4 and 5 November 2026

Agenda

Capturing value: industrial ecosystems

and local benefits of just transition

Technical Regional Forum of the Just Transition Platform

4 and 5 November 2026

4 and 5 November 2026

Technical Regional Forum in Aalborg, Denmark

4-5 November 2026

Introduction

Aalborg Municipality and the wider North Jutland region are at the forefront of Denmark's

industrial decarbonisation, anchored by Aalborg Portland's carbon capture, utilisation and

storage (CCUS) investment, recently awarded substantial national support. Alongside this

flagship investment, Aalborg is pursuing a broader transformation towards a low-carbon

industrial ecosystem that links heavy industry, ports, renewable energy, innovation actors,

universities and local communities. This transition presents opportunities not only to re-

duce greenhouse gas emissions but also to create new economic activities, strengthen

industrial competitiveness, attract investment, and build future-oriented jobs and skills.

The transition of a long-standing cement and heavy-industry and maritime hub towards a

low-carbon industrial ecosystem raises shared questions for Just Transition Fund (JTF)

regions and other industrial areas across Europe: how to build value chains and business

models around core infrastructural investments (such as CCUS), and how to ensure the

transition delivers tangible benefits, acceptance, and new opportunities for local commu-

nities.

This Technical Regional Forum brings together regional and national authorities, port and

industry representatives, researchers, and peer regions with experience in heavy-industry

transition (these could include Rotterdam, Chemelot, Bilbao and others) to exchange prac-

tical, implementation-oriented lessons on industrial transformation.

Event focus

The Technical Regional Forum (TRF) provides a high-level platform for dialogue, knowledge

exchange and partnership development on the role of industrial decarbonisation in regional

transformation. Building on Aalborg’s experience with CCUS and industrial ecosystem de-

velopment, the Forum seeks to explore how strategic infrastructure investments can cat-

alyse wider economic, technological and social change across regions.

The event’s objectives are:

• Explore how broader low-carbon industrial ecosystems can be developed around

CCUS and other strategic decarbonisation investments (value chain cooperation,

new business models, synergies with other industries).

• Identify opportunities for SMEs, research institutions and local stakeholders to par-

ticipate in emerging industrial ecosystems.

• Discuss how the transition can generate tangible benefits for local communities

(social acceptance, R&D and innovation capacity).

• Exchange experience on the journey from an industrial centre to a research and

innovation hub.

4 and 5 November 2026

• Strengthen connections between JTF regions and other industrial and maritime re-

gions across Europe.

• Promote peer learning and establish new collaborations that continue beyond the

event itself.

The expected outcome of the event is aiming at a strengthened understanding of how

industrial decarbonisation projects can become drivers of regional transformation and

competitiveness. Expected outcomes include:

• Shared examples and lessons learned from industrial regions across Europe under-

going major decarbonisation processes.

• Improved understanding of how value chains, innovation systems and industrial

ecosystems can be developed around CCUS and related investments.

• Enhanced dialogue between public authorities, industry representatives and re-

searchers.

• Identification of good practices related to community engagement, public ac-

ceptance and local benefit creation.

Participants

The event aims to welcome a broad range of stakeholders involved in industrial transition,

regional development and decarbonisation, including:

• Representatives of local, regional and national public authorities and policymakers.

• European Commission representatives and other EU institutions.

• Industrial companies and industrial cluster organisations.

• Port authorities and logistics actors.

• Research institutions, universities and innovation centres.

• Business support organisations and innovation agencies.

• SMEs and entrepreneurs exploring opportunities in emerging low-carbon value

chains.

• Representatives from Just Transition Fund regions including Chemelot (Nether-

lands), Rotterdam/Zuid-Holland (Netherlands), Moravian-Silesian Region (Czech

Republic), Ida-Viru (Estonia), Le Havre (France), Central Germany, Kymenlaakso

(Finland), Asturias (Spain), and other regions with experience in industrial decar-

bonisation, circular industry, ports, cement production and CCUS-related transition.

• Community organisations and stakeholders interested in the social dimensions of

industrial transition.

4 and 5 November 2026

Agenda

A focused, interactive two-day expert event for up to ~120 participants, combining fram-

ing speeches, panel discussions, workshops, and a site visit to Aalborg Portland. Sessions

go beyond high-level panels to enable technical depth and peer exchange, consistent with

the JTP TRF format.

