The FTD LT Cluster’s Participation in an International Event in Brussels: Insights, Outcomes and Future Perspectives

What happens when the blue and green economies meet through the lens of the social economy? On September 23–24, organisations representing both the blue and green economies came together in Brussels for the international event “Blending Blue & Green for Real Sustainability”.

Among them was the FTD LT Cluster, coordinated by the Alytus Business Advisory Center, which actively strengthens its international presence and partnerships across Europe. During the event, which brought together representatives from 20 countries, the FTD LT Cluster took part in high-level discussions on strengthening international competitiveness, fostering innovation and expanding export opportunities. The event was organised by Diesis Network – one of Europe’s largest networks for social economy, social entrepreneurship and social innovation development, bringing together 60 organisations from more than 30 countries and representing over 100,000 enterprises and 1.3 million jobs. This extensive ecosystem ensured that discussions at “Blending Blue & Green for Real Sustainability” were not only high-level, but also directly focused on practical opportunities for businesses and clusters. Representing the FTD LT Cluster, Cluster Coordinator Algimanta Ščiglinskienė participated in closed-format sessions that included:

• high-level roundtable discussions on EU policy directions at the intersection of the blue and green economies;
• panels on the role of the social economy in the transition towards sustainable models;
• practical workshops on identifying synergies between sectors;
• presentations of best practices from 20 countries, showcasing how small and medium-sized enterprises are implementing the twin transition towards sustainability.

The event also highlighted two major initiatives – Bluedots European Living Lab (supporting cooperation with the blue economy) and GRAINS (supporting SMEs in their transition towards environmentally sustainable operations across Europe). Both initiatives created a unique environment in which the FTD LT Cluster had the opportunity to:

• establish new international connections;
• engage in discussions on integration into international value chains;
• identify potential areas for cooperation with organisations from other countries.
  
  

BENEFITS FOR THE FTD LT CLUSTER AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

Participation in “Blending Blue & Green for Real Sustainability” provides access to the latest EU recommendations developed on the basis of the event’s conclusions and strengthens the Cluster’s visibility among representatives from 20 countries – from European institutions to innovation centres. The international relationships established during the event create opportunities for FTD LT Cluster members to participate in future EU projects, expand partnerships in export markets and build sustainable cooperation networks. The experience gained will serve as a foundation for the 2026–2027 international development strategy, one of whose key objectives is to systematically strengthen the Cluster’s competitiveness in international markets.

We are returning with concrete contacts, new knowledge and clear opportunities.

“The participation of the FTD LT Cluster in Brussels was not merely symbolic – it was a strategically important step. We are returning with concrete contacts, new knowledge and clear opportunities that will help Cluster members integrate more firmly into Europe’s sustainability ecosystem,” emphasises FTD LT Cluster Coordinator Algimanta Ščiglinskienė. We would like to thank Diesis Network President Gianluca Pastorelli, expert Francisco Martinez and the entire organising team for their warm welcome and support in strengthening the international development of the FTD LT Cluster.

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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS