The Upper Rhine region will be presenting itself on 13 October in Brussels at the Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg. This event, which begins at 5 p.m. and continues into the early evening with a networking cocktail, is part of the official programme of the European Week of Regions and Cities (EWRC) in the category ‘Europe close to you’.
The trinational Upper Rhine border region faces profound challenges in the areas of climate and energy. Climate change is already having a noticeable impact here: heat waves, water shortages and heavy rainfall are putting pressure on agriculture, cities, infrastructure and ecosystems. At the same time, the energy transition requires an accelerated shift towards renewable sources, storage solutions and resilient networks – a task that can only be achieved across borders due to differing national conditions. The strategy for Climate and Energy of the Upper Rhine region sets ambitious targets for partner authorities of the cross-border region and identifies strategic projects, bringing together for their implementation relevant stakeholders at local, regional and national level from politics, science and industry. This initiative aims to strengthen the Upper Rhine’s pioneering role in tackling climate change and promoting the use of clean energy.
Scientific cooperation in the region plays a central role in this process. Universities and research centres in Germany, France and Switzerland are pooling their expertise to create common data bases, advance technologies such as hydrogen and geothermal energy, and provide expert advice to politicians and businesses This close link between research, practice and politics makes the Upper Rhine a model region for European cooperation.
Representatives from politics, science and business will take part in the panel discussion and present the opportunities and challenges of joint European coordination, as well as some innovative cross-border projects.
Melanie ARNDT, Vicepresident in charge of international relations and sustainability at Universität Freiburg, Vicepresident of Eucor – The European Campus
Franz QUINT, Speaker of the Science Pillar of the Trinational Metropolitan Region of the Upper Rhine, Vicepresident for Research, Cooperation and Transfer at Hochschule Karlsruhe
Frédéric BIERRY, Speaker of the Political Pillar of the Trinational Metropolitan Region of the Upper Rhine, President of the Collectivité européenne d’Alsace
Frank Rotter, Director of Cross-Border Cooperation and Economic Development Projects at the Alsace Eurometropôle Chamber of Commerce and Industry
TBC, DG Environment, European Commission
Registration (until 9 October 2025) via this form
Full programme of the European Week of Regions and Cities: https://regions-and-cities.europa.eu/
Contact: Julie Corouge, julie.corouge@rmtmo.eu