From 16 to 18 September, GREENDT partners gathered at the University of Aveiro, Portugal, for the project’s 4th Consortium Meeting. The three-day meeting provided an important opportunity to review the progress achieved so far, discuss the next steps across the different Work Packages and, above all, strengthen the collaboration between partners as GREENDT enters its final stage.
The meeting combined technical and strategic discussions with visits, cultural activities and informal moments, creating an environment that encouraged both effective project coordination and stronger relationships among the consortium members.
From planning to implementation
The first day focused on the overall project status, milestones, deliverables, quality assurance and financial implementation. Partners also reviewed the latest External Evaluation Interim Report, presented by Anastasios Ntabizas, Senior EU Project Manager and Quality Assurance Expert.
The evaluation provided very positive feedback on the progress of GREENDT, with Anastasios delivering a clear message to the consortium: “Good job!”.
The meeting then moved into the implementation of some of the project’s key results. In particular, partners presented important progress on the Environmental Engineering Laboratories (EE-Labs). The procurement process is now moving forward, with the orders for the EE Laboratory Equipment already placed, marking an important step towards the deployment of the laboratories.
Partners also discussed the implementation of the EE Nexus Platform, as well as the development of the project’s digital learning environment. A first version of the EE e-learning platform was presented to the consortium, providing a concrete view of how the digital resources developed through GREENDT will support teaching and learning.
The meeting also included a visit to the Environmental Engineering teaching and research laboratories at the University of Aveiro, offering partners the opportunity to exchange practical experiences and ideas around laboratory-based education.
A major milestone discussed during the meeting was the development of the MSc programme in Environmental Engineering. The didactic contents and training programme have now been developed, representing a significant step towards the implementation of the new Master’s studies. The next key stage will be the accreditation process, with the objective of making the programme available to interested students from the 2027/2028 academic year, starting in September 2027.
This marks an important transition for GREENDT: the project is moving from designing and developing new educational resources towards preparing them for real implementation and use by students and academic institutions.
Putting knowledge into long-term impact
Exploitation and sustainability were also at the centre of the meeting. FEUGA led the first GREENDT Exploitation Workshop, dedicated to analysing how the project’s Key Exploitable Results (KERs) can be further valued, developed and connected with future opportunities beyond the project lifetime.
The workshop provided a space for partners to reflect on the potential of GREENDT’s results and on the actions needed to increase their future uptake and impact. This work will be particularly important as the consortium moves towards the final stage of the project and prepares the ground for the sustainability of its results beyond 2027.
Collaboration beyond the meeting room
The Aveiro meeting was not only about presentations and technical discussions. The programme also included a visit to the University of Aveiro campus, a cultural tour and a social dinner, providing valuable opportunities for partners from Uzbekistan, Portugal and Spain to connect in a more informal setting.
The planned technical visit on Friday afternoon was replaced by a morning programme of technical visits to different areas of Aveiro with environmental relevance for the city, offering partners an additional opportunity to connect the project’s environmental engineering focus with real-world local contexts.
Entering the final stretch
The Aveiro meeting comes at an important moment for GREENDT. With the project approaching its final phase in 2027, several of its most significant results are now taking shape: the EE Laboratory equipment is being procured, the first internal versions of the digital platforms are available, the MSc programme has been developed and is moving towards accreditation, and the consortium is actively working on the exploitation and long-term sustainability of its results.
Beyond these tangible achievements, the meeting demonstrated another essential strength of GREENDT: the ability of partners to work together, exchange knowledge and build the relationships needed to turn the project’s plans into lasting results.
As the consortium looks towards 2027, the focus is now firmly on completing implementation, achieving the expected results and maximising the project’s impact on Environmental Engineering education and the green and digital transition in Uzbekistan.
