Valencia Concludes the CO2PACMAN Business Forum with Real Solutions for the Mediterranean’s Climate Challenges
• Over two days, the city has become a meeting point for experts, startups, investors, and organizations from 7 European countries committed to open innovation and island sustainability: 55 proposals for 9 climate challenges.
Valencia, June 26, 2025. The CO2PACMAN Business Forum, organized by CEEI Valencia, has successfully concluded after two intensive days in which more than 30 international speakers and representatives from 7 European countries debated, shared, and proposed innovative solutions to tackle the major climate challenges faced by Mediterranean regions.
Held on June 25 and 26 at Las Naves, the event brought together sustainability experts, public authorities, investment funds, tech startups, and research centers in a multilateral collaboration environment, driven by the European project CO2PACMAN, part of the Interreg Euro-MED program.
“This forum has shown that open innovation is not just a methodology, but a concrete tool for generating real impact in territories that need immediate solutions to climate change,” said Juan Pablo Torregrosa, Project Manager at CEEI Valencia.
From Challenges to Solutions: A Replicable Model for the Mediterranean
During the forum, the best solutions were presented for nine challenges previously identified by the islands of Brač (Croatia), Crete (Greece), and Elba (Italy) in areas such as sustainable mobility, waste management, water scarcity, electric vehicle fire prevention, and carbon-neutral events.
Among the participating entities offering solutions were Durham University, University of Central Lancashire, Integra Tecnología, SmartEnds, Ecofire, Bluase, and others, who co-created proposals with both territorial impact and scalability.
The event also served as a platform to strengthen public-private collaboration in the transition toward a climate-neutral and resilient region. Impact investors such as Zubi Capital, Firstdrop, and COFIDES took part in roundtables aimed at connecting innovation with financing, while institutional representatives shared experiences and climate implementation strategies.
A Space for Alliances, Visibility, and Action
The forum also featured collaborative workshops, networking spaces, participatory dynamics, and sessions on strategic communication for European projects. In total, 55 innovative solution proposals were received, with the most adaptable, replicable, and impactful selected.
“We want ideas to become alliances, and for the challenges of these pilot islands to serve as models for other Mediterranean regions,” emphasized Torregrosa.
The CO2PACMAN Business Forum is thus established as a European benchmark for activating climate action plans through open innovation. From Valencia, the forum leaves a clear message: international collaboration is key to addressing environmental challenges and accelerating the green transition in the most vulnerable territories.
