Open Access

Lukas Hermwille, Iñigo Muñoz, Diego García-Gusano, Izaskun Jiménez, Hanna Kuittinen, Miriam Ruß, Gergő Sütő, Li Shen, Ernst Worrell, Agnieska Zięcina, Arkadiusz Kocaj, Patryk Białas

• This report examines the key transformation challenges and research capacity needs in four European industrial regions: the Basque Country, Rhine-Ruhr Area, the Port of Rotterdam, and Silesia. The study employed a mixed methods approach, including desk research and stakeholder workshops utilising the Three Horizons facilitation method. In three regions, workshops involving 8-18 participants representing diverse stakeholder groups were held. Due to prior workshop saturation, the Port of Rotterdam study opted for a series of interviews, drawing insights from well-documented previous workshops. A key finding across all regions is the heightened perception of risk and uncertainty stemming from recent global events. This uncertainty affectsThis report examines the key transformation challenges and research capacity needs in four European industrial regions: the Basque Country, Rhine-Ruhr Area, the Port of Rotterdam, and Silesia. The study employed a mixed methods approach, including desk research and stakeholder workshops utilising the Three Horizons facilitation method. In three regions, workshops involving 8-18 participants representing diverse stakeholder groups were held. Due to prior workshop saturation, the Port of Rotterdam study opted for a series of interviews, drawing insights from well-documented previous workshops. A key finding across all regions is the heightened perception of risk and uncertainty stemming from recent global events. This uncertainty affects various dimensions, including technology choices, geopolitical stability, resource availability, and political landscapes, exacerbating an investment bottleneck as industries face reinvestment decisions against a backdrop of strained public finances and volatile interest rates. This uncertainty is compounded by the lack of a clear business case for green materials despite the anticipated decline in the viability of traditional, emission-intensive materials within the EU. While interest in green materials exists, uncertainties around certification, bulk availability, and production costs make securing financing for green production facilities challenging.…