From Heritage to Growth: Revitalising Traditional Ecosystems in Europe’s Regions

Regions across Europe face a self-reinforcing cycle of constraints, creating a persistent innovation and development gap and limiting generational renewal, talent retention and prosperity. This session explores how traditional sectors, from rural to industrial sectors, can adapt by building on their economic heritage while advancing modernisation, skills and scaling up new business models, contributing to territorial cohesion. At a key moment for the future EU financial architecture under the next MFF, it will examine how instruments can better support regional ecosystems, despite financial support not always delivering concrete results. Regions are stepping up to lead this transition.