Ferrara launches Sole MED, a €1.43M EU-funded project uniting 7 partners from 5 Mediterranean countries to boost sustainable bioeconomy and youth innovation. Running from April 2025 to June 2027, it promotes Open Labs, green startups, and smart cooperation across borders.
THE PROJECT
Launched on April 1, 2025 and running through June 30, 2027, the project brings together a network of partners from Greece, Spain, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with local institutions such as the University of Ferrara. The aim is to foster technological and social innovation in the sustainable bioeconomy sector through the creation and development of a network of Open Labs across the Mediterranean region.
These labs—already active in Ferrara—will serve as hubs for experimentation, training, and business incubation, with a focus on young people (ages 18–30) and initiatives in biotechnology and agri-tech. Key activities include mapping existing bioeconomy actors, developing scalable models for agricultural, industrial, and commercial sectors, and offering training paths to support the creation of green start-ups.
At the press conference, Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Environment and European Projects Alessandro Balboni emphasized that Ferrara’s experience in EU project planning and commitment to sustainability helped secure this important funding. The project aims to strengthen collaboration among Mediterranean cities facing shared challenges like climate change, green transition, and digital transformation.
Ferrara will oversee all coordination and management, helping to transfer knowledge and best practices across regions. Sole MED represents a strategic opportunity to build smart, inclusive, and sustainable local development models across the Euro-Mediterranean area.
“Thanks to our Municipality’s consolidated experience in European planning and its strong commitment to urban innovation, sustainability, and civic participation, Ferrara has obtained European funding for this project. The aim is to further develop and expand the network of local OpenLabs—spaces for open innovation, public-private collaboration, and social inclusion—with an important and much-needed opportunity to join a network of Mediterranean cities and territories addressing common challenges, ranging from climate change to the green transition and digital transformation.”
