We are delighted to announce that our projects AlpTextyles and SmartCommUnity have been selected among the 25 finalists of the REGIOSTARS Awards 2026! This year’s 25 finalists were selected from a total of 274 applications across five categories, each reflecting a priority of the EU’s Cohesion Policy.
- A competitive and smart Europe: Promoting competitiveness, innovation and economic resilience.
- A green Europe: The green transition as the enabler of regional development.
- A connected Europe: Enhancing mobility and connectivity between regions
- A social and inclusive Europe: Achieving a more inclusive Europe by harnessing regional talents
- A Europe closer to the citizens: Fostering the sustainable development of all types of territories
The projects
AlpTextyles has been shortlisted in the category Green Europe.
For centuries, Alpine communities produced textiles from local wool, flax and plant dyes: creating circular systems rooted in deep knowledge of local places and resources. Globalisation disrupted these value chains; AlpTextyles has helped restore them in a modern way. By bringing cultures together, it reconnected farmers, craftspeople, designers and SMEs across six Alpine countries to rebuild circular textile value chains. The results are already visible: through new tools, networks, organisations, and products. The Alps are reweaving their future. Learn more about the project here.
SmartCommUnity has been shortlisted in the category Connected Europe.
SmartCommUnity transformed challenges across the Alpine Arc into sustainable, bottom-up transitions to build a greener, more connected region. The project successfully co-created tangible, smart solutions across diverse test areas. To scale these achievements, it launched a comprehensive web-based innovation platform, equipping rural communities with digital tools and AI insights; and by integrating the Smart Alps Network, it also enhanced participatory policies that strengthen local innovation and resiliency. Learn more about the project here.
What’s next?
Public voting opens on 3 September. If you’d like to support AlpTextyles and SmartCommunity, don’t forget to cast your vote in the Public Choice Award. The competition will conclude during the European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels. On 13 October, the finalists will present their projects, before the category winners are announced at the REGIOSTARS Awards ceremony on 14 October.
Congratulations to all partners involved in AlpTextyles and SmartCommUnity on this outstanding achievement. We look forward to cheering them on at the REGIOSTARS final in Brussels. Until then, don’t forget to cast your vote and support our Interreg Alpine Space finalists!
Discover the full list of REGIOSTARS 2026 finalists here.