On February 22, 2025, Galați hosted the ReGreen VR Creativity and Sustainability Conference, an innovative event organized by the OpenHub Association in partnership with VRINN Immersive Learning Cluster from Norway and Dunărea de Jos University. This special edition brought together experts in technology, education, and sustainability in a unique format, held in two distinct locations: Flow Restaurant and the research vessel Rexdan.
The event provided participants with an extraordinary opportunity to explore how virtual reality (VR) can be used for education and sustainable development, combining networking sessions, inspiring presentations, and hands-on experiences.
Part I: Conference at Flow Restaurant – A Marathon of Ideas and Innovation
The first part of the event took place at Flow Restaurant, where over 100 participants gathered to discuss the future of digital education and sustainability.
Key Moments of the Conference
🟢 Official Opening (10:00 – 10:30)
The event was opened by Marius Geru, the conference moderator, who introduced Cezar Bichescu (City Manager of Galați) and Ionuț Vlad (President of OpenHub). Their speeches emphasized the importance of international collaboration in innovation and education.
🟢 Innovation and Sustainability through Collaboration (10:30 – 10:50)
Georgiana Mihailovici (Friend CCI Eurocluster) and Ellen Lande (VRINN CCI) showcased how technology and cluster collaboration can contribute to sustainability.
🟢 VR for Education and Sustainable Development (10:50 – 11:15)
One of the most anticipated moments was the practical presentation of the ReGreen VR project, delivered by Ionuț Vlad, Dragoș Diță, and Victor Mocioc, demonstrating how virtual reality can raise awareness of environmental impact.
🟢 Interactive Discussion Panels
The Role of Academia in Sustainable Development and Digitalization
- Conf. Dr. Ing. Anisia-Luiza Culea-Florescu (FACIEE, UDJG)
- Prof. Univ. Dr. Alexandru Căpățînă (FEAA, UDJG)
- Sashi Komandur (VRINN Immersive Learning Cluster, Norway)
- Ekaterina Prasolova-Forland (VRINN Immersive Learning Cluster, Norway)
Sustainable Projects and Funding Opportunities
- Christina Leucuța (CLUSTERO)
- Cristina Baghiu (Digital Innovation Zone Iași)
- Diana Gradea (ADR S-E)
🟢 Presentations of Local Creative Projects
After a lunch break, the conference continued with a session dedicated to innovative local projects, including Byteforce, BizzClub, Markacademy, Atelierul de Idei, and OpenHub.
🟢 Conclusions and Networking Session (13:25 – 14:30)
The final part of the conference was dedicated to open discussions and new networking opportunities between participants.
Part II: Exclusive Experience on the Rexdan Vessel – Research and Sustainability in Action
After the first part of the conference, selected participants traveled to the Rexdan research vessel, where they had the opportunity to see how research is applied in the maritime and sustainability sectors.
Agenda on the Rexdan Vessel
🚢 Introduction and Rexdan Presentation (14:45 – 15:15)
Participants were welcomed by the Rexdan team, who explained the role of maritime research in the green transition.
🛠️ Tour of Research Laboratories (15:15 – 16:15)
Visitors explored cutting-edge equipment used for analyzing aquatic environments and monitoring maritime sustainability.
🔬 Practical Demonstrations and Research Projects (16:15 – 16:45)
Studies were presented on the impact of pollution on marine ecosystems and innovative solutions to reduce the ecological footprint.
🌊 Panel on Applied Research in the Green Transition of the Maritime Industry (16:45 – 17:00)
GLO Marine and VRINN representatives discussed the importance of integrating applied research into the maritime industry for a sustainable future.
Conclusions and the Impact of the ReGreen VR Conference
The ReGreen VR Creativity and Sustainability Conference was a resounding success, bringing together technology, education, and sustainability professionals. The event demonstrated that virtual reality can play a crucial role in education and ecological awareness, while international collaborations are key to innovation in this field.
📢 What’s Next?
✔️ Expanding the ReGreen VR project with new educational scenarios
✔️ Developing new partnerships to integrate VR into the green transition
✔️ Organizing workshops and events for teachers and researchers
The ReGreen VR Conference was just the beginning of an ambitious journey in education and innovation, aiming to transform technology into a powerful tool for environmental protection.
The ReGreen VR project is funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021, under the Call for Bilateral Relations.
📅 See you at the next edition! 🌍🎮