A-AAGORA gathers partners in Tromsø for the 5th General Assembly
The A-AAGORA consortium gathered for its General Assembly in Tromsø, Norway, from June 24th to 26th, 2025. The event, co-hosted by the consortium partners UiT Norges Arktiske Universitet and the Karlsøy commune, provided a platform for consortium members to share updates on progress and innovations from the DEMO sites, as well as engage in collaborative planning for the upcoming project phases. Fin
Day 1 – June 24th
The General Assembly kicked off with introductions by Vidar Sørum, Head of the Department of Arctic and Marine Biology at UiTNorges arktiske universitet, and Mathias Leines Dahle from Karlsøy commune. Ana Lillebø, Project Coordinator of A-AAGORA, then presented a summary of the mid-term evaluation and outlined key steps for the project’s next phase.
The morning sessions continued with Andreea Strachinescu from the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, who shared insights on the evolution from Mission 1.0 to 2.0, followed by updates from Ida Beathe Øverjordet on the CLIMAREST project. Afterwords each project representative delivered concise 4-minute pitches on their results.
The morning concluded with discussions led by Dr. Frederike Tirre (WP2) on A-AAGORA’s digital games and Florin Nemtanu (WP3) on the A-AAGORA digital platform, with engaging Q&A sessions.
Vera Hausner (WP6) led an engaging session on transformative innovations and the living lab process in the Atlantic-Arctic basin, followed by interactive work in small groups.
Dr Sašo Gorjanc and Clara Jarry (WP1) presented on the potential impacts and wide application of our demonstrated solutions, launching deep conversations around scalability.
Dr. Frederike Tirre (WP2) shared insights into learning and evaluation methods and the innovations toolbox being developed to support our projects, which then led to break-out work sessions.
Joana Lúcio and Alessandro Colombo (WP5), representing INOVA+ and the AIR Centre, updated the consortium on the project’s communication, dissemination, and exploitation plan, as well as the Community of Practice-related training activities.
Dr Sašo Gorjanc (WP1) highlighted the development of MOOC courses, while Hrvoje Mikulčić presented projects such as EcoDaLLi Project, DaWetRest, and DANSER, showcasing ongoing innovation.
Day 2 – June 25th
The second day of the General Assembly had participants divided into groups to explore key DEMO sites in Norway, engaging in hands-on activities guided by the local team.
The first group went on a scenic boat ride to discover the diverse bird life of the Arctic Archipelago. On the way to Sørfugløya and back, the group was treated to sightings of several seabird species, porpoises and seals, while learning about their habitat and conservation efforts, as well as the region’s history.
A second group took a boat ride to the remote island of Hersøya, in the heart of the protected area. While addressing the challenges posed by sea urchin overpopulation, this activity aimed to promote environmental conversation through a hands-on approach and a unique gastronomic experience.
The third group was also set out to explore the flavours of the Arctic shoreline, such as various species of kelp and seagrass, freshly harvested from one of the Rebbenesøya beaches. Under expert guidance, the experience allowed participants to learn about sustainable foraging practices (methods for gathering food).
The fourth group hiked all the way up to Storfjellet, to enjoy one of the most scenic views of the Norwegian demo area. As participants explored the varied Arctic landscapes, they also learned about how the land and sea environments are inextricably connected.
The day concluded with reflections from Vera Hausner (UiT Norges arktiske universitet team), Stine Hansen and Oddrun Skjemstad (Board for Nordkvaløya-Rebbenesøya Protected Landscape), and Mona Benjaminsen, Mayor of Karlsøy commune. A communal dinner was generously prepared by the local community and served at Ungdomshuset.
Day 3 – 26th June
The final day of the General Assembly was filled with productive discussions and collaborative planning. Project Coordinator Ana Lillebø opened the session with a recap of the project’s achievements and a look at the road ahead.
A key highlight was the Q&A session with representatives from the project’s Associated Regions, followed by updates on the second reporting period. Afterwards discussions took place, focused on contributions from the Associated Regions, DEMOs, and the development of future roadmaps.
In the afternoon, task leaders from WP 6 led group sessions to finalize the blueprints and roadmaps for the Atlantic and Arctic lighthouses, paving the way for the next project milestones.
Before the day ending, it took place a session on scaling innovative solutions for Mission 2.0, including integrating monitoring data into blueprints, that generated valuable insights for the project’s future direction.
The day concluded with a wrap-up, and a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all those involved in the meeting’s logistics, from Ana Lillebø, followed by a relaxing dinner, marking a successful conclusion to the General Assembly.
*Work package – “A component of the project work breakdown. It represents a group of project activities targeting common specific objectives” (source: European Comission)
