From Knowledge to Impact: GreenEsteem and Sister Projects Meet in Brussels to Advance Collaborative Innovation
On 7–8 May 2026, sister projects ERIS, MEDViEW, KALEIDOS, BEAGLE, and GreenEsteem funded under Horizon Europe came together in Brussels for two intensive days of dialogue, training, and collaboration focused on one increasingly important question: how can research and innovation create real societal value?
The GreenEsteem project was presented by Adam Mickiewicz University representatives Katarzyna Fagiewicz and Lidia Poniży, who exchanged experiences on Knowledge Valorisation, citizen engagement, and collaborative approaches to research and innovation with sister projects. The event highlighted how European projects are moving beyond traditional knowledge transfer models toward more participatory and impact-oriented practices.
The meeting also included an exchange with Iphigenia Pottaki, Policy Officer for Valorisation Policies and Intellectual Property Rights at the European Commission, whose contribution highlighted the increasing strategic importance of Knowledge Valorisation within the European Research Area and the Horizon Europe framework. Fifteen participants took part in the discussions, reflecting the growing European commitment to transforming research results.
Rethinking Innovation Through Citizen Engagement
The first day of the meeting focused on a specialised training session organised within the CO-VALUE initiative, dedicated to citizen engagement in Knowledge Valorisation. Discussions explored how participatory methods such as co-creation, co-design, citizen science, and stakeholder collaboration can strengthen the societal uptake of research and innovation results.
Discussions showed that Knowledge Valorisation is increasingly understood not simply as the transfer of knowledge from research institutions to society, but as a collaborative process where knowledge is co-created together with citizens, local authorities, businesses, and communities. Participants also explored important questions related to ethics, inclusion, ownership, and the long-term sustainability of participatory innovation processes.
GreenEsteem and the Role of Living Labs in Nature-Based Solutions
During the Brussels meeting, GreenEsteem team from Adam Mickiewicz University contributed to the discussion by presenting its experience with Living Labs, co-evaluation, co-design and stakeholder collaboration in the implementation of Nature-Based Solutions.
The project demonstrated how local knowledge and participatory approaches can support sustainable urban transitions and transform research into concrete actions, training opportunities, and policy-relevant outcomes. Through collaboration between researchers, municipalities, stakeholders, and communities, GreenEsteem aims to create more inclusive and locally adapted solutions to environmental and societal challenges.
The exchange between sister projects also highlighted the importance of cross-project learning within Horizon Europe. Although the participating initiatives work in different thematic areas, they share common ambitions: increasing the societal impact of research, strengthening citizen participation, and building innovation ecosystems based on collaboration rather than one-way dissemination.
“The Brussels meeting was particularly important for GreenEsteem because it demonstrated that many European projects are facing similar challenges in translating research knowledge into real urban transformation. It confirmed that Knowledge Valorisation is not only about generating knowledge, but about building collaborative processes that connect researchers, cities, stakeholders, and local communities. For GreenEsteem, the exchange strengthened our international network, opened new opportunities for future cooperation, and reinforced the importance of our Living Lab and participatory approach in implementing Nature-Based Solutions and supporting sustainable urban transitions,” said Katarzyna Fagiewicz, Professor at Adam Mickiewicz University and GreenEsteem Project Coordinator.
Building a European Community Around Knowledge Valorisation
The second day of the meeting focused on developing a shared roadmap among sister projects for future collaboration, exchanging best practices, and discussing advancements in value creation across various research and innovation contexts.
What clearly emerged from the discussions is that Knowledge Valorisation is not only about transferring knowledge, but also about creating spaces where knowledge is co-created, shared, adapted, and transformed into meaningful impact together with citizens and stakeholders.
For GreenEsteem and its sister projects, the meeting confirmed the growing importance of collaborative experimentation, citizen engagement, and inclusive innovation in addressing today’s complex environmental and societal challenges.
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Author: Katarzyna Fagiewicz and Lidia Poniży, AMU
