Author name: Frederico Amaral

AD ELO promoted the NewEcoSmart project at the 2025 edition of EXPOFACIC in Cantanhede, held from 31 July to 10 August. As one of the largest and most diverse fairs in Portugal, EXPOFACIC spans over 10 hectares, gathers around 600 exhibitors, and offers a vibrant cultural programme with exhibitions, concerts, and numerous attractions. Although the NewEcoSmart project has officially concluded, partners remain committed to ensuring its sustainability and continued dissemination. The participation in EXPOFACIC 2025 represented an excellent opportunity to present the project’s outcomes, share its vision, and engage with a wide and varied audience. This initiative reflects the consortium’s ongoing efforts to maximise the project’s impact and extend its relevance beyond its official timeline.

The NewEcoSmart project announces the first scientific publication from Work Package 4 (WP4), featured in the International Journal TRIA.The article presents a mixed-methods approach to designing personalised training actions that improve green and digital skills among vulnerable adults aged 45+ in rural areas across Europe.By combining territorial diagnostics, GIS mapping, and co-design workshops, the NES methodology helps align training content with the real needs of participants. Early results show promising impacts on employability, social inclusion, and sustainability. Co-authored by experts from Federico II University of Naples and CEIPES – Italy; CETEM and Ayuntamiento de Yecla – Spain; AD ELO and SHINE2Europe, Portugal; the article reflects the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of the NES approach. This marks an important milestone in promoting just green and digital transitions through evidence-based, context-sensitive strategies. Read the article (TRIA – International Journal of Planning and Urban Design): LINK

SHINE 2Europe presented the NewEcoSmart project at the 32nd Congress of the Portuguese Association for Regional Development (APDR), which took place from July 8 to 11, 2025, in Porto. The presentation was part of the thematic session on Regional Ecosystems of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The presentation entitled “Empowering Rural Communities for Sustainable Growth: The NewEcoSmart Approach” was given by Natália Machado, representing the authors Juliana Louceiro, Carina Dantas, Natália Machado and Inês Saavedra (SHINE 2Europe – Portugal), Lidia Parra (CTIC – Spain), Maddalena Illario (Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II – Italy) and Almudena Muñoz Puche (CETEM – Spain). The article focused on the project’s approach to integrating local and regional stakeholders, exploring the processes of active involvement of communities and organisations in the pilot territories. This component generated particular interest among the session’s participants, who sought to better understand how this articulation was operationalised on the ground, as well as the facilitating factors and challenges identified. The discussion around the communication also highlighted the importance of improving digital literacy in rural areas, the importance of collaborative and intergenerational dynamics, and the role of community-based initiatives in promoting a truly inclusive sustainable transition. NewEcoSmart stands out as a concrete response to low levels of digital skills in rural areas and active ageing, promoting sustainable development and social inclusion in Europe’s most peripheral communities.

