ReWeaving Circular Governance in the Mediterranean
Date/Time
Date(s) - 6 November 2025
13h45 - 17h00
Location
Smart City Expo World Congress, Fira Barcelona Gran Via
The Mediterranean is at the forefront of the climate and resource challenge, and cities across the region are seeking new ways to build resilience while promoting sustainable prosperity. On 6 November, the Interreg Euro-MED Innovative Sustainable Economy Mission will host the second edition of the MED Innovation Summit at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona. The event will bring together innovators, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and local actors to explore how circular economy principles can drive systemic change.
Participation in the Summit is free of charge, but places are limited. Registered participants who confirm their attendance the week before the event will be eligible for a complimentary three-day visitor pass to Smart City Expo, valued at €200. This pass provides access not only to our session but also to the full congress programme, exhibition areas, breakout sessions, and the prestigious World Smart City Awards ceremony and afterparty.
This year’s edition of the MED Innovation Summit focuses on how innovative governance and collaboration across the public and private sectors can transform waste management practices and unlock new circular opportunities. The Summit will place a particular spotlight on textiles—a sector in which Europeans discard around five million tonnes of clothing and footwear every year, yet only one per cent is recycled into new garments. By rethinking waste as a resource, the Summit will demonstrate how such approaches can catalyse regional transformation. Under the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, all textile products placed on the market are expected to be circular, climate-neutral, and free from harmful substances by 2030. Achieving this goal will require coordinated action from public authorities, businesses, and citizens, particularly in urban areas, where pressures and opportunities converge.
Designed as an interactive event, the MED Innovation Summit will combine moderated discussions, case study presentations, and audience engagement to highlight diverse voices and practical pathways. It will contribute directly to Smart City Expo’s Governance and Economy track, providing fresh perspectives on how inclusive networks and innovative governance can accelerate the transition to a circular economy in line with the EU’s 2030 objectives.
The programme will feature two dynamic panels designed to connect high-level ambitions with on-the-ground realities. In the first session, participants will hear from flagship Interreg Euro-MED projects such as VerdeInMED, REPper, and ProcuraMED. These initiatives illustrate how entrepreneurial ecosystems, green public procurement, and inclusive governance can work together to scale up circular solutions. VerdeInMED serves as a hub, linking policy frameworks and innovation tools into a coherent approach that empowers regions to view textile waste as an opportunity rather than a burden.
The second part of the Summit will focus on the ISE Mission project 2B-BLUE, which is piloting transformative labs and digital tools to enable cross-sector governance. By connecting land- and sea-based economies, 2B-BLUE demonstrates how systemic innovation can deliver practical solutions with lasting impact. From digital repositories of good practices to governance models tested in real demonstration sites, these initiatives underline the importance of collaboration in scaling innovative approaches across the Mediterranean.
Join us in Barcelona on 6 November and be part of the Mediterranean’s journey towards a circular, sustainable, and resilient future.
