Carina Dantas and Juliana Louceiro went to Brussels, Belgium, to the official kick-off meeting of NewEcoSmart, on October 10th, 2023. The meeting, held at the European Commission’s premises was a crucial milestone for the project to overarching objectives.
This meeting served as a launch pad for the NewEcoSmart project, where the partners discussed the best way to bring together and align efforts with stakeholders. It also made it possible to establish synergies and clarify the initial steps needed for the months ahead. In particular, the main focus will be on developing surveys aimed at investigating the skills and needs related to digital and ecological transitions in rural areas, particularly among companies and workers in the habitat sector. In addition, the meeting addressed the formulation of the Digital Skills Model, an essential component of the project.
The consortium had the privilege of being received at the premises of the European Commission, which reinforces the importance of the project and its alignment with European Union initiatives. It should be noted that the Project Officer of the European Social Fund+ took part in the meeting, reaffirming the strategic relevance of the project and the support it receives from the European Commission. This promising start is a good sign for the NewEcoSmart project.
SHINE is a partner in this project led by CETEM, that aims to create an inclusive social innovation approach to upskill adults aged 45 and above in rural areas, helping them adapt to the green and digital transitions in their current jobs or find new opportunities in habitat-related sectors. This initiative also promotes social entrepreneurial skills and mindsets that support the adoption of circular and socially responsible business models.