DAY

1 Time

Agenda item

Speakers

09.30-

10.00

Registration of participants, wel-

come coffee

Venue: Hotel Comwell

Vesterbro 2, 9000 Aalborg, Den-

mark

10:00-

10:20

Opening

• Welcome and scene setting by

DG REGIO of the European Com-

mission

• Welcoming remarks from Aalborg

Municipality on the municipality's

industrial transition ambitions

Speakers:

• Eva Nussmüller, DG

REGIO, European

Commission

• Martin Rune Hoxer,

Aalborg Municipality

10:20-

10:30

Housekeeping

• Moderator shares the agenda

and the housekeeping rules

Moderator: Karen-Marie Sand-

gren, Nordic Energy Connection

10:30-

11:15

Setting the scene

Setting the scene: CCUS as a local

driver of industrial transition and

competitiveness

The session sets the stage for the Fo-

rum by highlighting the local context on

CCUS serving as a lever for industrial

competitiveness and just transition,

drawing on Danish research and policy

perspectives.

Speakers:

• Lars Strom Pedersen,

AAU Energy, Aalborg

University• TBC

11:15-

11:45

Coffee break

11:45-

12:30

Panel discussion

Session I — Building industrial value

chains around core green transition

investments

What does it take for a core investment

such as CCUS, port infrastructure, cir-

cular industry or industrial symbiosis to

become the anchor of a wider regional

industrial ecosystem? The session ex-

plores how regions organise

Moderator: Karen-Marie Sand-

gren, Nordic Energy Connection

Speakers:

• Björn Koopmans,

Chemelot Circular Hub,

Netherlands

• Tanya Srivastava,

Cemex, Brandenburg

4 and 5 November 2026

cooperation between industry, ports,

public authorities, research actors and

SMEs, and what enabling conditions are

needed for value chains to emerge.

• Jozef Vlček, Cikarena-

project, Materials and

Metallurgical Research

• Vasileios Tsianos, Neo

Materials Magnet Factory

12:30-

13:30

Lunch

13:30-

15:00

Peer review session

Session II — Regional challenge

lab: translating industrial invest-

ment into territorial value

Three regions present real transition

challenges linked to industrial transfor-

mation and territorial development (up

to 3 slides and two challenge ques-

tions). Following short challenge

pitches, participants join one of the fa-

cilitated peer-exchange tables to dis-

cuss solutions and share practical expe-

rience. The session concludes with a

plenary report-back highlighting key

lessons for industrial and Just Transition

regions

Presenting regions (TBC) – see

speakers

Peers: speakers from session I will be

assigned to each station, together with

JTP Groundwork experts and selected

participants. Rest of participants can

choose the group freely.

Facilitators: Groundwork team

and representatives from differ-

ent regions/ sectors

Speakers:

• Michael Stie Laugesen,

Aalborg, GreenHub

• Helena Andersson, Re-

gion Gotland

• Frans van den Akker,

Techport Innovation Cen-

tre Green Incubator

15:00-

15:30

Coffee break

15:30-

16:15

Panel discussion

Session III — Sustaining the jour-

ney: research, innovation and JTF

networks

How can regions support the journey

from industrial centre to research and

innovation centre? Peer reflections from

several Just Transition Fund regions on

the sustainability of JTF support, net-

works and new international contacts

beyond the funding period.

Moderator: Eva Nussmüller, DG

REGIO, European Commission

Speakers:

• Cristina Ugarte, SPRI,

Basque Country, Spain

• Alexia Jacoben, Aarhus

University, Northern Den-

mark

• Eva Korfova, Karlovy

Vary Region, Czech Re-

public

16:15-

16:35

Presentation

JTP Groundwork insights: local ben-

efits, stakeholder engagement and

municipal coordination in Aalborg

Speaker:

• Bettina Rafael-

sen/Nanna Fredsted,

JTP Groundwork

4 and 5 November 2026

Drawing on the Green Hub Denmark

Technical Assistance, this short input

will share emerging insights and learn-

ings on local economic opportunities,

anticipated citizen concerns, cross-mu-

nicipal coordination needs and stake-

holder engagement priorities linked to

the Aalborg–Purhus CO₂ pipeline corri-

dor. The session will serve as a bridge

to Day 2 by framing the workshop dis-

cussions on local benefits, social ac-

ceptance and regional preparedness.