Between February and June 2025, the NES three projects that won the NES open call worked to promote digital inclusion, ecological awareness and social resilience in their respective communities (Italy, Portugal and Spain). Now that all three pilots have reached completion, we take a closer look at their achievements and lasting impact. Agorà (Italy): Civic Innovation from the Ground Up The Italian pilot, Agorà, emerged from a process of deep listening to the needs and aspirations of rural territories. Focused on tackling youth depopulation, marginalization of older adults, and the digital divide, the project aimed not to impose external solutions but to co-design them with communities. Using a design-thinking methodology, Agorà worked closely with the village of Pacentro in Abruzzo, creating a collaborative innovation ecosystem based on eight interconnected modules. Through interviews and workshops, the team developed detailed user personas and facilitated a prioritisation process that included SWOT analyses, challenge mapping, and feasibility assessments. The outcome was a selection of modules tailored to the community’s priorities. Three of these modules were developed and tested during the pilot. The TRACE module enabled citizens to map local needs in a participatory way. SCC supported digital democracy through accessible platforms. PEPPE offered a suite of visual tools—cards, canvases, and templates—that supported inclusive co-design, allowing a broader range of people to participate in civic dialogue. In addition, the project advanced the development of the EXPLORE module, which integrates community knowledge into AI systems to support sustainable tourism. Two Civic Datathons and two community assemblies were held, involving 38 participants and producing 26 co-designed solutions for the “Visit Pacentro” challenge. The effectiveness of crowdsourced engagement was clearly demonstrated through this process. Agorà also established a formal partnership with the Pacentro Municipality to ensure the continuity of the pilot as a long-term hub for participatory governance. The model was further tested in Sicily, laying the foundation for a future network of “Center Agorà” sites where civic innovation can flourish. Seixo – Green, Digital, Inclusive and Cultural Village (Portugal): Revitalizing Rural Life Through Innovation and Heritage In Portugal, the project embraced a holistic vision of community-based transformation by merging ecological sustainability, digital empowerment, and cultural valorization. Based in Seixo de Mira, the initiative focused on adults over 45 and small rural businesses, aiming to reduce digital exclusion while nurturing local traditions and circular economy practices. At the heart of the project was the reactivation of Casa Gandaresa—a heritage building transformed into a living hub for environmental education and community resilience. Within this space, older adults participated in digital literacy sessions that boosted their confidence in using everyday technology, helping to narrow the digital gap that disproportionately affects seniors in rural areas. To promote sustainable behaviours, the project introduced sewing workshops that encouraged textile reuse while celebrating traditional crafts. A Sharing Centre was created to facilitate the collection and redistribution of household goods to families in need, reinforcing the principle of resource sharing and mutual support. Community-building efforts extended into the culinary realm as well. Gastronomy workshops revived local Gandaresa recipes, creating opportunities for intergenerational learning and cultural pride. A community library was also activated as a hub for literacy, environmental learning, and social connection, providing residents with an inclusive space for continued engagement. Environmental awareness was further encouraged through the launch of a selective green waste collection system and the organization of solidarity walks, which brought people together for healthy outdoor activities and collective reflection on ecological responsibility. AGRIoT (Spain): Smart Farming for Inclusive Digital Transformation In Spain, the AGRIoT project set out to bridge the digital divide in agriculture by equipping rural communities—especially in Yecla and El Valle de los Pedroches—with knowledge and tools for IoT-enabled farming. The pilot addressed the lack of digital literacy, low use of smart farming technologies, and gaps in vocational training that hinder the sustainability and efficiency of small-scale farms. AGRIoT introduced a hands-on learning pathway using the Smart Agriculture Kit and accessible digital platforms like MakeCode, ThingSpeak, KidsIoT, Blynk.io, and HiveMQ. Through these tools, participants were able to simulate, prototype, and implement smart agriculture systems customized for their local contexts. The project’s reach went well beyond its original site. In addition to Yecla, it successfully expanded to the rural area of El Valle de los Pedroches in Córdoba, where activities were organized in collaboration with local schools and the city council. In-person training workshops were held at CEIP Ntra. Sra. de las Veredas in Torrecampo, engaging schoolchildren and their teachers. Vocational training students and educators at IES Los Pedroches and IES Antonio María Calero in Pozoblanco also took part. Furthermore, the project partnered with AMPY in Yecla to offer accessible training to individuals with intellectual disabilities, working alongside the CETEM technology centre. The engagement of professionals and stakeholders in Córdoba strengthened the project’s ties to the local ecosystem. One standout result of this collaboration is a new partnership with a female-run small farm that participated in the training. This partnership is now laying the groundwork for a proposal to the upcoming GUARDIANS open call, demonstrating the project’s ability to catalyse real-world action.

