IME is one of Europe’s leading meeting points for global investors, SMEs, investment promotion agencies, economic development organisations, and experts in foreign direct investment. The event continues to grow as a platform where real investment opportunities are shaped, and long-term international partnerships are forged.
Building on last year’s successful edition, which highlighted Europe’s role in shaping resilient value chains and investment ecosystems, IME 2025 provided an even broader global stage for discussing how sustainable development goals (SDGs) are influencing strategic investment decisions.
Europe at the Forefront of SDG-Driven Innovation
Representing EURADA, President Theo Föllings contributed to the high-level session “The Most Promising Continent for SDG Investments”, offering a compelling perspective on why Europe continues to set global standards in sustainability-driven innovation.
He emphasised that Europe’s strengths lie in renewable energy, smart cities, circular-economy solutions, and cutting-edge green technologies—and that maintaining this leadership requires a strategic, long-term approach.
Key messages from his intervention included:
- Products must be repairable, making modular design essential for the future of sustainable manufacturing.
- The circular economy is a cornerstone of Europe’s strategic autonomy, reducing dependence on external resources.
- Decentralised energy systems will play an increasingly vital role as grid congestion grows across Europe.
- Europe must convert its outstanding knowledge base into world-leading products, following the examples of ASML and Airbus.
- Public support schemes should adopt long-term frameworks (10–25 years) to provide stability for emerging sustainable markets.
These insights reinforced Europe’s capacity to attract SDG-aligned investment while driving innovation that delivers lasting societal and environmental benefits.
Continuing a Strong Partnership
EURADA extends its sincere thanks to Bekim Xhafa and Courtney Fingar for the continued collaboration and for inviting our network to contribute to this significant annual gathering. Ensuring that the perspectives of regional development agencies are represented in global investment discussions is essential - and IME remains an ideal platform for this purpose.
EURADA also hosted a stand at the IME event, where we shared our association’s mission with several attendees. IME offered an exceptional networking opportunity, allowing us to connect with development agencies from Lithuania, Montenegro, Moldavia, and Germany, with hopes of welcoming them as members in 2025.
Looking Ahead
As Europe accelerates its transition towards a greener, more resilient economy, events like IME 2025 underline the critical role of investment in turning visionary concepts into tangible, market-ready solutions. EURADA is proud to be part of this journey, working alongside regions and partners across the continent to strengthen Europe’s position as a global leader in sustainable and innovative growth.
