On 11 October 2016, the European Commission's yearly RegioStars Awards ceremony took place in Brussels, as part of the European Week of Regions and Cities. 

This yearly EU-wide competition puts the spotlight on the most innovative and inspiring EU funded projects and illustrates, through concrete real-life examples, how Cohesion Policy supports the creation of economic growth and jobs.

In addition to bringing recognition to the selected projects, it aims at fostering the exchange of best practices between Cohesion Policy practitioners as well as inspiring other project managers and managing authorities.

Out of 104 applications, an independent expert jury first shortlisted 23 finalists.  In a second stage, five winning projects were selected to receive the prestigious RegioStars trophy from the hands of EU Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Creţu and the RegioStars Jury President, MEP Lambert van Nistelrooij. In addition, this year, the project Circular Ocean received a “Public Choice Award”, based on the votes from attendees to the event.  

This year, the submitted projects competed in 5 categories: support to businesses operating in the global economy, social inclusion strategies, the circular economy, sustainable urban development and finally, a new category dedicated to projects looking at innovative solutions to manage EU funds more effectively. 

The winners:

CATEGORY 1 -  SMART GROWTH: Emerging opportunities in the global economy
COPENHAGEN CLEANTECH CLUSTER (Denmark / Capital Region of Denmark): Project Fiche - Video

CATEGORY 2 - SUSTAINABLE GROWTH - Circular Economy
CENTRO BIO: BIO-INDUSTRIES, BIOREFINERIES AND BIOPRODUCTS (Portugal / Centro): Project Fiche - Video 

CATEGORY 3 - INCLUSIVE GROWTH: Integrated living – building inclusive and non-segregated communities
ACADEMY OF SOCIAL ECONOMY (Poland / Malopolska Region)  Video

CATEGORY 4 – CITYSTAR: Sustainable urban development
REVITALIZATION OF LOWER TOWN DISTRICT IN GDANSK (Poland / Pomorskie Voivodeship) Project Fiche - Video

CATEGORY 5 - EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT: Making a difference by managing differently
TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE JONVABALIAI (FIREFLIES) (Lithuania) Video 

Category 1  “Smart Growth” : Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster (Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark - European Regional Development Fund)

The Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster project was launched in 2009 to ensure smart growth, innovation and cooperation among Danish cleantech firms and knowledge institutions. The overall vision of the project was to develop Region Zealand and the Capital Region of Denmark into one of the world’s leading cleantech clusters, creating superior value for the participating cluster companies and the scientific community by creating valuable networks involving a wide range of participants, including knowledge institutions, industry promoters, leading cleantech companies and public authorities.
Through a focused effort, the project created 1096 jobs, supported 126 start-ups and facilitated many new cooperations and partnerships. After having merged with another Danish Lean Energy Cluster, the organisation now has over 170 members and holds the GOLD label in Cluster Management Excellence.

More Information on the project
Website - Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster 

For more information visit http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/regio-stars-awards/?Allnews=true#1