On 2–3 October 2025, representatives of the Regional Innovation Centre “Ambitious Gabrovo” participated in the Closing Conference of the Allon_I3 Project, held at Novi Science Park in Aalborg, Denmark. The event was hosted by North Denmark EU Office and marked the successful conclusion of the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) project Allon_I3, which aimed to strengthen interregional cooperation between innovation ecosystems across Europe.
The conference gathered partners from several European regions to present the project’s key outcomes, share lessons learned, and discuss future collaboration opportunities. During the plenary session, partners showcased how the Allon_I3 project contributed to supporting SMEs, building regional innovation capacities, and fostering interregional business cooperation.
Following the official conference sessions, a series of 1:1 business meetings were organized with Danish innovation stakeholders to explore potential synergies and new project ideas. The meetings brought together:
- CEMTEC – Center for Mechanical Testing,
- Huset Venture Nordjylland,
- Odense Robotics, and
- UCN – University College of Northern Denmark,
alongside Regional Innovation Centre Gabrovo and a business delegation from Gabrovo, representing three SMEs from the region.
During these bilateral meetings, each organization briefly introduced its activities, regional innovation ecosystem, and project experience, and discussed:
- The stakeholders and innovation actors represented from their region,
- Ongoing and future project interests, and
- Opportunities for mutual collaboration and synergies.
The Gabrovo delegation presented the local innovation ecosystem and its growing potential in the fields of circular economy, Industry 4.0 technologies, and digital innovation, aiming to establish sustainable cooperation with Danish partners and clusters. These exchanges are expected to open new doors for joint EU projects, technology transfer, and SME partnerships.
The two-day event concluded with discussions on the sustainability of the Allon_I3 network beyond the project’s lifetime and with site visits to startups located in the GrowAAL and Novi Science Park environment, providing an inspiring look into Denmark’s innovation and entrepreneurship culture.
