The workshop with the representative of the municipality of Ajdovščina, Slovenia, which took place on 4 April 2024, focused on sustainable development and innovation. The participants learnt about various topics, such as the introduction of a system for sustainable public procurement of food, integration into the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley ecosystem, circular economy and water management. Examples of best practices were presented, such as the COKOREADO project and its case study of the municipality of Laško, as well as opportunities for cooperation and raising additional funds. Discussions included defining the term “local”, identifying key regional stakeholders and setting goals and steps for further development. A platform was used to facilitate discussions on the circular economy, and water management and identify business models and funding sources. The results were summarised in the conclusion, which set a timeframe for further steps and implementing the ideas in practice.
Marko Debeljak – Jožef Stefan Institute