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Hincks in Hungary

14 October, 2024
In early October, PBN hosted the 4th partner meeting of the 3F GREEN MODEL in Hungary, bringing together project partners and stakeholders for an immersive two-day program filled with study tours and thematic workshops in Sopron and Szombathely.
Exploring Innovation in Renewable Energy:
The journey kicked off at the University of Sopron, where participants gained valuable insights into Hungary’s best practices in energy efficiency at a workshop titled:
“Energy Efficiency: Renewable Energies from Waste in the Agri-Food and Forestry Value Chain.”
Key takeaways from the workshop included:
National Perspectives: A representative from the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture provided an overview of the support available for agri-food and wood industry enterprises under the Rural Development Programme and CAP Strategic Plan, with a special focus on energy efficiency.
Regional Strategies: The Councillor for Sustainable Development and Climate Policy of Szombathely shared the city's SECAP (Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan) and key initiatives driving the green transition.
Industry & Academia: The Vice-Rector of the University of Sopron tackled a pressing question—should wood industry by-products be recycled or used for energy? He also showcased the university’s latest research on energy derived from wood usage.
Real-World Sustainability: A representative from Falco Zrt., a leading wood industry company, outlined their innovative sustainability and green energy efforts—giving attendees a preview of what they would witness firsthand the next day.
Circular Solutions: Pilze-Nagy Kft. introduced a fascinating biogas production system from mushrooms and discussed the MarginUP! project, which focuses on boosting agricultural resilience and biodiversity on low-productivity lands.
Following the workshop, participants got a closer look at cutting-edge research and testing laboratories for wood processing and visited the university’s biomass heating plant, a European-funded initiative that now heats 22 buildings while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Behind the Scenes at Falco: A Circular Economy in Action
Day two took the group to Szombathely, where they explored Falco Zrt., the region’s leading wood industry company. From raw material processing to final furniture panels, attendees followed the full production cycle.
Once a small sawmill, Falco has grown into one of Europe’s top producers of furniture and construction boards, all while maintaining a strong commitment to sustainability. The company works closely with Szombathely’s local government, converting green waste and wood waste into secondary raw materials—a perfect example of the circular economy in action.
Sustainability at Work: Falco utilizes wood residues, small logs, sawmill by-products, packaging, and even household wood waste to create high-quality chipboard products. Their state-of-the-art recycling facilities ensure that every bit of wood, a precious resource, remains in circulation for as long as possible.
The program wrapped up at PBN’s digital innovation center, where the team delivered an inspiring live demonstration of cutting-edge green technologies.
Highlights included 3D printing innovations that enable the production of finished products with minimal waste and production optimization breakthroughs driven by green energy solutions.
With a blend of insightful discussions, hands-on learning, and real-world examples of sustainability in action, the 4th partner meeting of the 3F GREEN MODEL was a resounding success—paving the way for future collaborations and greener innovations.
Fiacre Muller
Researcher, Hincks Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence.