Nature-based Solutions and Living Labs for Regional Transformation: ᴇNᴀBʟS Keynote in Jahorina

The ᴇNᴀBʟS project was presented at the XV International Jahorina Business Forum 2026 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, organised by the University of East Sarajevo and dedicated to “Regional and Local Development in the Context of Reindustrialisation and Green Transition.” The forum is one of the key regional scientific events focusing on regional development, sustainability, and transformation processes.

The conference brought together international researchers and practitioners, with a particularly strong participation from the Western Balkans and neighbouring European countries. It provided an important platform for exchanging knowledge on sustainable development pathways, regional cooperation, and innovation-driven transformation.

In the keynote, Tigran Keryan (BOKU University, Austria) presented key insights from the EU-funded ᴇNᴀBʟS project, highlighting the role of universities as active drivers of place-based development and green transitions. Special attention was given to Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), Living Labs, and transdisciplinary collaboration as key frameworks for co-creating solutions between academia, local communities, and ecosystems.

The presentation also reflected experiences from the project’s Austrian Living Lab, showing how universities engage in real-world experimentation and co-creation processes that connect research, policy, and practice in support of sustainability transformation. We thank the organisers for the invitation and the inspiring exchange, and look forward to strengthening future collaboration across the Balkan region and beyond.