The Final Event of NewEcoSmart took place in Yecla, Spain, on July 2nd, 2025, bringing together 41 participants onsite and 27 online. The event was kicked off with opening remarks from CETEM’s Director and a representative from the Municipality of Yecla, who emphasised the local impact of the project and its contribution to advancing the twin transition in the region. Following the welcome, Almudena Muñoz, NES Coordinator, presented a brief roadmap of the project, highlighting the key results and achievements developed over the past two years. But the productive morning was not all about NewEcoSmart. The event was a moment to share good examples of digital and green transition, as well as showcase great examples of entrepreneurship related to the circular economy. James Harris from Sancal Diseño presented “Sancal as an example of a furniture company implementing sustainability”. In his presentation, James Harris from Sancal Diseño highlighted the company’s long-term commitment to sustainability through early adoption of quality and environmental management systems. Sancal focuses on continual improvement, waste reduction, and collaboration, exemplified by innovations like the Zero fabric. Their durable, repairable products are designed for longevity, backed by a 10-year warranty and third-party environmental certifications, setting a high standard in sustainable furniture design. Miguel Miñano from WIenergy and NES Ambassador, in his presentation, “Innovative Energy Technology for Consumers and Businesses,” highlighted the company’s role as a nationwide electricity retailer and energy services provider in Spain, offering PV installations, energy consulting, and market representation for renewable producers. He also introduced AccesS, a major European project aiming to enhance accessibility and sustainability in smart buildings and cities using technologies like AI, BIM, and GIS. The project focuses on inclusive design, comfort-energy balance, e-mobility, and adaptive building operations, with pilot cases across five European cities. Miguel also presented WIenergy’s involvement in initiatives like GINNGER and solar communities, emphasising the need for smart, flexible, and sustainable energy systems in the global clean energy transition. In her presentation “Climate Mitigation Plan for All,” Estelle Giacomi from RedEco emphasised the urgent need to transition to a circular, resilient, and sustainable economy. RedEco promotes circular economy principles by fostering industrial symbiosis—where companies share resources and waste—and implementing Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs) to help municipalities and businesses set clear climate goals. She outlined the EU’s climate strategy and stressed local action through collaboration, innovation, and digital tools. Key priorities include reducing dependence, boosting competitiveness, cutting emissions, building resilience to climate risks, and empowering communities with green skills and joint projects to drive meaningful climate action. In the panel “European Projects for the Circular and Digital Transition,” three speakers presented EU-funded initiatives supporting sustainability and innovation across sectors. CirCLER, presented by Juan José Ortega from CETEM, addresses the urgent need for circular transition leadership in the EU furniture sector by creating the new occupational profile of Circular Economy Transition Manager. The project develops joint curricula aligned with EU qualification frameworks and an interactive training toolkit for VET and higher education institutions. CirCLER aims to equip workers and students with essential green, digital, and transversal skills to guide the industry’s transformation, while also updating relevant job profiles. FITT-NESS, introduced by Elísio Costa from the University of Porto, connects four regional innovation ecosystems in the furniture sector, Lombardy, Murcia, Northern Portugal, and Sicily, to foster collaboration and drive smart, inclusive living environments. The project supports interregional knowledge exchange, develops tailored training for the twin transition, and strengthens business support services for SMEs. By mapping sector challenges and opportunities, FITT-NESS enhances regional innovation capacity and establishes a sustainable transnational community committed to long-term policy impact. ENDURANCE, presented by Raquel Ortega from AMUEBLA, focuses on accelerating the green transition of European SMEs and startups through a tailored Green Acceleration methodology. The project delivers a practical roadmap for clusters to implement sustainable practices in line with the European Green Deal. By empowering companies and cluster managers, ENDURANCE helps embed green strategies across sectors, driving Europe toward a more resilient and environmentally responsible future. In the presentation “Innovation Beyond a Project: Benefits and Opportunities of Participating in an Open Call – INWIRE,” María José Santofimia showcased AGRIoT, the winner of the NES Open Call in Spain, which delivered low-cost, DIY IoT training to small-scale farmers in Yecla. The project promoted digital literacy and sustainable farming using open-source tools for water and soil monitoring. She also highlighted INWIRE’s approach to supporting the green and digital transitions through modular, data-driven, and eco-efficient technologies. Open calls, she noted, are key to unlocking funding, networks, and long-term innovation impact. The roundtable “The Importance of Training in the Twin Transition and Citizen Engagement” brought together experts from academia, local government, and civil society to discuss how practical skills development and meaningful community involvement are key to ensuring an inclusive and sustainable green and digital transition. Participants included Mariana Assunção from AD ELO, Elísio Costa from the University of Porto, Maddalena Illario from the University of Naples Federico II (UNINA), Carina Dantas from SHINE, and María Isabel Pérez Millán from the Municipality of Yecla. Carina Dantas emphasised the need for practical, hands-on training rather than theoretical content, stressing the importance of real-world digital and green practices and stronger local collaboration: “We don’t need theoretical things, we need practical skills.” Mariana Assunção shared AD ELO’s pilot implementation under the NewEcoSmart project, highlighting the value of personal connection and community engagement: “The proximity we created with people was very important.” She noted that participants felt proud to receive certificates. María Isabel Pérez Millán explained Yecla’s local strategy to raise awareness through NewEcoSmart, where municipal involvement helped strengthen local networks and inclusive engagement: “The new approach has proven to be important to include all citizens.” Maddalena Illario described UNINA’s work in creating living labs that foster development and remain active beyond the project’s duration: “NES worked as a catalyst of development and engagement.” Elísio Costa called for deeper collaboration between universities, governments, and companies to build essential green, digital, and collaboration skills, which he said are still lacking. He stressed the