• Nikoline Bak, Green Hub

Denmark representative

16:45-

17:00

Day 1 closing and outlook on Day 2 Speakers:

• Balbina Gluza-

Czyczerska, DG

REGIO, European

Commission

• Lasse Frimand Jen-

sen, Mayor of Aal-

borg

17:00-

19:00

Informal dinner and networking

DAY 2

Time

Agenda item

Speakers

09:30- 09:45

Welcome of participants Moderator: Karen-Marie

Sandgren, Nordic Energy

Connection

09:45-

11:15 Workshop

Session IV – Workshop on local bene-

fits and social acceptance of the in-

dustrial transition

Short input presentations from experts,

followed by rotating table discussions on:

(Table 1) Creating local economic ben-

efits - what are the benefits in terms of

business creation and employment for

municipalities;

(Table 2) Social acceptance and com-

munity engagement - drawing on expe-

rience from communities near Tata Steel

(Wijk aan Zee) and the Porthos project

(Rozenburg), plus Slovenian district-heat-

ing experience;

(Table 3) Regional preparedness and

governance - What should municipalities

and regions do before major industrial in-

vestments arrive (planning capacities,

Facilitators:

• Green Hub Denmark

• DG REGIO

• JTP Groundwork

Speakers:

• Henrik Halkier, Aal-

borg University Busi-

ness School, Denmark

• Charlotte Nørgar-

gaard Larsen, BIF-

ROST, DTU, Demark

• Annett Heibel, Ce-

mex, Germany

4 and 5 November 2026

coordination of stakeholders, skills)? – ex-

amples from Denmark

Following the discussion, each table will

be asked to report back.

11:15- 12:00

Presentation

Aalborg Portland: role in the low-car-

bon industrial ecosystem

Presentation on the Aalborg Portland’s

role in supporting industrial transition, lo-

gistics for CCUS value chains, and emerg-

ing opportunities for local SMEs and sup-

pliers, followed by Q&A.

Speakers:

• Jesper Sand

Damtoft, Aalborg

Portland

12:00- 13:00

Lunch Hotel Comwell

13:00- 13:30

Transfer to site visit - Location: Aalborg

Portland

13:30- 15:00

Site visit

Aalborg Portland cement plant

Guided tour of the cement plant and its

carbon capture investment, including dis-

cussion of the technology, scale-up plans,

and links to the value chain and business-

model themes from Day 1.

Presenter:

• Søren Konstmann

Lausen, ACCSION

15:00- 15:30

Transfer back to city centre/hotels

4 and 5 November 2026

Agenda

Capturing value: industrial ecosystems

and local benefits of just transition

Technical Regional Forum of the Just Transition Platform

4 and 5 November 2026

4 and 5 November 2026

Technical Regional Forum in Aalborg, Denmark

4-5 November 2026

Introduction

Aalborg Municipality and the wider North Jutland region are at the forefront of Denmark's

industrial decarbonisation, anchored by Aalborg Portland's carbon capture, utilisation and

storage (CCUS) investment, recently awarded substantial national support. Alongside this

flagship investment, Aalborg is pursuing a broader transformation towards a low-carbon

industrial ecosystem that links heavy industry, ports, renewable energy, innovation actors,

universities and local communities. This transition presents opportunities not only to re-

duce greenhouse gas emissions but also to create new economic activities, strengthen

industrial competitiveness, attract investment, and build future-oriented jobs and skills.

The transition of a long-standing cement and heavy-industry and maritime hub towards a

low-carbon industrial ecosystem raises shared questions for Just Transition Fund (JTF)

regions and other industrial areas across Europe: how to build value chains and business

models around core infrastructural investments (such as CCUS), and how to ensure the

transition delivers tangible benefits, acceptance, and new opportunities for local commu-

nities.

This Technical Regional Forum brings together regional and national authorities, port and

industry representatives, researchers, and peer regions with experience in heavy-industry

transition (these could include Rotterdam, Chemelot, Bilbao and others) to exchange prac-

tical, implementation-oriented lessons on industrial transformation.

Event focus

The Technical Regional Forum (TRF) provides a high-level platform for dialogue, knowledge

exchange and partnership development on the role of industrial decarbonisation in regional

transformation. Building on Aalborg’s experience with CCUS and industrial ecosystem de-

velopment, the Forum seeks to explore how strategic infrastructure investments can cat-

alyse wider economic, technological and social change across regions.

The event’s objectives are:

• Explore how broader low-carbon industrial ecosystems can be developed around

CCUS and other strategic decarbonisation investments (value chain cooperation,

new business models, synergies with other industries).

• Identify opportunities for SMEs, research institutions and local stakeholders to par-

ticipate in emerging industrial ecosystems.

