On 16 March 2026, the NEB Junction Policy Conversations brought a diverse group of stakeholders to Brussels for the first in-person policy dialogue of the NEB Junction project. The event was organised by ERRIN, in collaboration with project partners, and hosted at the Brussels Office of the Autonomous Province of Bozen/Bolzano, South Tyrol. It marked a milestone for our project and arrived at a key moment for shaping the future of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) and the NEB Junction’s role as the NEB Hub for Results and Impacts. 

A timely dialogue for the next policy cycle 

Taking place in the context of the recently adopted NEB Communication and ongoing EU policy developments, the Policy Conversations created a space for open, cross-sector exchange between stakeholders and the European Commission. Participants included representatives from European institutions, national and regional authorities, research and innovation actors, the construction sector, cultural and creative industries and grassroots initiatives.

Across the room, one shared objective stood out: connecting European ambitions with local realities so that NEB remains inclusive, impactful and grounded in everyday experience.

From Stakeholder Assembly to policy dialogue 

The discussions built on insights gathered during the NEB Junction Stakeholder Assemblies, which brought together more than 100 participants across Europe in interactive online exchanges. These discussions highlighted several recurring challenges for the future of NEB, including: 

• Translating EU-level ambitions into practical tools and language for local administrations; 
• Moving from short-term, project-based funding to long-term continuity and resilience; 
• Capturing and communicating holistic impact of NEB projects and initiatives; 
• Ensuring meaningful co-creation and citizen participation; 
• Using culture and storytelling to bridge policy and practice; 
• Strengthening links between local needs, skills and private-sector engagement. 

The Policy Conversations allowed participants to take these reflections further and explore how they translate into actionable policy insights. 

Setting the stage: perspectives from policy and practice 

The afternoon opened with welcome words from project and institutional representatives, including Head of NEB Unit from Joint Research Centre, Elena Montani, Vesna Caminades, Head of Office Autonomous Province of Bozen/Bolzano, South Tyrol and Annemie Wyckmans, NEB Junction Project Coordinator from NTNU.  

This was followed by a high-level panel discussion on the topic: 'Building the Next Phase of NEB: Lessons from the Ground for the New Policy Cycle'. 

Panellists shared perspectives from across the NEB ecosystem, including National Contact Points, regional authorities, the construction sector and cultural and creative organisations, including the EIT Culture & Creativity. 

The JRC team also presented upcoming initiatives such as the NEB Funding Hub and ongoing work on NEB indicators. 

Deep dives into key challenges 

The centre point of the event was the interactive Policy Conversations in breakout groups, where participants engaged directly with each other and with the European Commission representatives. 

Each group addressed one of five strategic themes: 

• The Evidence Gap – Capturing Holistic Impacts 
• Scaling NEB: From Local Innovation to Sustainable Funding 
• Inclusion by Design: Strengthening Participation and Accessibility 
• Culture & Learning as Drivers of Transformation 
• Strengthening Governance and Long-Term Resilience 

These conversations centered on practical ways to turn ideas into policy approaches at EU level. Common priorities including supporting the shift from pilots to systemic change, improving collaboration across sectors and governance levels, keeping NEB people- and place-centred and embedding long-term thinking in funding and governance.

Continuing the conversation

A final plenary gathered the main takeaways, followed by closing remarks by Member of the European Parliament Mr Marcos Ros Sempere and networking reception. 

Insights from the Policy Conversations will feed into the development of the upcoming NEB Facility and broader policy processes. Two further rounds of Stakeholder Assemblies and Policy Conversations will continue this work, helping refine the project’s results in close collaboration with the NEB community. Through this iterative process, NEB Junction aims to ensure its outcomes remain grounded in practice and responsive to evolving needs of stakeholders across Europe.

The Policy Conversations are organised by ERRIN as leader of Work Package 6 on Decision Support and Learning within the NEB Junction project, in collaboration with project partners: AIT, Ars Electronica, Climate KIC, DOWEL, ICLEI, DEMSOC and NTNU as Project Lead. More information about the project and ERRIN’s role can be found on the dedicated project webpage.