Ovidius University Strengthens Regional Dialogue for Sustainable Transition in Constanța County | 19-20 May 2025

From 20 to 22 January 2025, the University Clermont Auvergne hosted the official launch of the ARTEMIS European University (“Alliance for Regional Transition, Equality, Mobility, Inclusion, and Sustainability”), a project co-funded by the European Commission.

On May 19–20, 2025, Ovidius University of Constanța successfully hosted a regional public consultation event as part of the European project ARTEMIS – Acting on the Real Transition for Energy, Mobility, Infrastructure and Societal change, co-funded through the Horizon Europe programme. The meetings took place at Campus Building A, Room 227, bringing together institutional and community stakeholders committed to advancing sustainable territorial development in Constanța County.
The event was part of Work Package 6 – Societal Engagement for Regional Transition, which promotes the co-creation of public policies through active involvement of the academic community, local authorities, civic organizations, and socio-economic actors.
The consultation sessions fostered open and constructive dialogue, laying the groundwork for the development of a local cooperation network and participatory working mechanisms. At the heart of the approach is the Living Labs concept—spaces for applied innovation where community representatives and experts collaborate to test solutions in areas such as urban mobility, infrastructure, digitalization, and education.
“The collaboration between public administration, academia, and citizens is no longer optional—it is essential for the sustainable progress of our regions. The ARTEMIS project provides a structured and action-oriented framework for this partnership. These are not merely formal consultations, but real co-working mechanisms where scientific expertise, administrative experience, and community voices converge in a genuine process of co-creation. Our Living Labs are designed not as theoretical exercises, but as open innovation spaces in which ideas are tested in real-life settings alongside those directly impacted by public decisions,” stated Professor Liliana Ana Tuță, Vice-Rector of Ovidius University of Constanța.
ARTEMIS is implemented through a European academic consortium with the shared mission of supporting regional transition via intersectoral collaboration. In Constanța, Ovidius University plays a central role in this process, fostering a transparent and application-oriented working environment where academic knowledge directly serves the needs of the local community.
The sessions included thematic interventions, participatory workshops, and stakeholder consultations. The outcomes will inform future strategic directions for both local and regional development, scientifically grounded and validated through participatory engagement.