• Discuss how the transition can generate tangible benefits for local communities

(social acceptance, R&D and innovation capacity).

• Exchange experience on the journey from an industrial centre to a research and

innovation hub.

4 and 5 November 2026

• Strengthen connections between JTF regions and other industrial and maritime re-

gions across Europe.

• Promote peer learning and establish new collaborations that continue beyond the

event itself.

The expected outcome of the event is aiming at a strengthened understanding of how

industrial decarbonisation projects can become drivers of regional transformation and

competitiveness. Expected outcomes include:

• Shared examples and lessons learned from industrial regions across Europe under-

going major decarbonisation processes.

• Improved understanding of how value chains, innovation systems and industrial

ecosystems can be developed around CCUS and related investments.

• Enhanced dialogue between public authorities, industry representatives and re-

searchers.

• Identification of good practices related to community engagement, public ac-

ceptance and local benefit creation.

Participants

The event aims to welcome a broad range of stakeholders involved in industrial transition,

regional development and decarbonisation, including:

• Representatives of local, regional and national public authorities and policymakers.

• European Commission representatives and other EU institutions.

• Industrial companies and industrial cluster organisations.

• Port authorities and logistics actors.

• Research institutions, universities and innovation centres.

• Business support organisations and innovation agencies.

• SMEs and entrepreneurs exploring opportunities in emerging low-carbon value

chains.

• Representatives from Just Transition Fund regions including Chemelot (Nether-

lands), Rotterdam/Zuid-Holland (Netherlands), Moravian-Silesian Region (Czech

Republic), Ida-Viru (Estonia), Le Havre (France), Central Germany, Kymenlaakso

(Finland), Asturias (Spain), and other regions with experience in industrial decar-

bonisation, circular industry, ports, cement production and CCUS-related transition.

• Community organisations and stakeholders interested in the social dimensions of

industrial transition.

4 and 5 November 2026

Agenda

A focused, interactive two-day expert event for up to ~120 participants, combining fram-

ing speeches, panel discussions, workshops, and a site visit to Aalborg Portland. Sessions

go beyond high-level panels to enable technical depth and peer exchange, consistent with

the JTP TRF format.

DAY

1 Time

Agenda item

Speakers

09.30-

10.00

Registration of participants, wel-

come coffee

Venue: Hotel Comwell

Vesterbro 2, 9000 Aalborg, Den-

mark

10:00-

10:20

Opening

• Welcome and scene setting by

DG REGIO of the European Com-

mission

• Welcoming remarks from Aalborg

Municipality on the municipality's

industrial transition ambitions

Speakers:

• Eva Nussmüller, DG

REGIO, European

Commission

• Martin Rune Hoxer,

Aalborg Municipality

10:20-

10:30

Housekeeping

• Moderator shares the agenda

and the housekeeping rules

Moderator: Karen-Marie Sand-

gren, Nordic Energy Connection

10:30-

11:15

Setting the scene

Setting the scene: CCUS as a local

driver of industrial transition and

competitiveness

The session sets the stage for the Fo-

rum by highlighting the local context on

CCUS serving as a lever for industrial

competitiveness and just transition,

drawing on Danish research and policy

perspectives.

Speakers:

• Lars Strom Pedersen,

AAU Energy, Aalborg

University• TBC

11:15-

11:45

Coffee break

11:45-

12:30

Panel discussion

Session I — Building industrial value

chains around core green transition

investments

What does it take for a core investment

such as CCUS, port infrastructure, cir-

cular industry or industrial symbiosis to

become the anchor of a wider regional

industrial ecosystem? The session ex-

plores how regions organise

Moderator: Karen-Marie Sand-

gren, Nordic Energy Connection

Speakers:

• Björn Koopmans,

Chemelot Circular Hub,

Netherlands

• Tanya Srivastava,

Cemex, Brandenburg

4 and 5 November 2026

cooperation between industry, ports,

public authorities, research actors and

SMEs, and what enabling conditions are

needed for value chains to emerge.

• Jozef Vlček, Cikarena-

project, Materials and

Metallurgical Research

• Vasileios Tsianos, Neo

Materials Magnet Factory

12:30-

13:30

Lunch

13:30-

15:00

Peer review session

Session II — Regional challenge

lab: translating industrial invest-

ment into territorial value

Three regions present real transition

challenges linked to industrial transfor-

mation and territorial development (up

to 3 slides and two challenge ques-

tions). Following short challenge

pitches, participants join one of the fa-

cilitated peer-exchange tables to dis-

cuss solutions and share practical expe-

rience. The session concludes with a

plenary report-back highlighting key

lessons for industrial and Just Transition

regions

Presenting regions (TBC) – see

speakers

Peers: speakers from session I will be

assigned to each station, together with

JTP Groundwork experts and selected

participants. Rest of participants can

choose the group freely.

