Transnational Training Academy for Regional Mentors

Transnational training academy for regional mentors was held on May 8–9, 2025 in the picturesque seaside town of Šibenik, bringing together all 11 RISE project partners from across the Danube region. Hosted in a hybrid format, the event was organized by Digital Innovation Hub Agrifood Croatia, facilitating active participation both in person and online.

The gathering took place at Civitas Sacra and focused on strengthening regional mentors competencies for leading sustainable and digital transitions within regional contexts.

Day 1 was dedicated to the presentation of ​Digital transition readiness assessment tool and ​Energy optimization readiness assessment tool.

The objective of the tool presentation is to evaluate the company’s maturity and, based on the insights gained, to develop tailored and accurate consulting strategies. During the mentor academy, we gained comprehensive knowledge on the application of the tools, identified potential challenges associated with their use, and achieved a clear understanding of the operational procedures involved in delivering the consulting process.

The emphasis was also placed on the "Practical Application and Roleplay" session, during which participants were provided with data from a real company, enabling them to apply the tool in practice and interpret the resulting outputs. Datamensio — a software that facilitates the use of assessment frameworks and generates evaluation reports — was also used and evaluated.

The day’s official programme closed with a study visit to the Center for the Development of Mariculture | AluTech, presented as an example of good practice. The first day ended with a dinner, providing a relaxed setting for the exchange of ideas and informal networking.

The second day continued with the Material Circularity Readiness Assessment Tool, the Real-life Examples & Best Practices Database, and the E-Knowledge Base Platform.

Special focus was placed on addressing challenges encountered during tool implementation, followed by joint discussions to identify effective solutions. As part of ongoing activities, engagement with the B2GreenHub platform — a promising space for green and digital innovation — was also included. During the session, the current stage of the platform’s development and its key functionalities were outlined.

The second day concluded with a good practice visit to a shellfish farm.

After two successful days of Transnational training academy for regional mentors, the activity concluded on a high note, equipping partners with valuable knowledge to support their future activities. The strong sense of collaboration and shared objectives among the partners continues to serve as a key driver, guiding ongoing efforts and enabling meaningful progress with lasting impact.