Igniting Innovation Across Europe
Since its launch in early 2021, the new European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative has been a crucible for innovative ideas, imagining a vibrant future for Europe. This future is rooted in sustainability, inclusivity, and beauty. Alongside partners like EIT Food, EIT Manufacturing, and EIT Urban Mobility, we support visionary projects through the Ignite NEB program — a series of dynamic events held in different locations across Europe.
Each event tackles unique,location-specific challenges,culminating in the selection of winning projects that receive funding and mentorship. Following a sneak preview in September, it’s time to celebrate this year’s winners from Rotterdam, Arquino, Donostia-San sebastián, and Nicosia.
Rotterdam: Lloyd’s Cop Coils up a Circle Hit
Event Highlight: Hosted within the innovative BlueCity, a former tropical swimming pool, the Rotterdam Ignite NEB event addressed a pressing challenge: achieving a circular economy through the cultivation and utilization of local crops and fibres. Farmers face a critical decision: commit to lasting biobased materials, or stick with conventional methods.
Project:
Over six weeks, twenty young professionals tackled the world of regenerative agriculture and biobased materials. Their goal: to develop circular business cases and prototypes for four local crops: bog myrtle, willow, miscanthus, and sweet chestnut. With expert guidance, participants devised circular prototypes aimed at addressing key environmental issues like soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and unsustainable agricultural practices.
Winners: Team Bog Myrtle took the business Award with Bog Off, a natural, biobased insect repellent packaged sustainably using bog myrtle. The jury lauded the team’s complete approach to product design and appreciated the repellent’s pleasant scent. Team Willow secured the Social Impact Award for DaphnoScape, a living urban structure utilising fast-growing willow. DaphnoScape combats heat,flooding,and air pollution while encouraging community engagement through activities like willow pruning and braiding.
arquino: Weaving Protopia in Italy
Event Highlight:
Held in the picturesque Teatro Spazio Centrale, the Design Sprint 4Planet Festival invited participants to envision protopia scenarios – sustainable futures where humanity lives in harmony with nature. Fifty changemakers collaborated in workshops, guided by themes like dwelling, energy, water resources, and cultural production.
Project:
Together with academic experts, environmentalists, and local residents, participants distilled 50 major challenges into impactful design projects. this inclusive and participatory approach aligned solutions with the NEB’s core principles.
Winners: BeLong was awarded the Business Award. This innovative service connects urban professionals with permanently empty homes in the Valtellina valley. Facilitating temporary remote work experiences in this picturesque region combats urban burnout while revitalizing rural economies and fostering cultural exchange.
Valtellina 114 secured the Social Impact Award. This community-driven podcast promotes sustainable tourism along the Valtellina Trail. By training local people in storytelling and podcast production, the project raises awareness regarding environmental issues while celebrating the region’s rich heritage.
Donostia-San Sebastià: Circle of Creativity takes Shape
Event highlight: Architects, designers, and social innovators gathered at the ignite NEB Donostia-San Sebastián event to explore NEB’s core principles. Workshops focused on business models, circular design, and sustainability, complemented by an exhibition on artistic reuse and demolition.
Project:
A highlight was a group visit to an exhibition showcasing artistic reuse, followed by a lunchtime discussion where participants shared ideas on how NEB principles can transform local communities.The event’s inclusive format encouraged knowledge sharing and problem-solving, woven through the challenges and solutions presented.
Winners: Ane Salaberria Belasco of Emaús Gizarte Fundazioa led Circular and Inclusive Furniture Reuse Ecosystem, which won the Social Impact Award. This project envisions a sustainable model for collecting and reusing professional furniture, blending circular economy principles with inclusive employment practices. Jon Telleria of Solumobel’s Bathrooms for People with Stoma Bags won the Business Award. This modular, accessible bathroom solution addresses the often overlooked needs of people who have experienced stoma surgery – combining functionality with social impact
Nicosia: Transforming Spaces Through Teamwork
Event Highlight: Held at the Gardens of the Future, a center dedicated to environmental education, the Ignite NEB hackathon in Cyprus was an inspiring weekend filled with problem-solving and innovation.
Project:
Fifty-two participants tackled challenges over three days, focusing on Sustainable Urban Development and Inclusive Public Spaces.
Working with local officials, including Nicosia’s Mayor Charalambos Prountzos, the event emphasized community-driven innovation.
Teams developed solutions to address issues including zero-waste practices in cities, reimagined parks, and revitalized industrial zones. 14 teams presented their ideas after benefiting from coaching and expert sessions.
Winners: Pit-to-Table won the Business Award with an ingenious method of turning discarded olive pits into sustainable tabletops.Cyprus produces over 24,000 tonnes of olive pits annually; project tackles this waste while also creating jobs for local farmers,aligning with the European Green Deal.
