On Tuesday, 8 September 2026, the final conference of the project “Reindustrialisation Following the Principle ‘Brownfield Is Better than Greenfield’” – ReInd-BBG – was held at the Svilara Cultural Station in Novi Sad.
The conference was opened by Mr Aleksandar Dunđerski, Director of the Regional Development Agency Bačka. The participants were then addressed by Mr Žarko Mićin, Mayor of the City of Novi Sad, who highlighted the importance of revitalising abandoned industrial sites as an opportunity for the city’s further development. He cited Svilara and the Creative District as examples of the successful repurposing of brownfield sites. The participants were also welcomed by Ms Tanja Faganel, a representative of the project’s lead partner, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia.
At the beginning of the conference, the project’s objectives, partnership and most important results were presented. Particular attention was given to the results of the mapping and analysis of brownfield sites in the Danube Region, as well as the opportunities for their revitalisation and use in support of future economic and territorial development.
The conference continued with presentations of six pilot sites from Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Romania. The partners spoke about their initial circumstances, the achievements made during the project, the next steps and the lessons learned that could be transferred to other local communities.
Another important part of the programme was a presentation of the Svilara Cultural Station, delivered by Ms Violeta Đerković, Coordinator of the Cultural Stations Network. Participants had the opportunity to learn about the site’s history, its transformation and its new purpose. The selection of Svilara as the venue for the final conference was also symbolic, as it represents a successful example of the revitalisation of a former industrial, or brownfield, site.
During the panel discussion entitled “From Planning to Implementation – How Can Brownfield Sites Become Investment-Ready?”, participants discussed the challenges faced by local authorities in the process of regenerating brownfield sites, as well as the opportunities for preparing such areas for new investments and development projects.
At the end of the conference, the project roadmap and key recommendations for local authorities were presented, with the aim of providing practical guidance for the future planning and development of brownfield sites. It was emphasised that the completion of the project provides a foundation for continued cooperation among the partners and for the future use of the knowledge, tools and experience developed through the project.
The final conference provided an opportunity for partners from all participating countries to jointly present the results achieved, exchange experiences and explore possibilities for further cooperation in the fields of brownfield regeneration and sustainable territorial development.
On the second day of the programme, 9 September, a visit to the Agrosavez pilot site in Sombor was organised for the project partners. During the visit, the partners had the opportunity to learn more about the site, its potential and the activities implemented during the project.
Following the site visit, a project partners’ meeting was held. The participants discussed the project’s final activities and results, lessons learned and opportunities for future cooperation after the project’s completion.
The ReInd-BBG project is implemented within the framework of the Interreg Danube Region Programme.
