The Municipality of Póvoa de Lanhoso and the Intermunicipal Community of Ave (CIM do Ave) hosted the in-person meeting of the European project Rural Transition Labs (RTL), within the framework of the INTERREG SUDOE programme, reinforcing the region’s commitment to climate transition and sustainable rural development.
From 28 to 30 January, the Ave sub-region became the setting for a strategic meeting that brought together international project partners for three days of knowledge exchange, innovation and fieldwork.
The meeting focused on reviewing the implementation status of pilot projects, discussing the solutions developed so far and defining the next steps. Partners also explored key project tools, including the Geographic Information System (GIS) and the new RTLabs Toolkit, essential for monitoring, communication and replication of results.
Collective work was also carried out on the future Solutions Catalogue, designed to systematise and disseminate good practices and support their replication across other rural territories.
The programme included inspirational sessions led by RURENER and a visit to Parque do Pontido, in Póvoa de Lanhoso, showcasing a practical example of territorial enhancement. The meeting concluded at the CIM do Ave headquarters in Guimarães, with a discussion on the sustainability of the Rural Labs and the integration of their results into everyday community life.
This meeting strengthens the Ave sub-region’s role as a pilot territory for climate transition, testing today the solutions that will shape more resilient rural communities tomorrow.