MC² (Mobile Creative Capsule), won the Social Impact Award. This modular mobile system hosts artistic events in underused or abandoned places.
It provides affordable creative expression beyond traditional cultural venues and champions sustainability through its construction materials.
A Compass for Tomorrow
The Ignite NEB events reflect the importance of local collaboration and innovation. Designed for unique settings, these events tackle local challenges and strengthen connections between people, ideas, and places. From ingenious solutions in Rotterdam to reimagined urban spaces in Nicosia, the winning projects showcase the EIT Community NEB’s wide-ranging impact.
As these teams progress to the next stage in the Grow NEB programme, we look forward to witnessing their ideas blossom.
Their success demonstrates the power of sustainability, inclusivity, and beauty in revitalizing our local communities. The EIT Community NEB,an initiative of the european Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT),empowers collaboration and innovation on the journey towards a better future for all.
What are the key principles behind the New European Bauhaus initiative?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and NEB Expert
Editor: Welcome to Time.news, were we explore the most pressing topics of our time. today, we’re diving into the transformative ‘New European bauhaus’ initiative, which has been reshaping innovation across Europe as its launch in 2021. Joining me is Dr. Laura Green, an expert in enduring design and one of the mentors at the recent Ignite NEB events. Thank you for being here, Dr. Green!
dr. Green: Thank you for having me! It’s a pleasure to share insights about the exciting developments coming out of the NEB initiative.
Editor: Let’s start with the core mission of the New European Bauhaus. It emphasizes sustainability, inclusivity, and beauty in creating solutions for Europe’s future. Can you elaborate on how these principles are being applied in practical terms?
Dr. Green: Absolutely! The NEB initiative is a platform for bringing together artists, engineers, architects, and social innovators to envision a sustainable future. at our recent Ignite NEB events, we tackled region-specific challenges. As an example, in Rotterdam, participants focused on cultivating local crops for regenerative agriculture, which emphasizes environmental health and resource conservation.
Editor: That’s engaging! I read that the winners from Rotterdam created innovative solutions like “Bog Off,” a biobased insect repellent. What is noteworthy about their approach?
Dr. Green: The team behind “Bog Off” truly exemplifies the NEB’s spirit. Their product design is rooted in ecological principles, using bog myrtle not just for its functional properties but also ensuring that its production is sustainable and locally sourced. The pleasant scent was a delightful bonus! They also considered every aspect of the product lifecycle, which is crucial for achieving circularity in our economy.
Editor: Speaking of circular economy, what can you tell us about the recent event in Italy, especially at the Design Sprint 4Planet Festival?
dr. Green: It was incredibly inspiring! Participants from various backgrounds came together at the Teatro Spazio Centrale to explore “protopia”—a future where humanity lives harmoniously with nature. They identified numerous challenges and collaborated on impactful design projects. For example, the winner, BeLong, is addressing urban burnout by connecting city workers with empty homes in rural areas, promoting work-life balance and revitalizing local economies.
Editor: That sounds like a fantastic approach. The Social Impact Award went to the project Valtellina 114, promoting sustainable tourism through a community-driven podcast. How does this fit into the NEB objectives?
Dr. Green: Valtellina 114 is a perfect example of inclusivity and sustainability at work. By equipping locals with storytelling skills, they’re not only fostering eco-awareness but also preserving and celebrating their cultural heritage. This aligns beautifully with NEB’s goal of ensuring that all voices, especially those from local communities, are heard and valued in shaping our environments.
Editor: I also noticed that in Donostia-San Sebastián, creativity was a driving force. How does this creativity contribute to the broader goals of the initiative?
Dr. Green: Creativity is a cornerstone of the NEB initiative. In Donostia-San Sebastián, diverse talents came together to rethink architecture and urban planning. This collaborative environment nurtures innovative solutions to pressing challenges like climate change, urbanization, and social equity.The combination of artistic vision and practical implementation can turn challenges into opportunities for transformation.
Editor: As someone deeply involved in this initiative, what excites you most about the NEB’s future and its implications for Europe?
Dr. Green: I’m excited about the wealth of ideas being generated, the cross-disciplinary collaborations, and the genuine commitment to inclusivity and sustainability. The potential for these projects to create real impact is enormous. As we share prosperous strategies and learn from one another across borders, I believe we can ignite a wave of innovation that not only reshapes our cities but also enriches our daily lives.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Green, for this enlightening discussion. it’s thrilling to see how the New European Bauhaus initiative is igniting innovation across Europe and shaping a more sustainable, inclusive future.
Dr. Green: Thank you! I appreciate the chance to share these exciting developments, and I hope we can continue to inspire positive change across the continent.