Portugal

Montemor-o-Velho, Central Region

Pilot Leader: AD ELO – Associação de Desenvolvimento Local da Bairrada e Mondego

Montemor-o-Velho, a historic rural region, stands out for its agriculture, rice fields, and SMEs.

Challenges:

  • Digital and green literacy – Addressing the need for skills in the twin transition;
  • Aging population – Addressing the challenges of workforce renewal and skill development in an aging population;
  • Sustainable business models and Innovation gap - Promoting green and circular economy practices; Strengthening the local economy by fostering innovation and supporting the digital and green transition.

Expected Results:

  • Enhanced digital, green, and entrepreneurial skills, particularly for adults 45+, SME workers—especially in the habitat sector—and unemployed individuals; delivery of NES learning toolkit.
  • Increased employability and job retention, fostering a more resilient and skilled workforce;
  • A strengthened local economy through upskilling, fostering sustainable business models and driving digital transformation.

Ambassador

Luís Rocha

Senior Technician at CEARTE – Professional Training Center for Crafts and Heritage, where he plays a key role in advancing vocational training in the crafts sector. As a committed professional, he is also a member of the Consultative Committee for the Certification of Traditional Artisan Productions, contributing to the preservation and recognition of traditional craftsmanship. In addition, he is a founding member and board member of ANIMAR and Coimbra Mais Futuro, two local development associations dedicated to social innovation and community empowerment. With extensive experience, he has also coordinated several transnational crafts training projects, fostering skill development and cultural exchange across borders.

Why I support NES?

I support the NewEcoSmart (NES) project because I believe in its objectives, methodologies, and strategies based on an approach of inclusive social innovation to empower adults over 45 years old in rural areas to better adapt to the ongoing green and digital transition and the circular economy.

It is with pride and hope that we see the approval of the project “Seixo – Green, Digital, Inclusive and Cultural Village,” selected among 11 applications, currently underway in a small village in central Portugal. This is a pioneering and innovative project in the region, with a set of integrated initiatives that will serve as a “seed”
for a change in mindsets and practices, that will contribute to make Seixo a more green, inclusive, digital, creative, resilient, and sustainable village. In a village where our ancestors were true examples of sustainability and the circular economy (they made use of everything and wasted nothing), we reinforce this societal purpose, in line with the goals of NewEcoSmart, aiming for the population and the parish to cultivate a sense of Eco-co-responsibility and promote the common good. The aim is for sustainability to always be at the core, in its different dimensions – ecological/environmental, social, economic, and cultural.

It is with great honour that I accepted the role of Ambassador, as I truly believe in these small-scale projects, which are very important in rural communities. Through digital and environmental training and awareness, they plant seeds for the construction of well-being for both individuals and the community.

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    Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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