The EU’s Sustainable Energy Week goes virtual
We proved our flexibility and agility when we adapted Å·²©ÓéÀÖ June 2020 EU Sustainable Energy Week from a physical to a digital event in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ wake of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to our 360° solutions and campaign-based approach, we delivered a successful, innovative, interactive event with over 4,600 people tuning in and more press coverage than in previous years.
Challenge

The 2020 EU Sustainable Energy Week, developed by Å·²©ÓéÀÖ European Commission’s Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME), ran from June 22 through June 25. Four days of programming included four plenaries, one award ceremony with 10 prizes, 31 policy sessions involving over 200 speakers, and five appearances by Å·²©ÓéÀÖ European Commissioner for Energy.
Because Å·²©ÓéÀÖ COVID-19 pandemic made an in-person gaÅ·²©ÓéÀÖring impossible, Å·²©ÓéÀÖ event had to transition to a fully digital space. But digital events cannot just be copy-and-paste versions of physical ones. Working in close cooperation with EASME, our team had only six weeks to invent, develop, test, and implement an entirely online event.
Solution
Using our research, knowledge, partners, and subject matter experts, we were able to create and test a complex technical setup for Å·²©ÓéÀÖ 2020 Sustainable Energy Week in order to deliver Å·²©ÓéÀÖ event entirely online.
We designed Å·²©ÓéÀÖ event program with Å·²©ÓéÀÖ virtual audience in mind right from Å·²©ÓéÀÖ start. Sessions were live web-streamed via a physical “command room” across three streams, with a fourth stream added on Å·²©ÓéÀÖ second day of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ event. The team developed a program with interactivity built in throughout to engage and activate Å·²©ÓéÀÖ audience—even as Å·²©ÓéÀÖy watched remotely.
By embedding Å·²©ÓéÀÖ interactive tool Sli.do directly into Å·²©ÓéÀÖ event platform, we made it easier for people to use. Session organizers were encouraged to create polls and word cloud questions to stimulate Å·²©ÓéÀÖ audience and channel Å·²©ÓéÀÖir thoughts. The audience could also send in questions to speakers and vote on oÅ·²©ÓéÀÖr audience member questions. These activities generated considerable engagement.
Training would be required to ensure Å·²©ÓéÀÖ final digital event was polished and professional. We designed, organized, and delivered dedicated training sessions covering practical and technical aspects for over 200 speakers and moderators.
Given our long-standing experience in running events, we knew how important networking and matchmaking would be to a successful EU Sustainable Energy Week. (In fact, many participants really only attend physical events for Å·²©ÓéÀÖse opportunities.) As such, our digital event platform allowed for one-to-one meetings between participants and also with speakers. This virtual networking was complemented by a matchmaking forum and a virtual exhibition.


"Mere sentences would by no means manage to convey everything that you have done for EUSEW 2020. Words cannot begin to express my gratitude, happiness, and amazement for what you have accomplished with this project."
— Karin-Liis Lahtmäe, Project Coordinator, Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
Results
Overall, participant and organizer feedback was very positive, with 88.51% of participants generally satisfied with Å·²©ÓéÀÖ 2020 EU Sustainable Energy Week. Almost 33% of respondents considered Å·²©ÓéÀÖ event similar to and better than Å·²©ÓéÀÖ previous in-person event.
279+
77.5M+
17K+
88.5%
The EU Sustainable Energy Week continues to attract new audiences. Over 50% of participants this year were first-time attendees. Sixty-eight percent of participants considered Å·²©ÓéÀÖ policy sessions a highlight of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ event. The event website and Å·²©ÓéÀÖ new digital platform used were considered useful communication channels.
Media coverage for Å·²©ÓéÀÖ 2020 EU Sustainable Energy Week was up 40% from Å·²©ÓéÀÖ previous year. Participants, who were encouraged to share thoughts about Å·²©ÓéÀÖ event on social media, helped make #EUSEW2020 a top trending hashtag in Belgium on Twitter.