The DRIVE Roadshows
DRIVE is launching a series of three regional Hackathon Roadshows in Slovenia, Greece, and France, each centered around a locally rooted innovation challenge.
These challenges reflect the real needs of rural communities and ecosystems, offering participants the opportunity to co-develop high-impact, region-specific solutions for a more circular, digital, and sustainable bioeconomy.
These Roadshows are designed to catalyze innovation, digitalization, and sustainable entrepreneurship in Europe’s rural bioeconomy.
Each Roadshow will combine high-level knowledge exchange with hands-on problem-solving, bringing together local and international stakeholders including bio-based SMEs, startups, researchers, investors, cooperatives, and policy experts.
What we offer
Structured around the identification of regional needs and challenge-based innovation, each Roadshow will open with a morning of expert-led seminars and introductions, followed by an intensive Hackathon-style competition.
During these sessions, multidisciplinary teams will co-develop practical solutions to region-specific challenges in areas such as circular bioeconomy, green technologies, and rural digital transformation.
The events are part of a broader effort to build tailored business models, enhance investor-readiness, and foster long-term innovation ecosystems in rural Europe.
- DRIVE Roadshow in Bohinj – Slovenia, from Tuesday, October 21st, to Thursday, October 23rd, 2025.
- DRIVE Roadshow in Serres – Greece, from Monday 10th to Wednesday 12th of November 2025.
- DRIVE Roadshows in Le Bourget-du-Lac – France, from Wednesday, December 3rd, to Friday, December 5th, 2025.
Roadshow in Bohinj, Slovenia
The Slovenian Roadshow is built around the theme “Grown Here, Served Here”.
The Roadshow of Slovenia will take place in Bohinj.
📅 Hackathon Dates: October 21–23, 2025
🕙 Info Webinar: July 17, 2025 at 10:00 CEST
🗓 Application Deadline: September 30, 2025
The Biosphere Reserve Julian Alps (BO JA) was the first designated biosphere reserve in Slovenia. It strives to maintain a balance between people and nature, biodiversity and sustainable development, with a strong emphasis on cultural values.
Challenge focus:
- Strengthen local agri-food value chains
- Boost the use of local food in HORECA and public institutions
- Improve traceability, logistics, and reduce food waste
Roadshow in Serres, Greece
The Greek Roadshow is built around the theme “Serres Bioeconomy Hackathon 2025”.
The Roadshow of Greece will take place in Serres.
📅 Hackathon Dates: November 10–12, 2025
🕙 Info Webinar: October 9, 2025 at 10:00 CEST
🗓 Application Deadline: October 24th, 2025
The Regional Unit of Serres, with its strong agricultural foundation, is emerging as a dynamically developing area in the field of bioeconomy. The concept of bioeconomy, which focuses on the sustainable use of biological resources for the production of food, energy, and materials is particularly well-suited to Serres, due to its agricultural tradition and the growing business landscape.
Challenge focus:
- Upcycle agricultural waste and biomass
- Support sustainable agri-food, bioenergy, and local circularity
- Partner with rural SMEs for real-world deployment
Roadshow in Bourget-du-Lac, France
The French Roadshow is built around the theme “Technolac 2050 – A Hackathon Serving Symbiotic Innovation”.
The Roadshow of France will take place in Bourget-du-Lac.
📅 Hackathon Dates: December 3–5, 2025
🕙 Info Webinar: October 28, 2025 at 10:00 CEST
🗓 Application Deadline: October 31, 2025
The area around Lac du Bourget and near the Savoie Technolac science park is rich in economic stakeholders (innovative companies, committed entrepreneurs, players in tourism, circular economy, energy, agriculture, and local authorities). However, these stakeholders often operate in isolation.
Challenge focus:
- Pool local resources and reduce environmental impact
- Enable regenerative tourism and circular innovation
- Support smart rural territories and symbiotic partnerships
✅ Who Can Apply?
Applicants must be individuals or teams active in bioeconomy, rural development, circular economy, or sustainability innovation. You are eligible if you are:
- A Startup or SME
- A Researcher or student
- An NGO or cooperative
- An individual innovator with technical or entrepreneurial expertise
- An academic or vocational institution with relevant focus
While TRL is not a strict exclusion factor, ideas beyond the concept stage are encouraged and clearly relate to the regional challenge.
🔍 Additional Key Information
- Participation is 100% free of charge, including meals during the hackathon and mentorship activities
- Solutions should be applicable to rural settings and show potential for replication across Europe.
- Participants can apply to multiple Roadshows, but can only be selected for one.
- The Hackathons will be held in person, while the mentorship is online and delivered in English.
- Finalists will be selected based on: relevance to the challenge, innovation and business potential, and team skills.
