On 2–3 October 2025, the RISE partnership met in Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) for a regional project meeting hosted by Digital Innovation Hub ONEX (DIH ONEX). The meeting was organised in a hybrid format, bringing together 17 partner representatives in total (9 in person and 8 online).
The agenda focused on aligning practical implementation across pilot regions, sharing experiences, and preparing the next project milestones. The sessions covered (i) the status of project implementation and upcoming reporting/coordination steps, (ii) the ongoing piloting work under activity A.2.3, including the necessary documentation and next steps, and (iii) the link between piloting, regional promotional campaigns, and impact assessment (activities A.2.2 and A.2.4).
A key element of the meeting was also the forward look into policy learning and capitalisation activities, including the transnational strategy for deploying cross-sector mentoring services (A.3.1) and the introduction to regional action plans (A.3.2). Partners were additionally introduced to the B2GREENHUB platform as an important supporting element for upcoming work.
The meeting was led by the lead partner Pomurje Technology Park (PTP Maribor), represented by Lili Schweitzer, and all agenda items were implemented as planned.
RISE (DRP0200476) addresses a shared challenge in less developed Danube regions: strengthening innovation capacity in remote areas by supporting small food and drink businesses with cross-sector mentoring and practical tools (covering digital transition, energy optimisation, and circularity).
About the host city
Banja Luka is located in the north-west of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is the country’s second largest city. It sits on the Vrbas River, and one of its best-known landmarks is the Kastel Fortress, positioned on the left bank of the Vrbas in the city centre.
The RISE project is co-financed by the European Union and the Hungarian State within the framework of the Interreg Danube Region programme.
