URBAN FUTURE is the largest European event dedicated to the development of sustainable and resilient cities, bringing together city leaders, decision-makers, innovators, public institutions and businesses that co-create the future development directions of European cities. According to the organizers, URBAN FUTURE hosted approximately 3,000 international participants, more than 100 city delegations, top speakers and numerous side events and business networking formats between 24 and 27 March 2026 at the Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

SPIRIT Slovenia, which was involved in the co-organization of the event, invited us to co-create the conference program with a thematic talk / panel, which took place on March 26, 2026, on the topic “Slovenian Wood Innovation Showcase – From Forest to Future Cities”.

The focus of this panel was sustainable and low-carbon construction (especially wooden construction, wooden structures, prefabricated systems and bio-based construction), innovative building technologies, materials and renovation, natural and green solutions for urban areas,..

The panel was attended by; Tina Špegelj from MARLES Hiša, Nataša Teraž Krois from LUMAR IG, Jure Jančar from CBD and internationally renowned architect Jure Kotnik. The panel was moderated by Bernard Likar, Lesarski grozd.

The panel concluded that solutions for cities in 2030 and 2050 are not hidden in a distant laboratory but are growing here, in our forests, and are being shaped with incredible precision by the experts who were panelists.

Wood is no longer just “traditional” – it is a high-tech, digitalized material that allows us to build higher, faster, and smarter.

Sustainability is not a compromise on luxury – whether it’s a passive family home or the interior of a five-star hotel, bio-based materials provide a level of well-being that concrete simply cannot replicate.

Slovenia is a “green laboratory” for Europe – from the structural calculations of CBD and the production of CLT Stilles to the cutting-edge assembly systems of Marles and Lumar and the visionary plans of Jure Kotnik.

The message to the city representatives was: When you return to your municipalities, don’t just think about how to reduce carbon. Think about how to store carbon in your buildings. Slovenian companies can be your partner in this.