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  • Training and workshops

Sustainable Finance, Skills & Green Competitiveness Conference

Exploring how Europe can finance a fair, just and competitive green transition.

This high-level full-day conference will bring together EU policy-makers, financial institutions, business leaders, academia and civil-society partners to explore how Europe can finance a fair, just and competitive green transition.

Jointly organised by the Scottish Government, the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and the University of Edinburgh, the conference will feature keynote speeches, keynotes from the European Commission and the Scottish Government, alongside cutting-edge scientific insights, policy-focused panel debates and networking opportunities.

The event will Include breakfast, lunch, and evening reception.

Please confirm your interest in participating by 10 June, by sending an email to brusselseventsatgov [dot] scot (brusselsevents[at]gov[dot]scot)

  • sustainable finance
  • Wednesday 11 June 2025, 09:30 - 17:30 (CEST)
  • Brussels, Belgium

Programme

  1. 11 Jun 2025, 09:30 - 10:30 (CEST)
    Arrivals, breakfast and networking
  2. 10:30 - 10:40 (CEST)
    Introductions (Scotland House)
  3. 10:40 - 11:00 (CEST)
    Keynote – Directorate-general for Research and Innovation (European Commission)
  4. 11:00 - 12:30 (CEST)
    Nature and biodiversity finance research
    • Climate and Nature Benchmarks and EU Competitiveness – Prof. Andreas Hoepner, University College Dublin
    • The Climate-Biodiversity-Pollution Nexus – Dr. Caterina Rho, Joint Research Centre of the European Commission
    • The Value of Protected Areas: Evidence from Project Finance – Dr. Theodor Cojoianu, Co-Lead, Nature Finance Lab, University of Edinburgh
  5. 12:30 - 13:30 (CEST)
    Lunch and networking
  6. 13:30 - 14:00 (CEST)
    Keynote – Martin Špolc, EU Commission
  7. 14:00 - 15:00 (CEST)
    Panel Session – Supply chains, environmental policy & competitiveness

    Moderated by Dr. Dominik Hirshbuehl, EU JRC
    Topics: Supply chains and climate resilience, EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and EU Deforestation Regulation

  8. 15:00 - 15:30 (CEST)
    Comfort break
  9. 15:30 - 16:30 (CEST)
    Panel on EU competitiveness, skills and green investments

    Moderated by Laura-Louise O’Reilly, Scottish Government
    Topics: EU Taxonomy, EU Omnibus, Green Skills

  10. 16:30 - 17:00 (CEST)
    Closing keynote

    Cabinet Secretary Ms. Martin, Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, Scottish Government

  12. 17:00 - 18:00 (CEST)
    Networking / whisky tasting

Speakers

Practical information

When
Wednesday 11 June 2025, 09:30 - 17:30 (CEST)
Where
Scotland House Brussels
Rond-Point Schuman 6, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
Languages
English
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