The CROSS-REIS project launched the next phase of its academic mobility programme through a three-week academic exchange hosted by Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI) and Poliedra, bringing together researchers from widening partner institutions for intensive collaboration, knowledge exchange, and joint scientific work.
Organized within the work package Empowering Research Excellence, the exchange supports the project’s broader goals of strengthening research careers, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and advancing the internationalization of partner institutions. The activity is part of the CROSS-REIS staff exchange scheme, which enables researchers from widening countries to collaborate closely with research-intensive partners through joint research, mentoring, and mobility.
The exchange opened on 27 April with welcome remarks and an overview of planned activities by Alessandro Lué, Simona Muratori, and Claudia Romelli, followed by dedicated sessions on the progress of Living Labs and future project activities. A particular focus was placed on participatory approaches to Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), stakeholder engagement, and the role of Living Labs in supporting regenerative urban transformation.
During the first week, partners presented updates on their Living Lab activities, discussing pilot locations, engagement formats, and planned interventions developed within their local contexts. These exchanges enabled comparative reflection on how universities, cities, and local stakeholders can collaborate in testing and co-designing regenerative solutions in urban environments.
The programme also included a series of thematic lectures and collaborative workshops. Elena Conte and Annalisa Lodigiani introduced urban strategies for sustainable development in the Lombardy region, while Claudia Romelli presented a case study on assessing ecosystem services for regional planning in Piacenza, Italy. Sessions led by Renato Casagrandi and Javier Babí Almenar focused on reviewing joint research paper on urban ecosystem accounting and biodiversity assessment.
Additional workshops explored applied research methodologies and planning tools, including a Multi-Criteria Decision Framework for Flood Risk Mitigation Planning, delivered by Alice Gallazzi and Simona Muratori, and sessions on Nature-Based Solutions action plans for urban sustainable transformation.
An important component of the exchange was the presentation of collaboration proposals and emerging research topics by widening partners, including the Faculty of Economics, University of Niš (FEUN), University of Montenegro (UOM), Faculty of Economics and Business Rijeka (EFRI), University of Ljubljana (UL), CO-PLAN, and DSA. Discussions addressed opportunities for joint scientific papers, future project proposals, and interdisciplinary research related to regenerative innovation ecosystems, biodiversity, circular economy, and quality of life.
Among the featured scientific contributions was the presentation by Prof. Carlo Sessa (EMEA) on “Investigating the Relationship between Quality of Life, Well-Being and the Switch to a Regenerative Paradigm”, which explored regenerative innovation ecosystems and AI-assisted mapping of relevant scientific literature. The session contributed to ongoing reflections on how regenerative approaches can reshape urban development, governance, and research agendas.
The exchange programme will continue until 15 May through a series of self-organized meetings and thematic working groups dedicated to preparing joint publications and collaborative research initiatives. By combining mobility, interdisciplinary dialogue, and practical collaboration, the CROSS-REIS academic exchange further strengthens the project’s mission of building research excellence and long-term international partnerships across Europe.
