The FEDER partners of ACUICONECTA met on 8 and 9 June in Madeira, providing an excellent opportunity to strengthen their relationships, agree on joint actions, and jointly assess the project’s progress.
The meeting began with an institutional welcome from Dr Rui Miguel Andrade Caldeira, Director of the Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação, Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI), who highlighted the organisation’s role in promoting research, innovation, and technological development related to aquaculture and biotechnology in Madeira. The opening session was complemented by an address from Dr Carlos Andrade, Principal Investigator of ACUICONECTA at ARDITI, who welcomed participants on behalf of the host institution.
The agenda included presentations on the results and progress achieved by the participating institutions, highlighting the most relevant actions carried out to date and the collaborative initiatives that have been launched. A dedicated session was also held to review the project’s technical and financial implementation status, including an analysis of the progress indicators achieved so far.
In addition, a specific session was devoted to reviewing the rules of the Interreg MAC 2021–2027 Programme, with particular attention given to aspects that have recently been updated and to the requirements that must be considered in preparation for the fourth expenditure reporting period.
The meeting also included informal moments that fostered interaction among partners, featuring ice-breaking activities, networking opportunities, and discussions aimed at identifying potential synergies with the NATUREXT project, which was also approved under the first call of the Interreg MAC 2021–2027 Programme and held its working meeting in parallel with ACUICONECTA.
The event also provided participants with the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of some of Madeira’s most relevant aquaculture and biotechnology facilities. Highlights included visits to the ARDITI laboratories located at Madeira Tecnopolo and to the marine culture laboratories in Calheta, guided by the Direção Regional de Pescas da Madeira, which also participates in ACUICONECTA as a FEDER partner. These visits generated significant interest among participants and opened up new opportunities for collaboration based on the scientific and technological capacities available in the region.
The meeting proved highly productive and contributed to strengthening the cohesion of the consortium, which is now better prepared and more firmly positioned to address the upcoming challenges and activities planned for the next phases of the project.
