Monday 12th June - Tuesday 13th June 2023. Location: Aarhus, Denmark.
The recent partner meeting of ACE was held in Aarhus, Denmark, bringing together more than 20 representatives from the ACE consortium partners. The two-day event featured an engaging agenda aimed at fostering collaboration, sharing progress, and discussing future plans.
The meeting kicked off with a warm welcome and networking session over coffee at DOKK1, a renowned cultural center in Aarhus. Participants had the opportunity to connect and engage with one another, fostering a sense of camaraderie among the project partners. The morning session commenced with a presentation on the ACE project's purpose, goals, outcomes, numbers, and terminology. This comprehensive overview ensured that all participants had a shared understanding of the project's objectives, setting the stage for fruitful discussions throughout the meeting. The agenda then shifted towards Work Package 1, where project partners delved into specific workstreams, exchanged ideas, and provided updates on their respective tasks.
After a productive morning, the group took a break to explore the home care showroom exhibition at DOKK1. This interactive exhibition showcased the latest assisted living technologies, providing valuable insights into innovative solutions that can improve the lives of individuals reliant on home care.
Following the exhibition, the partners embarked on a scenic walk along the harbour, eventually reaching Generationernes Hus also known as The House of Generations. A guided tour of this unique facility provided an inspiring glimpse into a forward-thinking living environment designed to bridge generational gaps and foster intergenerational connections.
The second day began with a coffee meetup at Workshopzonen, where partners reconnected and continued their conversations from the previous day. The agenda then moved on to consortium matters, with the project officer Marie Martin Kjaersgaard providing information and addressing questions regarding the reporting process. Camilla Evensson as the lead partner of ACE shared valuable insights from the Interreg Impact Day held in Copenhagen on the 12th of June, offering inspiration and ideas for future project activities. Camilla also led a discussion on project governance structures, encouraging active participation and exploring the best ways to involve each partner in decision-making processes. Lastly, plans were discussed for the next partner meeting, ensuring that everyone was informed and engaged in the project's future milestones.
The morning session concluded with a focus on Work Package 2, with BOM facilitating the agenda while in the afternoon the spotlight turned to Work Package 3, with Municipality of Aarhus taking the lead in setting the agenda. In both cases, the participants were engaged in interactive focus groups that allowed each one of them to provide insights and opinions on the important topics related to project activities.
Reflecting on the two days, project manager David Chadima commented:
"It was great to see such an engaged group of experts that have each their own opinions on the topic. The numerous perspectives on board is also a big challenge of the ACE project but with meetings like the one in Aarhus we are already very close to a creation of the common project identity for all the project partners.”
