On 29 September, oPEN Lab took part in the CINEA Cluster Meeting on Positive Energy Neighbourhoods (PEN) and Positive Energy Districts (PED). The gathering was held in Brussels and brought together a range of EU-funded projects united by one common goal: creating more sustainable, resilient, and energy-positive cities through a neighbourhood-based approach. The objective of the meeting was to present and discuss the PED results and innovations and related challenges addressed by current research and demonstration actions.
It was inspiring to see the variety of strategies different projects are using: from innovative energy technologies and smart digital tools to new ways of engaging citizens and local communities.
oPEN Lab was represented by Maarten de Groote, Programme Manager, and Paulina Rodriguez Fiscal, R&D and Project Manager at VITO, the project coordinator. They shared insights from our work in Tartu, Pamplona, and Genk, where we are transforming neighbourhoods into Positive Energy Neighbourhoods. In Genk, for example, they highlighted technical innovations such as the seamless integration of energy boxes and beyond state-of-the-art deep retrofit (plus-energy dwellings) using prefabricated façade elements.
On the social innovation side, they showcased the interactive map being tested in Pamplona. This tool gathers information on how residents live in, use, and perceive their neighbourhood, helping to generate proposals that address real everyday needs. The ultimate aim is to collectively be able to propose new projects for implementation in the neighbourhood to transform Rochapea .
Want to learn more about our work in Tartu, Pamplona, and Genk? Meet us at the Smart City Expo World Congress, taking place 4–6 November 2025 in Barcelona!
