At the start of December, Budapest became the vibrant meeting point for the second EMCCINNO project gathering, bringing together five pilot sites from across Europe: ZK/U (Germany), Be.Time (Spain), KÖME (Hungary), JACC (Portugal), and Friche la Belle de Mai (France). Hosted by GreenFormation and Internép, the event centered on exchanging updates, refining strategies, and deepening cooperation.
The first day unfolded at Internép with warm welcomes and thoughtful reflections on the journey so far, drawing from early project milestones across the sites. Creativity took center stage in the afternoon through a collective workshop focused on crafting podcasts and videos that vividly portray each pilot’s artistic initiatives. A pivotal moment was the conversation around the project’s ethical framework, anchoring the work in shared values. The evening offered a cultural highlight with the screening of Julia Tudisco’s animated short *Children of the Bird*, followed by an inventive dinner experience by the punk fine dining collective Yo8vagy.at, where art, culture, and culinary experimentation intertwined.
Day two shifted to Auróra, Budapest’s lively cultural and community hub, providing an inspiring backdrop for the EMCCINNO gathering’s ongoing dialogue. Pilot sites showcased their action plans in a dynamic “showtime” format, sparking vibrant exchanges and creative energy. Interspersed “Breaking free” sessions—brief physical or sensory exercises led by participants—kept the momentum alive. The day concluded with a hands-on workshop on designing peer-to-peer webinars, highlighting the power of collaborative learning. On the third day, practical planning took the spotlight with preparations for upcoming study visits, alongside updates on communication strategies and training on documenting achievements . The group also delved into innovative methods for assessment and monitoring, the event wrapped up with a Steering Committee meeting, reviewing project management and future timelines.
A Symbolic Gesture: Each pilot site brought soil from their home ground, a powerful symbol of the shared roots and collective growth that nourish the EMCCINNO network. To follow the project’s unfolding story, visit https://www.emccinno.eu/co-lab/.
