On 28 November and 12 December 2025, the Romanian pilot warm-up events took place in the mountain communities of Panaci and Vatra Dornei, targeting participants from both counties of Suceava and Maramures, in a hybrid format.

The first event was organised by our Romanian pilot partner organisation RoMontana in the Commune of Panaci with the support of the Municipality and the Local Action Group “Bazinul Dornelor” with a total of 25 participants from the local community, members of the local administration, school, church, NGOs and representatives of the target groups.

The second event was organized within the Conference of the Mountain Economy Center “CE-MONT” (Romanian Academy) on the occasion of celebrating the International Mountain Day 2025, held under the title “Smart development and the resilience of mountain communities in the face of current global crises – Perspectives for a sustainable mountain economy”.

The event provided a platform for dialogue among policymakers, researchers, practitioners engaged in shaping the future of mountain rural communities and included a presentation from RoMontana of the Romanian pilot Smart Village Lab concept, a poster presentation of the INSPIRE project and also an info-corner with promotional materials regarding the project where participants could interact with the project team and find out more details about it. The event gathered a total of 65 participants.

Overall, the two warm-up events confirmed the interest of the local and regional stakeholders in innovative, local-based approaches to rural and mountain development. The discussions highlighted shared challenges faced by mountain communities, as well as the need for integrated solutions that combine digital innovation, social inclusion, local governance, and sustainable economic opportunities.

The positive feedback received from participants underlined the relevance of the Smart Village Lab concept as a practical framework for co-creation, experimentation, and collaboration at the local level. By engaging local authorities, civil society, educational institutions, and community members from the early stages, the Romanian pilot aims to ensure that future Smart Village Lab activities are firmly rooted in local needs and capacities.

These warm-up events represent an important first step in the implementation of the Romanian Smart Village Lab in Suceava and Maramures. Building on the insights and connections established, the project will continue with more targeted co-design workshops, pilot actions, and stakeholder engagement activities, contributing to more resilient, inclusive, and future-oriented mountain communities.