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.