To further amplify impact, KSSENA embedded this workshop into the GREET CE “Business Espresso” event series, creating a strong synergy between the two EU projects. GREET CE focuses on strengthening bioeconomy and green‑transition innovation ecosystems for SMEs in less developed Central European regions, which makes it a natural partner for HyEfRe’s work on green hydrogen. By linking HyEfRe with GREET CE, the event connected hydrogen‑focused tools and business models with a broader community of SMEs, investors, regional authorities and innovation support organisations already engaged around green and circular solutions. This integration provided added value by positioning hydrogen not as a standalone technology, but as a key component of the wider regional green‑transition investment portfolio.
Participants included local and regional public authorities, energy agencies, utilities, industrial representatives, SMEs, and innovation intermediaries, all of whom are actively involved in shaping the future energy system of the Šaleška region. They were introduced to HyEfRe’s hydrogen potential model and decision‑support tool, gaining insights into where hydrogen can realistically create value in the region. In the second part of the event, the focus shifted to HyEfRe business models, highlighting how identified opportunities can be translated into viable, investor‑ready project structures. Through the GREET CE “Business Espresso” format, participants were also able to engage in informal networking, discuss follow‑up cooperation, and explore how hydrogen projects can align with other renewable and circular initiatives. For the Šaleška region, as a HyEfRe pilot, this event marked an important step in embedding hydrogen planning into regional development discussions and in building a pipeline of projects that fit both local needs and European green‑transition priorities.