On July 2nd, 2025, the Final Event of the NewEcoSmart (NES) project took place in Yecla, Spain, marking the conclusion of two years of collaboration, innovation, and community-driven progress. Among the key voices in the event was Carina Dantas, CEO of SHINE, who took part in the roundtable discussion titled “The Importance of Training in the Twin Transition and Citizen Engagement.”
Carina’s participation highlighted SHINE’s core values: translating complex innovation into meaningful change for people and communities. During the roundtable, which brought together representatives from universities, municipalities, and civil society, Carina underscored the vital importance of empowering individuals through accessible, practical training. “We don’t need theoretical things, we need practical skills,” she said, pointing to the urgency of preparing citizens not just for the challenges of the green and digital transitions, but to actively lead them. She also called for stronger local collaboration between stakeholders: “We have a lot of stakeholders everywhere, but they don’t know each other.”
As the lead partner for communication and dissemination, SHINE ensured that the NES project reached diverse audiences across Europe, promoting awareness of circular and digital transition efforts and sharing project results through creative campaigns, multimedia content, and community outreach. SHINE’s work was central to amplifying the visibility of pilot initiatives and key insights from the project.
The Final Event was more than a closing ceremony; it was a celebration of impact. From local government engagement and SME innovation to training programmes and citizen involvement, NES created a strong foundation for sustainable development in the regions it served. Carina Dantas’s participation reflected the organisation’s dedication to inclusive innovation and the human side of digital and green transformation.
As NES comes to a close, SHINE celebrates the project’s results, and the community it built, and the new conversations it started. The legacy of NES lives on through the partnerships, knowledge, and capacity developed, and SHINE is honoured to have helped shape and share that journey.