Sharing Green Industry Expertise with Baltic Sea Region

At the closing event of the Interreg Baltic Sea Region project GreenIndustrialAreas on 11 December 2025, Klaipėda Free Economic Zone became a hub for dialogue on the future of climate-neutral industrial areas. Among the highlights was a keynote by Dr. Beata Kviatek, Jean Monnet Professor in Sustainable EU Economy at Hanze University Groningen, who participated online—an approach that reflects the event’s commitment to sustainability—and shared insights on how the Northern Netherlands has transformed from a gas-dependent region into a European frontrunner in industrial decarbonisation.

Northern Netherlands: From Gas Dependency to Green Leadership

Dr. Kviatek’s presentation, Driving Green Industry Development in the Northern Netherlands, showcased a regional success story built on collaboration and innovation. Key pillars of this transformation include:

• Chemport Europe – integrated chemical clusters and seaports forming a major energy hub.
• Europe’s first Hydrogen Valley (HEAVENN) – a €90 million public-private initiative creating a full green hydrogen value chain.
• A dynamic innovation ecosystem anchored by Campus Groningen, the University of the North, and Entrance, connecting applied research with industry needs.

Universities play a pivotal role by educating talent for energy and circular economy jobs, driving applied research through living labs, and acting as connectors between businesses, public authorities, and society to accelerate industrial decarbonisation.

Showcasing UNLOCK: Another Interreg Project Driving Hydrogen Futures

The Klaipėda event also highlighted UNLOCK, an Interreg Europe project that focuses on improving regional policy instruments to raise SME awareness of green hydrogen opportunities and foster their active involvement in local hydrogen initiatives. By enhancing SME competitiveness and creating new jobs, UNLOCK aims to boost sustainable growth and support the development of green Hydrogen Valleys, in line with the EU Hydrogen Strategy.

UNLOCK brings together policy authorities, universities, and key stakeholders from seven European regions to develop local green hydrogen economies. Through study visits, policy learning, and good practice exchange, the project empowers regional authorities to design better policies for SMEs and strengthen governance capacity.

Among the good practices showcased by UNLOCK:

• Hy2Market – testing hydrogen mobility solutions in real-life contexts.
• SME Growth through Brownfield Regeneration – integrating hydrogen supply chains into revitalized industrial sites.
• Collaboration in H2 Education – building skills for a stronger hydrogen economy.
• HYDROGREENN’s Collaborative Approach – fostering partnerships for green hydrogen deployment.

Looking Ahead

The Klaipėda event was not only a platform for sharing project results but also a springboard for future cooperation. Discussions explored synergies between Baltic Sea Region initiatives and European hydrogen strategies, progress in hydrogen transmission technologies, and political debates on energy diversification.

As GreenIndustrialAreas concludes, its outputs—a transnational certification standard for green industrial areas and a toolbox for stakeholders—will guide public authorities and industry players. Meanwhile, UNLOCK continues to build bridges between regions, unlocking the potential of green hydrogen economy and ensuring Europe’s industrial transformation is sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven.