Accelerate the environmental transition with greentech

Reducing CO₂ emissions, decarbonising production, and finding reliable technological partners across borders remain complex challenges for many companies in the Greater Region (Luxembourg, France, Belgium, Germany).

To address these challenges, the Greater Green+ project was launched was launched, co-funded by the Interreg Greater Region 2021-2027 programme.

Greater Green+: accelerating the ecological transition in the Greater Region

Greater Green+ aims to position the Greater Region as a leading territory for technological solutions that help reduce companies' environmental footprints (greentechs), promoting the circular economy and sustainable development.

The project is coordinated by Grand Est Développement, the regional agency dedicated to transforming companies and territories in the Grand Est. It is led by a consortium of 11 operational partners and 19 methodological partners across Luxembourg, France, Belgium, and Germany.

In Luxembourg, Luxinnovation and Neobuild GIE, as operational partners, along with methodological partners such as the House of Sustainability of the Chamber of Commerce, the University of Luxembourg, and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), actively contribute to structuring this ecosystem of excellence.

A digital platform to structure the greentech ecosystem

To achieve this collective ambition, the project partners have been developing an information and networking platform entirely dedicated to greentech solutions available throughout the Greater Region since the project's inception. This tool has now become a reality.

We realised the need to foster synergies and partnerships among the stakeholders. Samira Bouzid, Luxinnovation

"Our vision always included creating an interactive tool, not only for the project partners but also for all the companies involved," explains Alexandre Folmer, Greater Green+ project manager at Grand Est Développement. "Based on this, we conducted extensive consultations to understand everyone's needs."

Thus, over time, the very structure of this platform has taken shape. "When we analysed the consultation responses, we realised the need to centralise all existing greentech solutions, as well as to foster synergies and partnerships among the stakeholders," says Samira Bouzid, Market Intelligence Analyst at Luxinnovation, who worked on the platform's development.

Three features serving companies

This is how the tool was designed, functioning as a one-stop shop for companies in transition. It is built around three essential features:

• A targeted directory — An intuitive search tool that enables users to find all the greentech solutions referenced in the Greater Region, covering five key themes: clean energy, sustainable construction and renovation, recycling technologies, water and the environment, and bioeconomy.
• A continuous news feed — The platform aggregates the latest industry trends, best practices, and opportunities for training and events related to the green transition.
• A community space — Companies, research centres, and institutions can engage in direct exchanges and cross-border collaborative projects.

Luxinnovation and Grand Est Développement worked for several months with the platform's technical service provider to define the specifications and granularity of the active filters to identify submitted solutions. "This preparatory phase also highlighted the importance of the 'training' component, which was not initially included. We therefore incorporated it into the platform's architecture," explains Mr Folmer.

Seeking, proposing, collaborating: a logic of reciprocity

The platform targets two complementary audiences. Companies seeking specific technology to decarbonise their operations can consult the catalogue of solutions and directly contact suppliers. Those offering their own green expertise can promote their innovations and enhance their visibility throughout the Greater Region.

This platform is not intended to remain limited to the project partners alone. Alexandre Folmer, Grand Est Developpement

This logic of reciprocity is central to the project: by bringing together greentech supply and demand on a single platform, Greater Green+ facilitates the emergence of tangible collaborations and technology transfers among cross-border partners.

"In terms of training, we are focusing on initial programmes offered by universities and grandes écoles, centred on environmental technologies," says Ms Bouzid.

The goal is ambitious: to have a catalogue of approximately 800 solutions by 2028. Ambitious, but not unrealistic. "This platform is not intended to remain limited to the project partners alone. If other players wish to contribute, they are certainly welcome," says Folmer.

The vast scope covered by the Greater Green+ project, spanning five themes (clean energy, sustainable construction and renovation, recycling technologies, water and environment, bioeconomy), further supports this overarching objective.

How to access the platform?

Registration on the platform is open to any company, research organisation, or institution wishing to engage in the ecological transition of the Greater Region. Whether to search for a specific technological solution or to reference such offers, the site is designed to support users at every stage.

"It is important to note that once a company or institution registers, it can directly upload its information to the site. The user journey is crafted to ensure a seamless transition from registration to the proposed solution," says Folmer.

This platform and its catalogue can, of course, be accessed without prior registration.