CEI-Iscte, a partner in the European project Ecoprise – Future Oriented Social Entrepreneurship through Ecovillage Design, participated in the consortium’s fourth in-person meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, from September 11 to 12, as well as in the International Study Visit, one of the final activities of the project’s pilot phase, which took place from September 7 to 10.

CEI-Iscte was represented by researchers Ana Margarida Esteves and Amandine Gameiro, who are members of the project team and regularly participate in the consortium’s transnational meetings, contributing to the coordination and development of Ecoprise’s various activities.

During the consortium meeting, the partners reflected on the results of the pilot phases implemented in each country, discussed improvements to the Ecoprise training program, and prepared for the next phases of the project, which include holding YouPrise Workshops, Policy Hacks, and Local Forums in the various partner countries, including Portugal. Some of these events already took place at Iscte on September 18; the remaining ones will take place on October 16 and November 5, respectively.

Organized by our partner The Critical, the international meeting brought together representatives from partner organizations and 38 participants from six countries—Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, and Serbia—who were selected from among the students in the Ecoprise program’s pilot phase based on the most promising project proposals they developed throughout the course.

The International Study Visit offered a learning and exchange program, featuring plenary sessions and panel discussions on social entrepreneurship, environmental activism, and regenerative models of local development. Participants also visited two Lithuanian ecovillages, a waste collection and recycling center (similar to program “Volta” in Portugal) that has been in operation and making a very positive impact since 2016, the Miesto Laboratorija community space and the Pirmas Blynas solidarity and social entrepreneurship restaurant in Vilnius, exploring different examples of initiatives that balance social impact, sustainability, community participation, and inclusion. The program also included networking opportunities and cultural activities in the city, such as a visit to the Republic of Užupis, an independent artists’ community in the city’s historic center.

Portugal was represented by four projects developed as part of the two editions of the Ecoprise course offered by CEI-Iscte, which were selected to present their proposals during the international workshop in Vilnius.

Projects from the 1st edition

  • Rockrose Project, by Susana Gonçalves – A proposal for the regenerative restoration of 2.4 hectares in the Pinhal Interior Sul region through a biodiverse and fire-resilient agroforestry system, promoting ecological recovery and combating soil degradation and rural abandonment.
  • SmartLeap.pt, by Tiago Silva – Developed in the Barrocal de Loulé region, it integrates permaculture, the circular economy, and education into a collaborative space that combines community-supported agriculture, training, and sustainability consulting.

Projects from the 2nd Edition

  • Tessitoras da Matria – Jardim dos Sentidos, by Augusta Barbosa – A 3.76-hectare regenerative territorial ecosystem in Vimieiro (Arraiolos), designed as a living laboratory that brings together agroecology, biodiversity, local knowledge, education, and technology to generate ecological, social, cultural, and economic value.
  • Farol Agroecológico Origens, by Humberto Mendes – Building on the Origens regenerative laboratory in Viseu, this project proposes the creation of a space for experimentation, innovation, and knowledge sharing, based on community-supported agriculture and the regeneration of local ecosystems.

The Ecoprise project, funded by the Erasmus+ program, is now moving into its next phase with the implementation of workshops, local forums, and public policy co-creation initiatives aimed at strengthening the European ecosystem for regenerative social entrepreneurship.

For more information about the Youprise Workshop and Policy Hack (October 16) and Local Forum (November 5), please contact ecopriseportugal.cei@iscte-iul.pt.