The 4th Technical and Steering Committee Meeting of the REVIVE project partners of the Interreg Euro MED programme was conducted from 25-26 June, 2025 in North Macedonia. Organized by the Standing Working Group for Regional Rural Development (SWG) in SEE it gathered partners from Cyprus, Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, Spain, Italy and North Macedonia to shape the next steps on immersive experiences and explore and implement digital innovation and smart solutions in REVIVE rural pilot areas.
The Meeting commenced as scheduled and was officially opened by Ms. Eudokia Balamou, who then gave the floor to Mr. Boban Ilic, SWG Secretary General. In his opening remarks, Mr. Ilic welcomed all REVIVE project partners and addressed the current situation in North Macedonia and the Western Balkans, focusing on key policy and social developments in agriculture, rural areas, and the region’s EU integration process. Together with Mr. Darko Konjevic, Mr. Ilic presented the history, development, and core activities of SWG RRD. The presentation also covered the organization’s mandate under the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans Action Plan.
Following the introductions, Ms. Balamou initiated the working session of the meeting, inviting partners to present their progress under Work Package 2 (WP2): Collaborative Economy Business Models Innovation. Presentations focused on:
- Activity 2.2: Local Pilots and Action Plans
- Activity 2.4: Pilot Testing – Updates and Next Steps
The meeting continued with presentations under Work Package 3 (WP3): Mediterranean Digital Innovation Hubs (MDIHs). Each partner shared future plans for:
- Activity 3.1: MDIH Setup and Digital Laboratories
- Activity 3.2: Building Immersive Experiences
Feedback was provided by the project’s digital technology expert. It was confirmed that Activities 3.1 and 3.2 will run until December 2025.
Next Steps:
Activity 3.1 – Digital Labs and Trainings
- Implement trainings, workshops, and courses
- Monitor and document all training activities to compile a shared resource catalog
- Finalize and formalize Deliverable D3.1: MDIH Framework
Activity 3.2 – Immersive Experiences
- Develop and roll out immersive experiences
Activity 3.3 – Data Integration
- Create and share templates and repositories for data collection
- Conduct a workshop and/or questionnaire to define platform/dashboard features and needs collaboratively
Ms. Valentina Marchi (CNR) presented Activity 2.5: Pilot Evaluation, outlining the proposed monitoring model. This was followed by a discussion among all participants about pilot implementation plans, challenges, and shared experiences. Ms. Marchi also provided an update on the Carbon Footprint Tool and Reporting.
To conclude the meeting, SWG RRD presented the project’s Communication Strategy, covering:
- Ongoing communication activities
- Website and social media engagement
- Dissemination efforts across partner countries
The program was enriched with field visits in Staro Nagoricane, Kriva Palanka and Rankovce that showcase local innovation, tradition, and sustainability.
The activity is co-funded by the European Union in the framework of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme.
