The Green Talent project is a European project dedicated to developing the next generation of experts in sustainability, biodiversity, and climate change. It aims to equip young researchers and professionals with the skills and experience needed to address pressing environmental challenges through the collaboration of academia and industry.
The central part of this effort is the DemoHubs initiative - interactive, real-world environments established across Europe, especially in Widening Countries, to foster collaboration, innovation, and hands-on learning. The four Demonstration Hubs in Malta, Greece, Cyprus, and Bulgaria contribute significantly to employment and deliver practical, adaptable solutions to climate and biodiversity challenges, acting as collaboration hubs between academic and non-academic sectors.
The DemoHubs initiative kicked off with the Bulgarian workshop taking place on the 25th of February at the Ministry of Environment and Water and organised by the National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography, the National Museum of Natural History and Pensoft Publishers The Hub aims to strengthen an existing community of practice (developed in the SELINA project) by sharing biodiversity data and implementing IPBES and IPCC materials. The goal is for new members to be engaged and the existing format to be expanded across international networks. As part of the workshop’s programme, representatives of the Green Talent project, national coordinators of IPBES and IPCC, as well as the head of the Department of Biological Diversity at the Ministry of Environment and Water of Bulgaria delivered presentations, giving insight into the project’s goals and highlighting the need for better representation of Bulgaria in the decision-making process. The workshop of the Bulgarian DemoHub turned theory into practice, switching to an interactive “hands-on” session. The attendees reviewed IPBES report summaries, identifying current practices, organisational challenges, and next steps for more effective and sustainable use of the reports.
Extending its reach across the region, the Green Talent project convened its next DemoHubs workshop in Crete, Greece on the 18th of March. The University of Crete, MedINA, and Harokopio University of Athens co-organised the hybrid workshop, inviting nearly 50 participants from academia, NGOs, and the private and public sectors. The Greek DemoHub aims to engage island communities, policymakers, and experts in developing knowledge on biodiversity, cultural heritage, and ecosystem services through mapping, modelling, and machine learning. The workshop provided opportunities that increase support for small- and medium-sized islands, contributing with relevant trainings, participatory approaches, and cross-sector collaborations. Participants identified a range of interconnected challenges, including biodiversity loss driven by overgrasing, tourism pressure, land-use change, pollution and waste mismanagement, as well as gaps in data, research, and environmental monitoring. The event included a dedicated co-creation session, with participants engaging strongly and sharing commitment to remain involved in the Greek DemoHub.
From Crete, the initiative moved to the Western Mediterranean in Kalkira, Malta, where the next DemoHubs workshop focused on solving challenges linked to the growth of climate stress and the limited natural space. Organised by Ecostack Innovations and the University of Malta, the aim of this workshop was to move beyond mere conversation and towards practical collaboration through focused panel discussions, structured networking, and audience participation. Experts across various sectors were included in the conference, conveying a sense of importance in shaping more resilient, liveable futures for Malta. The minister of economy, enterprise, and strategic projects, Hon. Silvio Schembri, and Dr. Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament (EP), helped set the stage for a discussion day. Valuable guidance in bridging the gap between strategy and implementation was provided from the experts Agius Peter (MEP), Thomas Bajada (MEP), Dr. Marthese Portelli (Malta Chamber) and Darrin Stevens (Environment & Resources Authority), among others. The attendants at the Malta DemoHub workshop had the opportunity to engage directly with sector leaders and explore the intersection between national development objectives and key social and environmental considerations.
The momentum continued in Nicosia, Cyprus, where the final DemoHubs workshop was jointly organised on the 31st of March by the Cyprus Institute, the Open University of Cyprus, and VL Sustainability Metrics Ltd. Besides all the valuable presentations delivered by leading research scientists and Green Talent project members, the workshop included an interactive session, engaging all participants in an open discussion. Participants completed several exercises focused on identifying problems, challenges, and priorities related to research and innovation (R&I) from the perspective of organisations working with nature-based solutions (NbS) in agroecosystems. Another exercise explored the challenges, skills, and tools these organisations lack or encounter when initiating collaboration and joint research with other sectors or institutions. The session finished with a field trip to explore the Strovolos Urban Agriculture Living Lab’s amenities developed by the Feed4Food project, all part of a commitment to create a sustainable and productive environment in the area and beyond.
Through these four DemoHubs workshops, the Green Talent project has successfully fostered cross-sector partnerships and knowledge exchange across Europe. By bringing together researchers, policymakers, industry representatives, and civil society actors, the initiative has sparked valuable dialogues and co-creation opportunities relevant to the fields of biodiversity, climate change, sustainability in agroecosystems and beyond. The insights gathered across the project’s Widening Countries, Malta, Greece, Cyprus, and Bulgaria, will directly contribute to strengthening future research and innovation activities while reinforcing the role of the Demonstration Hubs in enhancing capacity-building, collaboration, and real-world environmental impact.
Funded by the European Union under grant agreement No. 101217375, GREEN TALENT (Building Capacity and Partnerships for Systemic Solutions to the Climate and Biodiversity Crises).
Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the EU nor the REA can be held responsible for them.