The NewEcoSmart project has reached a major milestone with the successful completion of its final Transnational Project Meeting (TPM), which took place on July 1st 2025, in Yecla, Spain. Hosted by CETEM, the project coordinator, the event brought together the partners to evaluate the project’s achievements and outline the final steps before closure. Over the past months and years, the NES project has worked to create innovative approaches designed to promote green, digital, and entrepreneurial skills. The final TPM provided a unique opportunity to take stock of progress, share insights, and define strategies for the future use and dissemination of the project’s results. The agenda focused on the most critical components of the project: As NewEcoSmart comes to an end, the project leaves behind a strong legacy of collaboration, innovation, and impactful tools that will continue to support digital, green, and entrepreneurial learning across Europe.

📅 2nd July 2025 | 09:30–12:30 CET | Online & in-person at CETEM, Murcia After two years of collaboration, innovation and real-life impact, the NewEcoSmart project is coming to a close — and we are thrilled to invite you to our Final Dissemination Event, where we will present final results, key lessons learned and paths forward in supporting adults 45+ from rural areas in navigating the green and digital transition within the Habitat-related sectors. This hybrid event will showcase inspiring use cases in circular economy, green technologies and citizen engagement, as well as open discussions with experts and partners from across Europe. 🎤 What to expect: Agenda Highlights: 🔗 Register now to attend online:https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/GjiQO3uTS_u83D0FaM7rtA#/registration 📄 Check the full agenda:https://shine2.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/NES-Final-Dissemination-Event-AGENDA.pdf This event is co-organised by all NES partners of this project funded under the Horizon Europe programme. Come learn, connect, and get inspired by the NewEcoSmart journey! 🌱💡

The six-month pilot phase of the NewEcoSmart (NES) project, which ran from December 2024 to May 2025, has officially concluded with outstanding results and strong engagement across the three pilot countries: Spain, Italy and Portugal. During this period, the NES Diagnosis Tool was widely used to support businesses and stakeholders in assessing their circular and digital knowledge. A total of 153 diagnostic assessments were completed. Each participant received a personalised PDF report and a tailored roadmap to guide their next steps toward a more digital and circular approach. The assessments were conducted in four languages—Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and English—depending on the language selected by users on the platform. The distribution of diagnostics was as follows: 66 in Italian, 42 in Spanish, 40 in Portuguese and 5 in English. While the assessments were carried out in different languages, the data clearly reflects the active participation and positive reception of the tool across the three pilot countries. In parallel, the NES MOOC platform attracted a total of 189 registered users. Country-specific data shows strong engagement in Spain (81 users), Italy (65), and Portugal (42), with a small additional number from another EU country (1 user from Greece). Impressively, 160 of these users accessed the platform at least once, indicating an 85% activation rate, which highlights the interest in the training content and relevance of the resources provided. The NES microlearning app also saw significant traction, with 205 total users registered throughout the pilot phase. This reflects a broad interest in the microlearning format, with users primarily from Spain (87), Italy (59), and Portugal (45). Fourteen (14) participants selected English as their preferred language. This group included not only learners, but also users involved in testing or facilitating group sessions, particularly within the Spanish pilot. Out of the total NES app users, 139 were active, regularly engaging with the training content. This included 54 active users from Spain, 41 from Italy, 41 from Portugal and 3 who selected English. The pilot phase has demonstrated the success and value of the NES tools and training resources. With high levels of engagement, multilingual accessibility, and a strong presence in all three pilot countries, the project has laid a solid foundation for broader implementation and long-term impact in promoting circular economy practices.

