A political evening with top-class decision-makers. Host MEP Dr. Christian Ehler and moderator Dr. Nora Baum will lead through this evening, which will bring together Germany’s two existing Net Zero Valley initiatives for the first time and discuss their development in the regions, by the federal states, the federal government and the EU. A regional and national classification by top representatives of business and local authorities from Lusatia as Europe’s first candidate region together with the Federal Ministry of Economics in the first panel will be followed by a look at current steps in the EU and by Germany’s location marketers to support the valleys in the second round of talks. The conclusion and outlook is provided by a look into the “engine room” of both Valley initiatives with a special focus on the necessary acceleration by means of modern, digitalized administration. As a result, the importance of innovative regions such as Net Zero Valleys for Germany’s and the EU’s path to new competitiveness and innovative strength will be demonstrated.

The most exciting cleantech minds from Germany and the UK in one place – with high-tech to try out. The central day of the festival will be logically divided into three parts, firstly highlighting the opportunities in the innovative, global growth market for clean energy and industry, followed by impulses for founding and growing and a concluding discussion of the necessary economic policy framework. The final will be based on an impulse from the UK – where Net Zero is now as common as pizza is here. The focus is on start-ups and entrepreneurs, innovative companies and talents. Additional highlights include expert workshops on cleantech and start-up financing, the first-ever Female Energy Award powered by enviaM for innovators in the fields of clean energy and industry, as well as a broad supporting program including drones, VR, quizzes and a tricontinental premiere as a show act at the end of the festival day. Visitors can easily get to and from the event area by shuttle bus from the train station and BTU campus.

Career opportunities for young people and a varied supporting program – with free admission and including a shuttle bus to the location. This day is dedicated to the opportunities for international university graduates in the job market of transnational Lusatia. A panel of experts on the internationalizing labour market and its demands on university graduates on the one hand and companies on the other will be followed by a look at the welcoming culture in Lusatia with young politicians and finally, at the finale of the Climathon premiere, proof of the potential that international students offer for the local economy. Eight teams will present their solutions in the live pitch of the first Climathon – an innovative contest on the challenges facing the Lusatian economy in the field of cleantech, which is endowed with prize money. The transnational “Talent Day” is supported by the German-Polish Euroregion Spree-Neiße-Bober and organized in close cooperation with the universities of Zielona Gora and BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg.