On 2–3 December 2026, the SustainX project will bring together SMEs, European organisations, innovation stakeholders and regional ecosystems in Larissa, Greece, for the SustainX Final Touchdown Event: Innovation, Funding Readiness & Interregional Collaboration.
Hosted at JOIST Innovation Park and JOIST Innovation Space Larissa, the two-day event will create a practical meeting point for companies and innovation actors interested in new partnerships, European funding opportunities, internationalisation and interregional cooperation. Participation is free of charge.
As SustainX approaches the completion of its activities, the event will also provide an opportunity to connect the experience developed throughout the project with future collaboration opportunities. SustainX has focused on strengthening SME innovation capacities, creating interregional partnerships and supporting companies in accessing knowledge, investment opportunities and European innovation networks.
From local connections to European collaboration
The first day, 2 December, will focus on direct business interaction and networking.
Pre-arranged visits to selected companies in Thessaly will give international SMEs, project partners and invited stakeholders the opportunity to discover local business capacities and explore potential areas for cooperation.
In the evening, a closed B2B discussion and networking dinner at JOIST Innovation Space Larissa will bring together invited SMEs, partners and stakeholders for more focused exchanges around business needs, technologies and potential collaborations.
Funding readiness and new project opportunities for 2027
The main SustainX Final Touchdown programme will take place on 3 December at JOIST Innovation Park.
A central part of the day will be the EU Grants Workshop, a practical English-language session designed for SMEs, companies, research and innovation organisations, clusters and business support actors interested in EU funding opportunities and new European collaborations for 2027.
The workshop will focus on funding readiness, relevant EU programmes and calls, early-stage project ideas and partner identification. Participants will be encouraged to share their expertise and collaboration needs and explore potential complementarities for future European proposals.
To support more targeted discussions and matchmaking, participants can complete a dedicated Collaboration & Funding Profile in advance. Places for the workshop are limited.
From innovative solutions to European market opportunities
The programme will also feature SAGE-HUB Company Demos, providing companies with the opportunity to present innovative health-related solutions and highlight potential areas for cooperation.
SAGE-HUB joins the event as a co-organiser and will also contribute to the SME Masterclass: Scaling, Internationalisation and EU Positioning. The practical session will focus on helping SMEs explore pathways to new European markets, build interregional partnerships and strengthen their position within European value chains.
Participating SMEs will also have opportunities to connect with SAGE-HUB Ambassadors, supporting targeted matchmaking around upscaling, solution validation, cross-regional cooperation and market entry.
Connecting European funding with regional innovation priorities
The day will conclude with the Policy Panel: I3, RIS3 and SME Innovation Investment, bringing the European and regional dimensions of innovation support into the same discussion.
The panel will explore how interregional innovation initiatives, Smart Specialisation Strategies and future funding mechanisms can support SME investment readiness, stronger innovation ecosystems and new cross-regional partnerships. The RIS3 Thessaly initiative supports the event, reinforcing the link between SustainX activities and the regional innovation ecosystem in Thessaly.
Turning SustainX connections into future opportunities
Throughout its implementation, SustainX has worked to move beyond stand-alone support activities and create lasting connections between SMEs, innovation intermediaries, research organisations, public actors and European ecosystems.
The Final Touchdown Event will build on this approach by combining funding opportunities, business networking, matchmaking, SME internationalisation and policy exchange in one programme.
For participating companies and organisations, the event is an opportunity not only to look back at the results of SustainX, but also to identify the people, ideas and partnerships that can shape the next stage of European collaboration.
Event details
2–3 December 2026 | Larissa, Greece
JOIST Innovation Park & JOIST Innovation Space Larissa
Participation: Free of charge
