As part of EU Green Week 2026, EcoLogic Expo 4 was held in Niš, this time organized as a roundtable discussion on the theme “Investing in Nature – Benefits for Citizens and Businesses.”
The event, which has been held for the fourth consecutive year as a partner event of EU Green Week, is successfully organized by the Youth Network Association – MANIFEST.
The roundtable brought together representatives of academia, local institutions, civil society organizations, and the business sector. Its objective was to showcase, through concrete examples, how nature protection and the sustainable use of resources can contribute to citizens’ quality of life, local economic development, and the resilience of communities.
The discussion was divided into two thematic sessions. The first focused on what investing in nature means at the local level, while the second explored opportunities for natural resources to serve as a foundation for the development of business, agriculture, and new business models.
Participants included representatives of the Academy of Technical and Educational Applied Studies, the Crveni Krst Municipality of Niš, the Regional Chamber of Commerce of Niš, the ENECA organization, Nexum Energy, Composmartech, Raavex Group, the Pharm Waste project of the Faculty of Medicine, the “Green Generation” citizens’ association, the “Throw Something Nice” initiative, the company “Honey with Character,” the 1% Foundation, Afforest for Future, and the “Višnja” association.
Participants presented examples of good practice from their work, as well as the challenges they face, opening a discussion on how to strengthen cooperation among academia, businesses, the public sector, and civil society. Key conclusions of the event included the need for concrete local initiatives, greater involvement of young people and students, stronger links between science and practice, and the development of partnerships that can support the green transition of Niš and the wider region.
Since 2023, EcoLogic Expo has been developing as a platform for networking, education, and the promotion of sustainable practices in Niš and the region, with the aim of enabling local stakeholders to jointly address environmental and development challenges.
For the past 25 years, Green Week has been Europe’s leading environmental campaign and an annual opportunity to raise awareness, promote discussion, and engage with current and future European Union environmental policies. EU Green Week 2026 invites citizens to become part of the change through small everyday decisions that, together, can have a significant impact on the future of nature and society.
The “EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia” project is implemented by UNDP, with the technical and financial support of the European Union and in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, in cooperation with the Embassy of Sweden and the European Investment Bank (EIB), with additional funding provided by the governments of Sweden, Switzerland, and Serbia.