The RoMontana Association from Vatra Dornei is implementing the first project in Suceava County funded through Horizon Europe – the EU framework program for research and innovation

The National Association for Rural and Mountain Development “RoMontana”, under the coordination of economist Radu-Adrian Rey from Vatra Dornei, has won the first project in Suceava County with direct funding from the European Commission under Horizon Europe – the EU framework program for research and innovation. This project, worth a total of 5 million Euros, is part of an international consortium made up of 18 partner organizations from 10 countries (Romania, Belgium, France, Ireland, Greece, Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Turkey)

The project, briefly named “INSPIRE,” which will be implemented from October 2024 to September 2027, aims to support the sustainable and inclusive development of rural and peri-urban areas by promoting the well-being and social inclusion of residents and vulnerable groups.

Specifically, the project contributes to the development of the concept of social inclusion by supporting citizens’ access to high-quality social services through a series of awareness-raising activities, capacity building, and implementation of best practice examples focusing on social entrepreneurship.

“In Romania, in Vatra Dornei, within the Mountain Economy Center “CE-MONT” of the Romanian Academy, the first Technical Assistance and Consulting Center for the implementation of Smart Village and Smart City concepts will be established. This center will serve all administrative-territorial units in Suceava and Maramureș counties, with the possibility of extending to Bistrița-Năsăud and Neamț counties as well. We want these communities targeted by the project to be concretely supported by researchers and authorities so that they can smartly utilize all their local resources, including human resources – perhaps the most important of all – to ensure a sustainable future”, said Radu-Adrian Rey, project coordinator in Romania.

Horizon Europe is the main EU funding program for research and innovation for the period 2021-2027, with a budget of 95.5 billion Euros. It addresses climate change, contributes to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and stimulates EU competitiveness and growth.

The program facilitates collaboration and enhances the impact of research and innovation in the development, support, and implementation of EU policies, while also addressing global challenges. It supports the creation and better dissemination of excellent knowledge and technologies. It represents a source of new jobs, fully engages talents from across Europe, stimulates economic growth, promotes industrial competitiveness, and optimizes the impact of investments in a strengthened European Research Area.

More details about the framework program can be consulted here: https://www.mcid.gov.ro/programe-europene/programul-cadru-orizont-europa/