On 8 and 9 July, the INCiTiS-FOOD consortium gathered online for the project’s 4th General Assembly, bringing together partners from Europe and Africa to review progress, coordinate the remaining activities and prepare for the project’s final phase.
Over two days of discussions, partners reflected on achievements across all work packages and Living Labs, addressed implementation challenges and agreed on the next steps needed to maximise the project’s impact and ensure the long-term sustainability of its results.
Reviewing Progress across the Project
The meeting opened with welcome remarks from the project coordinator, followed by an overview of the objectives for the two-day assembly. The discussions focused on evaluating the progress made so far while identifying priorities for the remaining months of the project.
The first day was dedicated to technical and scientific progress across the project’s first three work packages.
Partners reviewed developments within WP1, including the progress of the Synergy Portal, onboarding of actors involved through the Open Calls, achievements related to scientific outputs and key results, as well as ongoing publication activities.
The discussions continued with WP2, where the latest technical progress from the Living Labs was presented. The consortium also reviewed scientific publications, academic theses and opportunities for future research collaborations.
The day concluded with WP3, focusing on capacity building and food-related entrepreneurship. Partners exchanged updates on capacity-building activities, ecosystem engagement, business development opportunities, progress of the Open Calls and the overall advancement of the work package.
Preparing for the Project's Final Phase
The second day began with a presentation introducing the concept of a practical Guidebook for establishing Living Labs, providing valuable insights that will support future replication of the INCiTiS-FOOD approach.
Partners then turned their attention to WP4, discussing the progress of impact assessment activities, gender-responsive recommendations for policy development, remaining data needs and the preparation of the final policy roadmap.
During the WP5 session, the consortium reviewed dissemination and communication achievements, project KPIs, visibility of project results and the pathway towards maximising the project’s impact.
The discussions continued with WP6, focusing on project management, financial reporting, risk mitigation and the roadmap for upcoming deliverables and milestones. Partners also explored ways to further improve coordination during the remaining implementation period.
Looking Beyond the Project
One of the central discussions of the General Assembly focused on ensuring that the knowledge, tools and results developed throughout INCiTiS-FOOD continue creating value after the project concludes.
Partners discussed sustainability strategies for the Living Labs, long-term accessibility of digital tools and project outputs, opportunities for scaling the developed solutions and future funding possibilities. Particular attention was given to preserving project resources through the Synergy Portal, ensuring that valuable knowledge remains accessible to stakeholders beyond the project’s lifetime.
The consortium also exchanged experiences from the Living Labs, sharing implementation challenges, lessons learned, and practical solutions that will help guide the project’s final activities.
Moving Forward Together
The meeting concluded with a summary of agreed action points and a shared commitment to delivering the remaining activities successfully.
As INCiTiS-FOOD enters its final phase, the consortium remains focused on strengthening collaboration across partners, completing the remaining scientific and technical work, supporting innovation ecosystems in African cities, and ensuring that the project’s results continue to generate impact well beyond its official duration.
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