The European Week of Regions and Cities 2026 (EWRC) will once again take place in Brussels next autumn. As the largest annual event dedicated to regional and urban policy, it serves as a showcase for local and regional expertise and innovation, while providing an important platform for European regions to make their voices heard.
The event is organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) and the European Committee of the Regions.
Blue Economy Mikkeli will participate in the thematic week by organising, together with Regional Council of South Savo, the session “Blue Economy Mikkeli – Turning Water Challenges into Scalable Business Opportunities.” The event will take place on Wednesday, 14 October, starting at 9:00 a.m. at The Square event venue in Brussels.
How can water expertise be transformed into sustainable growth and new business opportunities across Europe? This session will present the Blue Economy Mikkeli RDI ecosystem as a practical example of how regional innovation environments can accelerate solutions for water security and circular wastewater management. The discussion will explore the role of public-private collaboration in fostering innovation, supporting SME growth, and connecting regional actors to European value chains. Participants will also gain insights into how similar ecosystem models can be replicated to strengthen cooperation and create impact across Europe.
Further information about the free event is available on the event website. Pre-registration is open until 30 June via the following link: https://eu-regions-week.europa.eu/programme/current-edition
General registration will open in July. As in previous years, places are expected to fill up quickly, so early registration is highly recommended.
