EGTC Alpine Pearls

Unfortunately, due to the distance between our member communities, we don't get to see each other in personal very often. It was therefore great that the members of Alpine Pearls met again a two weeks ago 📆. This time, Werfenweng in Austria was the host location. The programme included project-related events such as the final conference for the #BeyondSnow project and stakeholder workshops as part of the #CentralMountains project on joint project development for sustainable mobility, tourism practices and cross-border cooperation (a more detailed post will soon follow on this). In addition, topics such as reporting on our activities, networking and decision-making on current issues and tasks were on the agenda of the plenary session. 🏔️ The event was rounded off with a visit to the Salzburg Provincial Ski Museum on the first day, focusing on winter tourism and adaptation to climate change, and with dinner at the Wengerau Alm at the foot of the autumnal, snow-covered Eiskogel mountain on the last day. We would like to thank the Werfenweng Tourismus association for organising and supporting these 2.5 fruitful days! We look forward to the winter season and further joint activities in the new year in our network 🤝. #AlpinePearls #tourism #cooperation #network

🎉 Final results and tools for the resilience of the Alps All results from #BeyondSnow, an Interreg Alpine Space project led by Eurac Research, can be found at a glance in the new #newsletter [available on the Alpine Pearls website]. What you will find: ➡️ Vulnerability map of Alpine snow tourism destinations ➡️ Digital tool for climate resilience ➡️ Resilience adaptation model ➡️ 10 transition strategies for pilot work areas ➡️ Pilot measures in 10 Alpine areas ➡️ Resilience-oriented policy guidelines... ✨ .... and look at this lovely film summarising this joint journey of 13 project partners from 6 Alpine countries - many thanks to the communication lead partner, Legambiente Lombardia Aps/Onlus! https://lnkd.in/eQVCydmx #projects #Interreg #results #final 📽️ Michele Maggi

Using Interreg projects for regional development and future opportunities The #BeyondSnow project is coming to an end, and we are proud of the successes achieved in general and the many activities in our pilot region of Werfenweng - as well as in our member region of Bohinj, which was excellently involved as a pilot region by the project partner Razvojna agencija Zgornje Gorenjske. 🎉 Last week, we held a closing conference in Werfenweng to review the milestones of the last three years in a nutshell. These results are, on the one hand, the fruits of an intensive project process and, on the other hand, can also be seen as seeds for future implementations and further development, because the project ends, but the journey continues. It must continue because the transition strategies provide so much fuel for further development of a resilient destination. Concerning the closing event, we would like to thank all participants for coming and for the exchange of questions and ideas! Many thanks as well for the three practical presentations on the pilot regions of Werfenweng (Josef Holzmann - Werfenweng Tourismus), Métabief (Julien Vrignon - Syndicat Mixte du Mont d'Or - Station de Métabief), and Bohinj (Klemen Langus - Tourism Bohinj DMO), and also to the Salzburg FIS State Ski Museum Werfenweng for the guided tour and for hosting the BeyondSnow photo contest exhibition. 💡💪 The transferable results are of great benefit to all Alpine regions, but the work on the ground, with the various stakeholders, the challenges solved, and the motivation and commitment - these are especially such valuable takeaways for the 10 pilot regions from the project. We look forward to following further developments! #projects #transition #resilience #Interreg 

🤝🌍 Building the Alpine–Carpathian Bridge of Cooperation On 3 September 2025, during the Economic Forum in Karpacz, a #MemorandumOfUnderstanding was signed between the #CarpathianEuroregionAssociation and the EGTC Alpine Pearls. The agreement – signed by Dawid Lasek, Piotr Pilch, and Peter Brandauer – establishes an “Alpine–Carpathian Bridge of Cooperation” linking Europe’s two major mountain regions. The ceremony took place in the Cracow University of Technology Zone, in the presence of Rector Prof. Andrzej Szarata, who emphasized the academic and strategic importance of this partnership. The MoU focuses on sustainable tourism, soft mobility, and innovation, strengthening the voice of mountain areas in Europe’s sustainable development agenda. It builds on prior collaboration within the EU project #CentralMountains (Interreg Central Europe). A joint coordination team will oversee implementation over the next four years, fostering stronger Alpine–Carpathian ties and positioning Europe’s mountains as models of sustainability, cooperation, and resilience. 🤝 Together, we connect regions, share knowledge, and shape a greener future for Europe’s mountains. #projects #alps #carpathians #cooperation Photos: Carpathian Euroregion Association