On June 3rd, the NewEcoSmart (NES) Inter-Communities Workshop brought together stakeholders from across Europe for a dynamic and inspiring webinar titled “Empowering Rural Communities with Innovation and Sustainability.” As an official EU Green Week 2025 event, the session was focused on exploring the tangible impact of the NES project in driving digital innovation and sustainable transformation across rural communities. With more than 50 participants, the webinar highlighted achievements, shared local experiences, and promoted meaningful dialogue on strategies to foster innovation within rural communities. The event featured insightful presentations from NES pilot leaders representing three active regions. Mariana Assunção from AD ELO shared the experience of Montemor-o-Velho in Portugal, María Sanchez from AMUEBLA presented the work carried out in Yecla, Spain, and Maddalena Illario from UNINA provided an overview of the initiatives in Pacentro, Italy. Each speaker detailed their on-the-ground efforts, highlighting both the challenges faced and the successes achieved in implementing sustainable and smart practices adapted to the specific needs of their communities. The NES Ambassadors enriched the discussion with thoughtful reflections, emphasising the vital role of both human and institutional engagement in ensuring a successful transition. Luís Rocha from Portugal stressed the importance of involving stakeholders to truly build a sense of community. From Spain, Miguel Miñano Núñez highlighted the need for new skills and people to support the transition process. Antonio De Capite Mancini from Italy pointed out the diversity of rural areas, noting that significant differences exist even within the same country. Finally, Ciro Buonajuto, also from Italy, underscored the value of the NES initiative in helping rural areas integrate digitalisation into the workforce. A standout moment of the event was the presentation of results by the NES Open Call winners: INWIRE, PUSH, and ACR SEIXO. These innovative initiatives offered concrete examples of how local actors are already leveraging the NES platform to drive meaningful change within their communities. The NES Open Call funded forward-thinking solutions aimed at revitalising rural areas across the project’s pilot sites. These projects specifically addressed the green and digital transformation, focusing on empowering adults aged 45 and over, as well as supporting SMEs and micro-enterprises through socially innovative approaches. By operating within real-world contexts, the Open Call provided a unique opportunity to demonstrate how sustainable development can be achieved through practical, scalable solutions tailored to local needs. The NES Webinar underscored the power of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and community engagement in achieving greener, smarter rural futures. It was a fruitful discussion with real impact, and a clear signal that rural areas are ready and eager for the transition to a sustainable digital economy.

On 29 May 2025, the NewEcoSmart project was presented at the conference “Innovation and Sustainability: Major Social Challenges”, held at the ICBAS – Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Portugal. The event, co-organised by SHINE 2Europe and the University of Porto, gathered 102 participants—both onsite and online—including researchers, practitioners, and representatives from over 20 innovative projects. The conference served as a space to explore how communities across Europe can address urgent social, environmental, and digital challenges through innovation and collaboration. NewEcoSmart was featured in Panel 3 – Transformative Projects and Practices, where Mariana Assunção, from AD ELO presented key insights from the project’s implementation in rural Portugal. The presentation highlighted how NewEcoSmart contributes to the green and digital transition in rural areas by promoting an inclusive, community-driven approach and offering flexible learning opportunities tailored to local needs. A key highlight of the presentation was the NES Learning Toolkit as a set of capacity-building resources developed to support adults aged 45 and over. Designed to foster lifelong learning, the toolkit equips learners with essential sustainability and digital skills, empowering them to take an active role in the transformation and resilience of their communities. Participation in this event marked an important milestone in raising awareness about NewEcoSmart’s mission and its capacity to foster accessible, practical, and sustainable solutions for rural development across Europe.