On Thursday, October 26, the five sister projects LOWINFOOD, FOODRUS, FAIRCHAIN, PLOUTOS and CO-FRESH funded under RUR-06-2020 and RUR-07-2020 calls met in Brussels to co-host a joint event showcasing best practices and experiences of collaborating within different thematic working groups.

From the outset of their activities in November 2020, the five projects commenced a close collaboration, adhering to the requirement to maximize impact across Europe and ensure wide dissemination of project outcomes. To achieve this goal, a dedicated work package was established to foster cooperation with other selected projects under RUR-06-2020, with additional efforts encouraged for partnerships with RUR-07-2020 projects.

In pursuit of this collaboration, the five projects implemented a comprehensive system, creating a suite of tools (common databases, working groups, and organizational structures) that streamlined collaboration and enabled the implementation of a set of actions to amplify the impact of their endeavors. Following three years of successful cooperation and with several projects approaching completion, the sister projects proposed a joint event to present and discuss their experiences with their REA Project Officers and DG Agri Policy Officer.

The primary objective of this meeting was to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the cooperation experience between the five sister projects funded under RUR-06-2020 and RUR-07-2020 calls. By reviewing the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from this collaboration, the meeting aimed to identify key best practices that can be implemented in future cooperation activities. These best practices will focus on maximizing the impact of joint initiatives, leveraging synergies between projects, and preventing redundancies or overlaps in efforts.

The collaborative event was a resounding success, with all participants expressing their satisfaction with the opportunity to discuss and critically review the experience of cooperation among the five sister projects. The event facilitated a comprehensive analysis of the collaboration, encompassing both positive aspects and areas for improvement. The lively discussions generated a wealth of ideas and proposals to enhance future cooperation efforts, aiming to maximize the impact of European projects while ensuring efficient resource utilization.

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