Facilitators: Groundwork team

and representatives from differ-

ent regions/ sectors

Speakers:

• Michael Stie Laugesen,

Aalborg, GreenHub

• Helena Andersson, Re-

gion Gotland

• Frans van den Akker,

Techport Innovation Cen-

tre Green Incubator

15:00-

15:30

Coffee break

15:30-

16:15

Panel discussion

Session III — Sustaining the jour-

ney: research, innovation and JTF

networks

How can regions support the journey

from industrial centre to research and

innovation centre? Peer reflections from

several Just Transition Fund regions on

the sustainability of JTF support, net-

works and new international contacts

beyond the funding period.

Moderator: Eva Nussmüller, DG

REGIO, European Commission

Speakers:

• Cristina Ugarte, SPRI,

Basque Country, Spain

• Alexia Jacoben, Aarhus

University, Northern Den-

mark

• Eva Korfova, Karlovy

Vary Region, Czech Re-

public

16:15-

16:35

Presentation

JTP Groundwork insights: local ben-

efits, stakeholder engagement and

municipal coordination in Aalborg

Speaker:

• Bettina Rafael-

sen/Nanna Fredsted,

JTP Groundwork

4 and 5 November 2026

Drawing on the Green Hub Denmark

Technical Assistance, this short input

will share emerging insights and learn-

ings on local economic opportunities,

anticipated citizen concerns, cross-mu-

nicipal coordination needs and stake-

holder engagement priorities linked to

the Aalborg–Purhus CO₂ pipeline corri-

dor. The session will serve as a bridge

to Day 2 by framing the workshop dis-

cussions on local benefits, social ac-

ceptance and regional preparedness.

• Nikoline Bak, Green Hub

Denmark representative

16:45-

17:00

Day 1 closing and outlook on Day 2 Speakers:

• Balbina Gluza-

Czyczerska, DG

REGIO, European

Commission

• Lasse Frimand Jen-

sen, Mayor of Aal-

borg

17:00-

19:00

Informal dinner and networking

DAY 2

Time

Agenda item

Speakers

09:30- 09:45

Welcome of participants Moderator: Karen-Marie

Sandgren, Nordic Energy

Connection

09:45-

11:15 Workshop

Session IV – Workshop on local bene-

fits and social acceptance of the in-

dustrial transition

Short input presentations from experts,

followed by rotating table discussions on:

(Table 1) Creating local economic ben-

efits - what are the benefits in terms of

business creation and employment for

municipalities;

(Table 2) Social acceptance and com-

munity engagement - drawing on expe-

rience from communities near Tata Steel

(Wijk aan Zee) and the Porthos project

(Rozenburg), plus Slovenian district-heat-

ing experience;

(Table 3) Regional preparedness and

governance - What should municipalities

and regions do before major industrial in-

vestments arrive (planning capacities,

Facilitators:

• Green Hub Denmark

• DG REGIO

• JTP Groundwork

Speakers:

• Henrik Halkier, Aal-

borg University Busi-

ness School, Denmark

• Charlotte Nørgar-

gaard Larsen, BIF-

ROST, DTU, Demark

• Annett Heibel, Ce-

mex, Germany

4 and 5 November 2026

coordination of stakeholders, skills)? – ex-

amples from Denmark

Following the discussion, each table will

be asked to report back.

11:15- 12:00

Presentation

Aalborg Portland: role in the low-car-

bon industrial ecosystem

Presentation on the Aalborg Portland’s

role in supporting industrial transition, lo-

gistics for CCUS value chains, and emerg-

ing opportunities for local SMEs and sup-

pliers, followed by Q&A.

Speakers:

• Jesper Sand

Damtoft, Aalborg

Portland

12:00- 13:00

Lunch Hotel Comwell

13:00- 13:30

Transfer to site visit - Location: Aalborg

Portland

13:30- 15:00

Site visit

Aalborg Portland cement plant

Guided tour of the cement plant and its

carbon capture investment, including dis-

cussion of the technology, scale-up plans,

and links to the value chain and business-

model themes from Day 1.

Presenter:

• Søren Konstmann

Lausen, ACCSION

15:00- 15:30

Transfer back to city centre/hotels