eco-friendly toilets. Thus, every aspect of an event's life cycle has been redesigned with a fresh look.
Each solution was co-created in close collaboration with sector stakeholders to ensure its relevance and feasibility. These 80 projects address the most urgent transformation priorities of the professional events sector. Developed over several months of collaboration in six European regions, the solutions are structured around four strategic axes: Climate change and circularity – zero-carbon strategies, circular materials, sustainable logistics; talents and inclusion – upskilling, accessible design, actions in favor of diversity; event experience – smart digital tools, hybrid integration, personalization, etc.
CHALLENGE "European SMEs have risen to the challenge by proposing concrete solutions to real problems. This initiative supported by the European Union brings pragmatic innovation that helps the sector become more sustainable and better prepared for the future," declared Sònia Serracarbassa, director of the Catalunya Convention Bureau at the Catalan Tourist Board, coordinator of the BEFuture project.
strategic: to strengthen the ecological transition of our events, structure innovation in the value chain, and improve the participant experience. The 80 projects offer SMEs in our territory direct access to concrete and high-performance technologies.
LINKEUS is part of this dynamic to support our companies, assist their upskilling, and assert the role of the Région as a reference territory for responsible and competitive events," concludes Fabrice Lavergne, vice-president of the Comité Régional du Tourisme, in charge of business tourism.