Last week, Open Incet hosted the first in-person event of the Italian National Contact Point, the co-design workshop “Designing Europe”. The initiative brought together 15 professionals, experts, and enthusiasts of social innovation from 12 organizations operating in the Piedmontese and Italian territory.

The workshop provided a unique opportunity to explore and deepen the structuring and preparation of European projects in a stimulating and collaborative environment, with a practical approach to Europroject management. After a theoretical introduction to the EaSI program and an overview of current trends, held in collaboration with Escape4change, the workshop proposed an innovative approach to design, using a specially designed card game.

Divided into 3 heterogeneous working tables, participants embarked on a project simulation based on EaSI case studies, putting their skills and knowledge into play to identify needs, identify solutions, propose European partners, and plan activities, milestones, and actions.

During the event, each table followed the instructions of the specifically created playing cards, receiving suggestions and constructive comments on the use of EaSI tools, such as matchmaking meetings for partnership building.

After intense four hours of brainstorming, networking, and group work, the participants shared the results of their sessions, outlining interesting projects and consolidating new relationships between organizations, local companies, and the National Contact Point.

In conclusion, the event proved to be a success that promoted “listening, collaboration, and improved theoretical and methodological knowledge for project writing”. It also provided a unique opportunity for networking, idea exchange, and the formation of new partnerships, contributing to the improvement of skills and the promotion of innovation in the field of European project management.

This first event of the National Contact Point was an excellent start for the series of in-person and online events that will be scheduled in the coming months.