This month, a key coordination meeting was held in Guimarães (Portugal) as part of the European project ENNEPlus – Enhancing VET National Networks through Eco-innovation, with the aim of preparing the second edition of the Eco-Digithones — a training and collaborative initiative aimed at Vocational Education and Training (VET) centres to design innovative digital solutions to real environmental and social challenges.
During the meeting, project partners and representatives of the participating national networks discussed the structure of the upcoming 2026 edition, expanding its scope to a European and international format, including face-to-face activities and an online phase open to teams from across the European Union.
The meeting was also an opportunity to align the project’s social incubation strategies and sustainability plans, strengthening monitoring and support mechanisms so that the ideas developed by students during the Eco-Digithones can continue to grow and have a tangible impact on their local communities. In this regard, key aspects were discussed, such as:
- Strengthening the Community of Practice (CoP) as a virtual collaborative centre for the exchange of resources, methodological tools and ongoing support for teams.
- Inclusion of social incubation approaches, which allow the proposed solutions to evolve into real prototypes or social entrepreneurship initiatives with the support of mentors and local stakeholders.
- Project sustainability plans, to ensure that the skills and results generated transcend the duration of the Eco-Digithon and are integrated into broader educational, business and social networks.
The first edition of the Eco-Digithon, held in 2025 in Austria, Italy, Portugal and Spain, brought together dozens of VET teams working on specific challenges related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), from efficient water management to sustainable mobility and the circular economy.
With the second edition planned for 2026, the organisers seek to consolidate a European network of educational eco-innovation, strengthening both students’ digital and green skills and their ability to generate real social impact in their territories.
