INNLocal

14/08/2026

Lisbon Joins the Innovation Journey

Public Servants and Citizens Explore Innovation Through the Innovation Journey in Lisbon

On 10 August, the INNlocal project brought the Innovation Journey to Lisbon in a session organised by INA, I.P. and facilitated with the collaboration of the IPB team. The initiative gathered public servants and citizens who had not previously been directly involved in the project.

At the heart of the session was the Innovation Journey, the game developed within INNlocal to explore challenges faced by public administration in an interactive and collaborative way. Participants worked together, exchanged perspectives and reflected on possible innovative responses.

The game’s dynamic format encouraged active participation, creativity and open dialogue. By bringing public servants and citizens around the same table, the session created an opportunity to combine different experiences and perspectives on the future of public services.

The initiative also helped introduce INNlocal and its results to new stakeholders, extending the project’s reach and reinforcing the importance of collaboration in building more innovative, participatory and future-ready public administration.

13/08/2026

INNlocal Microcredentials Validated in Opava

On 16 July, the Faculty of Public Policies of Silesian University in Opava hosted a validation workshop focused on reviewing four advanced-level microcredentials developed within the INNlocal project.
The workshop brought together representatives of local public administration and experts from practice, some of them also active in the academic environment. Together, they provided feedback on the relevance, clarity and practical applicability of the microcredentials for the context of local governance.
Participants focused on the topics of public innovation, environmental sustainability, equality, diversity and inclusion, and participatory governance in local public policies. The programme included joint discussion and the collection of feedback on the content and usability of the proposed microcredentials.
The programme included joint discussion and the collection of feedback on the content and usability of the proposed microcredentials. The outputs of the validation workshop will be used in the next phase of the INNlocal project and will contribute to the finalisation of educational tools aimed at supporting innovation in local public administration.

12/08/2026

Ostrava Takes the Innovation Journey Outdoors

Citizens Explore Public Innovation Through the Innovation Journey

On 29 June, the INNlocal project brought the Innovation Journey to Ostrava, where a small group of four citizens took part in a session organised by the Silesian University in Opava. This time, the activity was held outdoors in an informal restaurant setting, demonstrating that the Innovation Journey can be played almost anywhere and does not require a traditional classroom or workshop environment.

The Innovation Journey, developed within the INNlocal project, invites participants to explore challenges related to public administration, citizen participation and local communities through collaborative problem-solving. The small-group format provided space for discussion, creativity and the exchange of different perspectives.

Participants particularly appreciated the opportunity to develop creative responses, hear the ideas of others and think about issues affecting the world around them. Their feedback also highlighted the importance of citizen participation and encouraging ordinary citizens to become more actively involved in public life. At the same time, the session provided useful suggestions for the further development of the game.

The Ostrava session showed that the Innovation Journey is a flexible tool that can stimulate discussion about public innovation even in a small and informal setting.

01/07/2026

INNlocal Continues Its CBL Journey

Bridging Academic Learning and Local Realities: INNlocal in Mogadouro.

Following the initial Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) session in Mogadouro, students took part, during the week of 8 - 12 June, in an immersive week focused on developing responses to the challenges identified in the municipality.

Throughout the week, the work evolved from understanding the local context to shaping more structured solution proposals. Building on the challenges presented, students explored practical, creative and locally grounded approaches designed to respond to the municipality’s real needs.

This stage of the process reinforced the role of CBL as a bridge between academic knowledge and local action, encouraging students to move beyond diagnosis and contribute to the development of potential solutions for Mogadouro.

By working directly with real territorial challenges, the immersive week also strengthened INNlocal’s mission to connect higher education, local public administration and communities through collaborative innovation.

25/06/2026

Mirandela Welcomes Local Public Innovation

III European (Local) Public Innovation Conference Brings Local Public Innovation to the Forefront

From 26 to 28 May 2026, Mirandela welcomed the III European (Local) Public Innovation Conference, hosted at the School of Public Management, Communication and Tourism of Bragança Polytechnic University (EsACT-IPB). The event successfully brought together the academic community, public administration professionals, local government representatives and institutional partners to reflect on the future of public innovation at local level.

Organised within the scope of the Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership INNlocal – Innovation in and through Local Governments, coordinated by the Bragança Polytechnic University (IPB), the conference created a valuable space for sharing knowledge, research results, practical experiences and innovative approaches to current challenges faced by local public administrations.

Over the course of three days, participants engaged in discussions on key themes such as diversity and inclusion, environmental sustainability, citizenship and participation, digital transformation, co-creation, participatory governance, and future-oriented public sector capabilities. The programme also included dedicated workshops, which encouraged hands-on learning, exchange of experiences and collaborative reflection on innovative solutions for local public administration.

A warm thank you to everyone who contributed to making this conference a success — participants, speakers, partners, committees and all those involved in bringing it to life.

22/06/2026

🎲 Innovation Journey reaches local decision-makers in Havířov!

On 7 June 2026, members of the Havířov City Council took part in an interactive session with the Innovation Journey card game as part of the INNlocal project.

Facilitated by Pavel Tuleja from the Faculty of Public Policies, Silesian University in Opava, the workshop encouraged councillors to explore real challenges faced by local governments through dialogue, collaboration, and problem-solving.

The session demonstrated how gamification can support innovation in local governance and create new opportunities for discussion among elected representatives.

02/06/2026

Innovation Journey in Mirandela: Playing for Better Local Government

INNlocal brings the Innovation Journey card game to students and citizens during the IV International Conference on Public Policies and Data Science.

On 21 May, the INNlocal project held a hands-on session in Mirandela as part of the IV International Conference on Public Policies and Data Science, engaging students and citizens in a collaborative experience focused on public innovation.

After a brief introduction to the project, participants took part in the Innovation Journey card game, developed under INNlocal to explore real-world municipal challenges through action cards, strategic constraints, and group discussion.

Working in teams, participants analysed scenarios, debated possible responses, and proposed innovative solutions inspired by the daily realities of local government and community life. The playful format encouraged active participation, creativity, and critical thinking.

The session received very positive feedback, with participants highlighting the game’s value in stimulating dialogue, fresh perspectives, and collaborative problem solving.

25/05/2026

🗓️ Plan your conference day with us!

The programme and the parallel sessions schedule for the III European (Local) Public Innovation Conference are available online.

Check the agenda, choose your sessions, and make sure to download the official files from the website to access all embedded links.

We’re looking forward to seeing you!

🔗 https://innlocal.eu/3-european-local-public-innovation-conference/

All schedule times are given in Lisbon time (Continental Portugal time zone).

III. European (Local) Public Innovation Conference 26 – 28 May 2026 EsACT-IPB, Mirandela INNlocal_III_ConferenceDownload Date and Venue The III European (Local) Public Innovation Conference will be held from 26 – 28 May 2026 at the School of Public Management, Communication and Tourism of Bragan...

20/05/2026

⏳ The countdown has begun!

📢 The official programme for the III European (Local) Public Innovation Conference is now available.

Over the course of the conference, we will bring together researchers, practitioners, public leaders and local government representatives to explore new ideas, share experiences and discuss how public innovation can be strengthened at the local level.

Have a look at the programme above, and join us in this forum for dialogue, learning and collaboration on local public innovation.

All information is available here: https://innlocal.eu/3-european-local-public-innovation-conference/

14/05/2026

A Biblioteca Municipal de Valpaços acolheu recentemente uma sessão do projeto europeu INNlocal – Innovation in and through Local Governments, promovido pelo Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (IPB), no âmbito do programa Erasmus+. A iniciativa reuniu colaboradores do Município de Valpaços nu...