Euregional Symposium 2025
Crossing borders: Regenerative economy – Regenerative landscape
The Three-Countries Park invites to the euregional projekt symposium 2025:
In this edition, we take a look at regenerative innovations in economy & landscape against the backdrop of the policy study Regenerative Development and Design which emerged during the Belgian EU Council Presidency in 2024.
How can economy and ecology be proactively connected? Which innovations contribute to regenerative development and green transformation? Can landscapes serving as a shared living space and economic location build bridges across borders?
We draw inspiration from thought leaders such as the Cradle to Cradle movement ("Everything is a resource for something else”) and the idea of "Natural Intelligence" ("Building the future of innovation on millions of years of natural intelligence") or Biomimicry (see Key-note below). Because, ultimately, economic action is not possible without a solid ecological foundation. Natural resources like water are far more than mere inputs in a production process, and nature itself is a highly productive, value-creating system.
What innovative concepts are already being implemented in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine? Inspirational lectures and thematic workshops in cooperation with partners from the STIPP program provide space for in-depth discussions and fruitful exchanges.
Would you like to attend the event? Then please register by 25 September 2025. Places are limited.
When?
2 October 2025, 10h00 - 17h00
Where?
Kulturzentrum Alter Schlachthof
Rotenbergplatz 17
B - 4700 Eupen
With simultaneous translation in DE/FR/NL (except for workshops)
Programme 2/10/2025
| 09h00 | Reception & Registration |
| 10h00 | Welcome & Introduction Facilitator of the day - Simone van Trier, datspreekt Welcoming words - Michael Dejozé, director EGTC Euregio Meuse-Rhine • Martine Rousseau, coordinator STIPP, Interreg Meuse-Rhine SME Transition Innovation Partners Projects Introduction to (Re)Productivity, regenerative landscapes & development - Dr. Anja Brüll, coordinator Three-Countries Park |
| 10h30 | Impulses from 3 countries Pitchtalks from companies and organisations on regenerative approaches in theory and practice: Resourcing biobased mineral and proteins from eggshells: Dr. Rong Wang, Co-Founder/CEO EGGXPERT, Maastricht • Pioneers of water cycling technologies and rainwater beer: Oliver Ringelstein, Founder/director INTEWA GmbH, Aachen • Regenerative investments – connecting businesses with local projects for climate, biodiversity and agroecology: Lucas Gossiaux, Foundateur associé PlantC, Gembloux • Regenerating Europe from the ground up: Alexander Zimmer, Marienburg and Marienhof Monheim, Top50 Farmer Europe 2025, European Alliance of Regenerative Agriculture EARA • Sneak peak Einstein-Telescope EMR between Universe and planet Earth: Marc Genten, Province de Liège and Euregio Meuse-Rhine, Johan Rutten, ET EMR project office |
| 11h30 | Coffee break |
| 11h50 | KEYNOTE on Biomimicry and regenerative leadership: Saskia van den Muijsenberg, BiomimicryNL |
| 12h20 | Panel discussion withSaskia van den Muijsenberg, Oliver Ringelstein, Lucas Gossiaux, Alexander Zimmer, Martine Rousseau |
| 13h00 | Walking Lunch |
| 14h00 | Workshops - parallel sessions (descriptions see below) |
| | Workshop 1 (DE/FR/NL): The Einstein Telescope - between Universe and Earth |
| | Workshop 2 (EN): Water cycles in landscapes, cities and industries |
| | Workshop 3 (EN): STIPP - SME cross-border cooperation for the green transformation |
| | Workshop 4 (EN): Bioeconomy and regenerative agriculture
|
| | Workshop 5 (EN): Welcome to Circuville and Spongeland |
| 16h00 | Take-away messages, perspectives & conclusions |
| 16h20 | Drinks & Networking |
| 17h00 | End of the event |
Keynote Speaker - more Information
Saskia van den Muijsenberg
Saskia is the co-founder and Director of biomimicryNL and a Certified Biomimicry Professional. With over 30 years of experience in marketing, change management, strategic innovation, and biomimicry, she works with Fortune 500 companies and organisations of all sizes to spark innovation by applying nature’s design strategies to real-world challenges.
A natural storyteller and systems thinker, Saskia brings her passion for biomimicry to life—showing how learning from nature can inspire fresh ideas and new value models that help tackle today’s societal and business challenges.
Since 2010, she has built a strong biomimicry network in the Netherlands and beyond, inspiring thousands through keynotes, lectures, and workshops across Europe. Saskia has collaborated with hundreds of organisations, governments, schools, and universities, advancing the practice of biomimicry across disciplines and empowering people to rethink innovation and leadership through nature’s lens.
Workshops - more information
Workshop 1 (DE/FR/NL): The Einstein Telescope - between Universe and Earth
Presentation and (panel) discussion with Johan Rutten, Manager Environment, Sustainability and Stakeholdership, Einstein Telescope project office • Marc Genten, representant Province de Liège, Euregio Meuse-Rhine • Ann-Sophie Debergh, Coordinator, Landscapepark Bocageland • Michelle Habets, Mayor, Municipality of Plombières
Workshop with simultaneous translation in DE, FR, NL
The Einstein-Telescope will open a new window into space and time. By observing gravitational waves and looking deep into the origins of the UNIVERSE, it will generate fundamental new knowledge in an unprecedented way, leading to future technologies. But what are technologies worth, if humanity is not able to maintain its home planet EARTH, the blue marble of our galaxy? Could ET EMR not only become a forerunner in space sciences and technologies, but equally a lighthouse project for sustainable development or even a promoter of regenerative leadership?
