RURALITIES Project partners recently got together in Iași, Romania, for a two-day Project Board meeting on May 15-16, 2024. This event was held at the premises of Iași University of Life Sciences, organized by our partner, the Rural Development Research Platform (RDRP).
On the first day, the team discussed the progress of each work package and the challenges encountered in establishing innovative rural methods through our pilot areas, including SIMSES. The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to assess our current trajectory and plan for the future.
The second day of the board meeting was marked by fruitful discussions among the partners, focusing, among other things, on establishing the methodology for creating living lab networks across our pilot areas.
The board members also set pathways for the African partners, who will become more actively involved by September 2024 in the project.
The Board meeting has strengthened the bonds that make our collaboration resilient and vibrant. The next three and a half years are set on a strong, respectful, and collaborative foundation, promising innovative advancements in rural development.
After the productive Board meeting, our hosts, the Rural Development Research Platform and Iași University of Life Sciences (IULS), took us to a university’s labs tour. This tour showcased the forefront of their research and development in various industries in the rural area of Iași and Romania. We had an opportunity to delve into technologies shaping the production of pastry and bakery products, meat products, dairy products, and brewing technology.