The second session will place research and innovation at the forefront of addressing today’s evolving societal landscape. As Europe navigates the path toward climate neutrality, it becomes clear that the transition requires more than technological advances in renewable energy or digital infrastructure—it demands a fair and inclusive approach that mitigates inequalities, enhances resilience, and fosters social cohesion.

Featuring leading researchers from across Europe, this session will explore the multifaceted nature of the green transition, examining how it intersects with deep structural social changes. Key issues such as social equity, labour market transformations, regional disparities, and citizen engagement will be unpacked, offering critical perspectives on both the challenges and opportunities of this transformation. The session will highlight pathways to ensure that the green transition delivers not only environmental sustainability, but also social justice, democratic stability, and long-term societal resilience.

The third session of the conference will explore how national and regional policies can be effectively aligned with European strategies to support a fair, inclusive, and sustainable green transition. By showcasing successful policy-shaping experiences, the session will highlight the critical components of not only designing but also implementing effective policy frameworks. A particular emphasis will be placed on the role of European Partnerships—strategic Horizon Europe initiatives that bring together the European Commission, national governments, public institutions, NGOs, and the private sector to address major challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and digital transformation. These partnerships are key to advancing the European Research Area (ERA) and translating EU political priorities into action on the ground.

The panel will serve as a forum for sharing best practices and lessons learned on how to effectively translate EU-level objectives into national and regional action plans. It will examine how European Partnerships can act as strategic tools and incentives to align national priorities with EU agendas through joint programming and coordinated investment. Special focus will be given to good practices in organising national coordination mechanisms, particularly from Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, that facilitate and streamline these processes. By identifying successful models and common challenges, the session aims to support more coherent, inclusive, and impactful engagement of the region in ERA policies.

Session hosted by Joint Research Centre

The final session of the “Towards a Fair Green Transition: Harnessing Research & Innovation for Social Impact” conference will take the form of a participatory dialogue, moderated by an expert from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) well-versed in connecting the worlds of research and policymaking. This closing session is designed to facilitate active exchange between participants, drawing on their insights and experiences to explore actionable pathways toward societal transformation & resilience in the process of a just green transition.

The session will begin with a JRC-led presentation on key elements of science for policy, highlighting how evidence-based research can more effectively inform and shape social and economic policy frameworks at all levels. Building on this foundation, moderators will open the floor to participants, encouraging discussion on practical experiences related to green transition policies, and efforts to align regional and national strategies with broader European priorities. The session aims to conclude the conference on a collaborative note, capturing reflections and ideas that can help guide future initiatives at the intersection of research, innovation, and policy.