Extensive work is carried out during the feasibility study of ET EMR for environmental and stakeholder management taking several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into account. Eco-innovative technologies are being explored, and impacts on biodiversity and landscape are being studied, searching for ways to improve rather than degrade it. How could the ET EMR not just try to minimize environmental impact, but support life (of all sorts) in the Landscape Park Bocageland, as its social-ecological home and thereby serve as a model beyond the Euregio?
We invite you to explore these questions with us in this workshop, introduced by a presentation on the feasibility study for sustainability of the ET EMR, followed by a (panel) discussion.
And what would Einstein have said about it?
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” – Albert Einstein
Workshop 2 (EN): Water cycles in landscapes, cities and industries
Talking circle with Dr. Grit Bürgow, Science & Society Office, TU Berlin,RoofWaterFarm and HypoWave • Oliver Ringelstein, INTEWA GmbH • Dr. Olga Murujew, coordinator Aix-Net-WWR • N.N.
Workshop held in English.
Water cycles are essential for Regeneration. In ecosystems, trees, beavers, soil creatures and other living beings act as daily water and land managers. They intercept, evaporate and infiltrate water. They slow down run-off, keep nutrients in place and rivers clear, dampen surface temperature, seed rain and make climate. In short, by creating small water cycles, healthy ecosystems not only provide (re)sources for drinking & process water, but regenerate the overall conditions for society and economy, and all life to thrive.
In this session we will explore the questions: How can rainwater and wastewater treatment technologies in cities and industries prevent pollution, floods and droughts, save nutrients and support the regeneration of water quality and water cycles in the landscape? How can they be applied in the Three-Countries Park? And how can we match capacities and join forces across borders?
Workshop 3 (EN): STIPP - SME cross-border cooperation for the green transformation
Cross-border match making with Martine Rousseau, coordinator STIPP, Interreg subsidy program • Olivier Heynen, Wallonie Entreprendre • Entrepreneurs from Wallonia, Flanders, Region Aachen, and Dutch Province Limburg
Workshop held in English.
“Climate change knows no borders” – Angela Merkel. So why should we?
Join us for an engaging workshop designed to ignite cross‑border collaboration on green transformation in our border region. We will explore how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from different countries can come together to contribute to drive green transformation.Through real‑world case studies and general information about the cross-border subsidy program STIPP, participants will explore how joint innovation can drive environmental sustainability and regional resilience.
This interactive session aims to equip participants with insights and tools to spark regenerative collaborations that not only heal ecosystems but also build resilient, sustainable economies.
Workshop 4 (EN): Bioeconomy and regenerative agriculture
Covering new ground with Alexandra Silinski, Three-Countries Park, PLUS Change project • Bert Reubens, ILVO Instituut voor Landbouw-, Visserij. en Voerdingsoderzoek, AFaktive agroforestry for water management & adaptation •Christina Kuchendorf, BioökonomieRevier, AgroInnoLabs, humus formation with biochar • Lucas Gossiaux, Fondateur associé PlantC • Alexander Zimmer, Marienhof Monheim, European Alliance of Regenerative Agriculture EARA
Workshop held in English.
Sustainable bioeconomy and regenerative farming, including agroforestry, emerge as a promising fields of practice. More and more farmers do not only produce high quality food, but through their regenerative practice also bind carbon in soils, buffer water on their land, provide habitat for biodiversity and enrich the landscape.
At the same time, farmers complain that they are losing fertile land to both urbanization and nature conservation. In addition, the bureaucratic hurdles are high, especially when they farm land across borders in two countries in the border triangle. Female farmers who introduce social and ecological innovations on their farms find it more difficult to gain recognition and financing, as research projects such as GrassCeiling show.
In this session we will hear about exiting examples of regenerative agriculture, agroforestry and climate adaptation, and innovation for a sustainable bioeconomy. We will discuss how regenerative agriculture can be promoted in the Three-Countries Park, how we can join forces across borders and how women can gain importance as farm managers and agricultural innovators.
Workshop 5 (EN): Welcome to Circuville and Spongeland
Creative storytelling with Kimberly Major, Biobased Creations and Wouter Goudswaard, Studio Goudbaard • Nicolas Boey, Water-Land-Schap programma, Vlaamse Landmaatschappij (partners Horizon project PLUSChange) • Marjon Heutmekers, WWF Nederland, lead partner Interreg project SPONGE
Workshop held in English.
In this session we will explore change-in-the-making through arts and storytelling. In the Wimmelbild Circuville, which was created by Biobased Creations within the PLUS change project, you can discover many innovative and regenerative land use activities pioneering circular cities. Follow the characters through the picture and listen to their stories of a bright future.
However, circular cities need regenerative landscapes to thrive. Together, we will draft a complementary Wimmelbild “Spongeland”. We will draw (on) nature-based solutions which slow down water and restore the sponge function in our cross-border landscapes; and we will tell the stories of change-makers like the farmer, the water engineer, the mayor, the landscape architect or the business manager etc. who create, implement or invest in climate-resilient regenerative landscapes.
The Spongeland Wimmelbild will be prepared for the 3LP practice case in PLUS Change. Furthermore, it will also support the development of a cross-border Spongeland strategy during the newly approved Interreg project SPONGE.
