New Energy Forum: The Most Exciting Festival

By project UNLOCK

Published on 23 April 2025

Netherlands

Groningen

About this good practice

The New Energy Forum (NEF) addresses the critical issue of transitioning to sustainable energy and mobility solutions in response to climate change. Initiated by Entrance - Centre of Expertise Energy of Hanze (Entrance) , Hive.Mobility, and New Energy Coalition, it aims to foster a vibrant environment for innovation and entrepreneurship. The event is held at the Entrance site on the Zernike Campus in Groningen.
The festival features inspiring speakers, sharp debates, hands-on workshops, and engaging demonstrations to educate, inspire, and connect participants. The implementation involves collaboration among government agencies, educational institutions, private companies, and non-profit organizations. The festival also includes an innovation market where pioneers and entrepreneurs showcase their work in mobility, circularity, the built environment, and energy transition. Main stakeholders include professionals, entrepreneurs, students, researchers, teachers, and policy officers. The primary beneficiaries are local communities and broader society, who gain access to valuable knowledge, resources, and networking opportunities. By creating a platform for dialogue and action, the New Energy Forum drives the regional energy transition. Its inclusive approach, with English track throughout the program, ensures diverse audience participation and benefit.

Resources needed

The exact funding isn't public, but it is backed by initiating organisations and partners (https://www.newenergyforum.nl/partners/). The collaborative nature of the event requires a significant mobilization of human resources: professionals staff, students, and volunteers across multiple sectors.

Evidence of success

The New Energy Forum has demonstrated measurable success as a catalyst for sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship. In 2024, the event attracted over 1,750 attendees, featuring more than 25 demonstrations of cutting-edge technologies in energy and mobility. The festival was also the stage for several new collaborations. Additionally, the opening of the REMO-lab, a new research facility, exemplifies the forum's contribution to advancing practical solutions in the energy transition.

Potential for learning or transfer

The New Energy Forum offers a scalable model for regions aiming to accelerate energy transition through cross-sector collaboration. Key success factors include strong public-private partnerships, integration with educational institutions, and a focus on entrepreneurship through innovation markets, pitch events, and networking. Its inclusive, bilingual approach broadens access and replicability. Factors that may hamper transfer include lack of institutional support, limited funding, or insufficient ecosystem maturity. However, the model’s modular setup—combining knowledge sharing, innovation showcasing, and stakeholder engagement—makes it adaptable. The concept has inspired similar forums in other Dutch provinces and EU regions through partnerships fostered by organizations like New Energy Coalition.