At the final partner meeting of the #BeyondSnow project in Turin and the surrounding area (pilot working area in the project), we explored the unique region around Monesi di Triora and the Valle Arroscia. ⛰️ Our visit to Monesi took us through its history and the challenges of today: from the first ski lifts in the 1950s to the effects of climate change through declining snowfall and issues such as land ownership and landscape use. Despite closures and isolation, the community continues to show resilience and foresight for the future. ⛰️ In Cosio d'Arroscia, we learned how the community is working to keep the village alive, restore its historic character and strengthen services for the local population, including through collaboration with neighbouring communities. 💚🍽️ At the heart of the transition strategy developed in the BeyondSnow project is the Strada della Cucina Bianca, a culinary route that combines gastronomy, agriculture and cultural heritage as a driver for sustainable tourism. Together with the Parco Naturale Regionale delle Alpi Liguri, the communities of the Valle Arroscia are building on their natural and cultural heritage to create opportunities that go beyond snow. Thank you for this wonderful visit! We look forward to staying in touch and following your exemplary development. Photos: Legambiente Lombardia/Michele Maggi #projects #transition #Interreg #AlpineSpace

The #ClosingConference of the #BeyondSnow project took place in Turin at the end of September, where all project partners presented their results. The programme included a comprehensive overview of all the results and findings: 🔹 Context, approach, and scientific results of the project 🔹 Communication measures and interactive event formats 🔹 Individual actions and achievements such as 🧩 the Vulnerability Map, the Resilience Digital Tool, the 10 transition strategies & pilot measures of the pilot working areas and Policy Guidelines The Interreg Alpine Space project, on which we have been working intensively with 13 partners from six Alpine countries over the last three years, will come to an end at the end of October. But the journey continues. ➡️ The aim is that all Alpine destinations benefit from the project, and we are sure that a great deal has been achieved, and so many people have been reached. Special thanks 💚 for hosting the conference, Città metropolitana di Torino and the Piedmont Region, huge thanks to our lead partner Eurac Research and the communications lead partner Legambiente Lombardia as well as all other project partners: Politecnico di Torino, Carnia Mountain Community, Razvojna agencija Zgornje Gorenjske, Arctur/Tourism 4.0, Technische Hochschule Deggendorf, Syndicat Mixte du Mont d'Or - Station de Métabief, Schweizerische Arbeitsgemeinschaft für die Berggebiete, Alliance in the Alps, La Fabrique des Transitions. We will be providing further reviews and summaries in the coming days. Stay tuned! In addition... 🔹 All results can be found on the project website. 🔹 If you did not attend the conference, you can watch the recording online 🔹 Please share the results within your networks! Photos: Legambiente Lombardia/Michele Maggi #projects #Interreg #transition Werfenweng Tourismus Julian Alps

