Horizon 2020 Green Deal Projects Support Office presents breakthrough solutions for Europe’s green transition

Final event in Brussels to showcase results from 73 Green Deal-call funded projects

(IN BRIEF) The Green Deal Projects Support Office will host a final hybrid event in Brussels on 28 April 2026 to present the results of 73 projects funded under the €1 billion Horizon 2020 Green Deal Call, bringing together policymakers, researchers, industry representatives and local authorities to explore practical solutions supporting Europe’s transition to climate neutrality, with projects covering areas such as clean energy, climate resilience, biodiversity, sustainable food systems, urban mobility and citizen engagement, while highlighting insights and policy recommendations from five thematic working groups and showcasing real-world innovations including hydrogen-powered technologies, advanced CO₂ capture systems, faster detection of harmful chemicals, AI-driven wildfire monitoring, sustainable alternatives to antibiotics in livestock and improved air quality monitoring, all aimed at translating EU research into scalable solutions, guiding investment and policy decisions, and accelerating the implementation of the European Green Deal across regions.

(PRESS RELEASE) BRUSSELS, 19-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — 73 projects funded under the EUR 1 billion Horizon 2020 Green Deal Call will present key results and policy-relevant innovations at a flagship final event hosted by the Green Deal Projects Support Office (GD-SO).

The hybrid event, taking place in Brussels and online on 28 April 2026, will bring together policymakers, researchers, industry representatives, local authorities and sustainability practitioners to explore cutting-edge solutions supporting Europe’s transition to climate neutrality.

The projects address key priorities of the European Green Deal, from clean energy and climate resilience to biodiversity, sustainable food systems and citizen engagement. Together, they demonstrate how EU-funded research and innovation is translating ambition into practical tools, scalable solutions and cross-sector approaches to accelerate its implementation across Europe.

Turning research into action

The final event will bring together the consolidated results of five thematic working groups, highlighting cross-project insights, policy recommendations and lessons learned in:

• Clean Energy
• Climate Change & Biodiversity
• Food & Health
• Knowledge & Citizens
• Urban Environment & Mobility

By bringing together insights from multiple projects, the event highlights broader, coordinated strategies that can guide policy, investment and action at the local level.

Examples of impact from individual projects

The achievements emerging from individual projects demonstrate how these strategies are already being put into practice across Europe. Examples include:

• Advancing hydrogen innovation through landmark demonstrations, including the world’s first dual-fuel hydrogen straddle carrier in port operations and Belgium’s first green hydrogen boiler.
• Demonstrating a closed carbon loop system, with ECO2Fuel achieving up to 99% CO₂ capture rate – a major step forward in industrial decarbonisation.
• Pioneering a significantly faster way of detecting PFAS (“forever chemicals”) in humans, developed by SCENARIOS, to support improved monitoring and protection of public health.
• Deploying real-time wildfire detection systems that integrate advanced technologies such as drones and AI video analysis to strengthen early warning and climate resilience capabilities.
• Reducing the use of antibiotics in livestock farming, with NeoGiANT developing natural antimicrobial alternatives derived from agri-food waste, to support animal health while tackling antimicrobial resistance.
• Strengthening EU urban air quality policy, with RI-URBANS improving air pollution monitoring methods and providing evidence to support the implementation and revision of European air quality legislation.

Astrid Ladefoged, Head of Unit for Green Transitions at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), emphasised the value of such initiatives: “As Europe drives its green transition, the projects funded under the Horizon 2020 Green Deal Call demonstrate that collaboration on innovation accelerates real-world solutions for people, the economy, nature and climate. The priority is now scaling these solutions across Member States and embedding them into policy and investment frameworks to maximise impact”. 

​A platform for policymakers and practitioners

For policymakers and local authorities, the event offers a unique opportunity to discover scalable, real-world solutions aligned with European Green Deal objectives, that could be deployed and replicated at the local and regional level. The event will offer actionable insights from the project working groups which are directly applicable to implementation challenges across Europe. Attendees will also explore investment pathways with proven innovations, technology transfer opportunities, and policy recommendations designed to support evidence-based decision-making and accelerate regional green transitions.

Registration is now open for both in-person and online participation. ​

Event Details:

Date: 28 April 2026

Format: Hybrid (in-person in Brussels, and online)

Focus: Project achievements, Green Deal objectives alignment, lessons learned and sectoral insights

Register at: https://www.acceleratinggreentransition2026.eu/

Media inquiries:

GD-SO Secretariat support@greendealprojects.eu

About the GD-SO:

To help deliver on the European Green Deal, the EU made EUR 1 billion available under the  Green Deal call - the last and biggest call under Horizon 2020. Projects funded under the call contribute to the EU’s response to the climate crisis and help protect Europe’s unique ecosystems and biodiversity.  These projects aim to deliver tangible results in the short to medium term. They focus on rapid scalability, dissemination and uptake to bring concrete benefits to Europeans in their daily life. 

The Green Deal Projects Support Office (GD-SO) was established in 2021 to maximise the impact of the Green Deal Call projects by facilitating collaboration, promoting knowledge exchange, and showcasing best practices across the portfolio. Working through five thematic groups (Climate Change and Biodiversity, Clean Energy, Urban Environment and Mobility, Food and Health, and Knowledge and Citizens), the GD-SO helps strengthen the visibility, coherence and uptake of project results across Europe and beyond.

SOURCE: Green Deal Projects Support Office (GD-SO)