Rethinking Rural Futures Through Innovation and Collaboration
From Territorial Cohesion to Public Innovation: INNlocal Featured at the Winter University on Communities and Development in Fornos de Algodres.
Between 9 and 12 February 2026, Fornos de Algodres hosted the Winter University, scope of the Jean Monnet Chair POLMEDIA_EU, dedicated to Territorial Cohesion, Communities and Development, an initiative focused on discussing the challenges and opportunities facing low-density territories, community empowerment and sustainable local growth.
During the event, the European project INNlocal was presented by Cláudia S. Costa, from the Bragança Polytechnic University (IPB), highlighting the project’s contribution to strengthening innovation capacity within local public administration.
Bringing together academics, local authorities, researchers and practitioners, the Winter University provided a space for reflection on socio-territorial diagnosis, rural competitiveness, public policy and citizen participation. In this context, INNlocal reinforced the importance of collaborative approaches between higher education institutions and local governments in fostering more resilient, inclusive and future-oriented public services.