As part of the #CentralMountains project, we recently met with all project partners from the Carpathians, Sudetes, and Alps in Feldkirch (Austria) and Schaan (Liechtenstein) at the CIPRA Lab and CIPRA International headquarters. 💡 The wonderfully organised programme and schedule included presentations by local stakeholders and networks, and best practice examples on the topic of cross-border cooperation: Markus Böhm presented the work of the Internationale Bodensee Tourismus GmbH, and Wolfgang Pfefferkorn presented the Agglomeration Rheintal Programme. Both were very exciting ideas and experience reports. In addition to the working meetings on management and communication and updates by ISIG - Institute of International Sociology of Gorizia, Eurac Research and the Association of the Carpathian Euroregion and on the active work packages, the exchange and reporting to the Alpine Convention and the Carpathian Foundation was an important item on the agenda. Nathalie Morelle and Klaudia Kuraś participated online and provided feedback on the work in the project, such as the solutions developed (measures and tools). In the afternoon of day two, we were invited on an excursion to the Biosphaerenpark Grosses Walsertal. A presentation of the governance structure and regional branding strategy provided a good example for the partners. It demonstrated how successful branding works in the region through a focus on locality in production and origin as well as a commonly accepted identity. 👏 Many thanks for the excellent organisation and hospitality in this special cross-border area..... Let's continue our work: Cooperation is central! #projects #Interreg #CentralEurope #Governance #EGTC

Alpine Pearls is the Austrian partner in the DECA - Danube Energy Communities Accelerator ︱Interreg Danube project, an Interreg Danube-funded project running from January 2024 till June 2026. 🔙 Quick recap: Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) in the EU are citizen- and locally led groups that collectively produce, consume, and share renewable energy, evolving from grassroots cooperatives in the 1970s to being formally recognized and supported under the EU’s 2018–2019 Clean Energy Package. RECs also exist to build community cohesion, support the marginalised and boost local economies by developing skills, cutting overheads and connecting local businesses. To this end, the project partners have jointly developed energy community training materials. Alpine Pearls is testing this and gathering feedback to improve it for its final release next year. This will be available as a free resource, which others can easily pick up and start using to start their own energy revolutions. 🆕 After holding a few online taster sessions, this time we went live at the Sozial Medizinisches Zentrum (SMZ) in Graz. All sessions were open to everyone, as renewable energy communities aim to bring the community together. Those there included practitioners, students, researchers and local pioneers of their own energy projects. Participants learnt all the basics of establishing an EEG - topics such as business planning, financing, legal frameworks, and the role of social entrepreneurship. All of this was interspersed with co-creation workshops for discussion and ideation! Key learnings to emerge were: 👉 Don't just follow trends but think about the problems you're trying to solve. These could be technical, social or economic. Then, think about which Energy Community model could help address these challenges. 👉 We're only having this discussion thanks to the efforts of initiatives like Ecopower, Belgium. They have pushed for change and created a legal framework for RECs Europe-wide. So, what change are you going to fight for? Through undertaking this work, Alpine Pearls has gained vital knowledge 💡 in the realm of community energy and produced resources that can not only be used by its own members, but all those interested in starting a community energy project. Lastly, we’d like to send a thanks to all who took part, and if you are ready to take the next step and would like us to go through the Energy Community establishment process step-by-step with you, please reach out. We’re ready to go with the testing of our REC-Founding Toolkit! 🧩 #Communityenergy #Energycommunities #EEGs #RECs #DECA

Recommended reading for the weekend 🤩 We are pleased about the collaboration and that this report is now online. Alpine Pearls has been included in Condé Nast Traveler's ‘Bright Ideas in Travel’ list for 2025. Read more about our activities and initiatives in the member locations in the new issue ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gimSqS9k #article #new #travel #cooperation

Next Week 🥁 #BeyondSnow Final Conference After nearly three years of cooperation, research, and participatory work in 10 pilot areas across six Alpine countries, the BeyondSnow project is coming to a close. Join us for the Final Conference in Turin on the 🗓️ 23 Sep 2025 🕑 09:30 - 12:45 What will be presented: ➡️ Why do we need a project like BeyondSnow - setting the context ➡️ The BeyondSnow Journey - steps and process ➡️ From vision to Action – BeyondSnow key achievements ➡️ Closing Remarks and Q&A session Join us in person at the Metropolitan City of Turin (Italy) OR join us online! #Interreg #AlpineSpace #ClimateChange #Tourism