The Interreg MED Programme is a European transnational cooperation programme co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union that promotes sustainable growth in the Mediterranean area by supporting social integration and by fostering innovative concepts and practices and a reasonable use of resources.
ENoLL as a partner in TALIA -the Social & Creative project of the Interreg MED programme, was in Rome the past 18th and 19th of April in occasion of the programme’s midway through the programming period. The MADE in MED event presented the first results of its 90 projects through a conference and an exhibition.
The two days were an opportunity to convey the idea and values of co-working, knowledge sharing and innovation but also to look towards the future of cooperation in the Mediterranean. The Social&Creative, together with its eleven Modular Projects (MPs), actively contributed to the organization of the conference, and the Inclusive Growth session in particular. ENoLL president, Tuija Hirvikoski, took part in the panel discussion on Inclusive Growth to introduce ENoLL’s vision on how Living Labs are the definite tools for citizen involvement in the Mediterranean Innovation process. She also showcased TALIA as an inspirational project methodology for interregional stakeholder orchestration and scaling up local learning to the policy level.
Meanwhile, in the exhibition area, eight corners related to each Programme thematic community that gave visitors a better understanding and a “taste” of what the projects are working on and have achieved so far. The Social & Creative community introduced itself through the metaphor of the coworking space, animated by testimonials and products of the cultural and creative industry and of social innovation. At the Social & Creative corner, visitors experienced a 360° reconstruction of the landscapes of the French Riviera to explore through VR glasses; looked and touched handcrafted products inspired to the crafting tradition and incorporating innovation in terms of working process, materials and design; attended the Red Dress + Repair-a-thon performance, in which the tailor Saša Nemec mended clothes accompanied by a live electroacoustic composition created by guitarist Giuseppe Lomeo, while the artist Claudia Di Gangi, wrapped in a long elastic red dress, danced and interacted with the public.
The European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL) is the international, non-profit, independent association of benchmarked Living Labs.
The European Network of Living Labs is the international, non-profit, independent association of Living Labs.
Av. des Arts 6, 1210 Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Belgium
[email protected]