EXO’S ACTIVITIES
What’s happening in EXO’s ecosystem?
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EUROPEAN FOCUS
Participation at the First EU Rural Innovation Forum (EU-RIF) in Bilbao (Spain)
EXO took part in the two-day EU Rural Innovation Forum in Bilbao, an event dedicated to connecting rural experts, innovators, and stakeholders to explore smart and sustainable solutions for rural areas.
The forum featured workshops, presentations, and networking sessions focused on enhancing the capacity of rural communities to embrace social, technological, and business innovations.
It represented an opportunity for EXO to engage with participants, sharing experiences related to digital and green transitions, thus contributing to the discussion on how innovative technologies can improve life in rural areas, fostering collaboration and synergies among the stakeholders involved.
On May 8, EXO attended the Conference on the Vision for Europe’s Future Farming and Agri-Food Sector in Brussels. This two-day event focused on shaping a more sustainable and competitive agricultural and agri-food sector. The conference brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from the agri-food sector, civil society, rural communities, academia, EU Member States, and the European Parliament. The aim was to foster dialogue on the future of European agriculture. Discussions centered on building a sustainable and competitive agri-food system that aligns with environmental goals, supports rural communities, and remains attractive to future generations.
Two new Calls for Proposals have recently been open
The 2nd Call for Proposals of the Interreg IPA ADRION Programme
Deadline: June 30th – 13 CEST / Rome time
With a funding of € 21.87 million, the Programme invites the submission of transnational cooperation projects in the Adriatic-Ionian area, addressing common challenges with innovative and sustainable solutions.
The main objectives are to promote a smarter region, strengthen environmental resilience, encourage climate neutrality, and improve connectivity, both physical and digital, to foster territorial integration and sustainable growth.
The 3rd Call for Proposals of the INTERREG VI-A Italy-Croatia 2021-2027 Programme Deadline: July 8th 2 PM CET
With a budget of € 34.76 million, the Programme focuses on innovation and sustainability in the blue economy of the Adriatic Sea.
The Programme addresses 5 main priorities and 7 specific objectives: Sustainable growth in the blue economy, Green and resilient shared environment, Sustainable maritime and multimodal transport, Culture and tourism for sustainable development, Integrated governance for stronger cooperation.
All project proposals must fall into one of the following two categories: Standard and Small-scale.
SOCIAL INNOVATION
The processes of engaging local communities coordinated by EXO using the HumanLab method, are supported by the calculation of the HumanMap Index.
This index gathers several dimensions to provide a measure of the environmental and social sustainability of the territory.
It is composed of the Happiness Index, the Sustainability Index, and the Islands of Utopia, which represent the collective future visions built through the engagement processes.
The Happiness Index reflects the happiness perceived by both the resident and temporary (traveler) communities, and was developed by the working group with five macro-categories: natural capital, social capital, human capital, economic capital, and semantic capital. The latter measures the degree of imagination, the sense of belonging, and the desire for both individual and collective future.
Stay tuned!
NEWS FROM EUROPE
Europe Day 2025: Celebrating 75 Years of Unity
Celebrated on May 9th, Europe Day honours the values of peace and unity that continue to shape our continent.
The date marks the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration – the 1950 proposal by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman that laid the foundation for European cooperation.
This year’s edition was particularly meaningful, as 2025 marks 75 years since that historic moment.
A perfect occasion to reflect on the origins of the European Union and the enduring relevance of Schuman’s visionary legacy.
What steps is the EU taking to secure its future?
The Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025–2027 outlines key priorities for the EU’s leading research and innovation programme, targeting challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, and societal resilience.
Shaped through wide stakeholder input, it helps steer funding and coordinate efforts across Europe toward a more sustainable and inclusive future.
EU Commission simplifies the CAP
On May 14, the European Commission introduced new measures to simplify the Common Agricultural Policy, cutting red tape and offering more flexibility to farmers. A concrete step toward a more efficient and sustainable agriculture
EIP-AGRI (European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability) is a support structure, an initiative of the European Commission, that promotes innovation in the agricultural sector by involving farmers, researchers, consultants, and other stakeholders. Its goal is to create innovation networks where different knowledge and experiences can be shared to improve agriculture and sustainability.
This is achieved through a combination of events, funding, and collaborative projects!
EU Water Resilience Strategy
The European Parliament has adopted a report on the EU Water Resilience Strategy, highlighting the crucial role of mountain areas – like the Alps – which supply 40% of Europe’s freshwater. The report stresses the urgent need for action in six key areas: water efficiency, pollution, climate adaptation, funding and pricing, digitalisation, and cross-border cooperation.
It calls on Member States to prioritize these regions in climate plans and enhance access to funding for water management.
The European Commission is expected to present the full strategy in June.
Explore the Rural Pact Community Platform
An online space connecting stakeholders in rural areas across Europe. It fosters collaboration, resource-sharing, and the exchange of best practices to support rural development.
The platform hosts webinars, workshops, and events on key topics such as digitalisation, sustainability, and climate resilience.
The pltform also facilitates access to EU funding and partnerships to strengthen rural communities.
EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
HORIZON EUROPE – INFO DAYS
May 22 Cluster 1 – Health, h09:00 (CEST) online
HORIZON EUROPE – May 26-27 EU Missions h10:00 CET (Online)
Registration open until May 22
EUIndTec Days – June 2-4, Krakow (Poland)
In person event during which the current state of community development, technological challenges, and future trends in industrial transformation will be discussed.
EU Industry Days – June 5-6, Rzeszów (Poland)
Annual forum for discussing industrial strategy in Europe, bringing together key players and enhancing expertise across the European industrial landscape.
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Stay tuned for updates on exciting projects, events, and opportunities!