On 30 September and 1 October 2025, AREA with Viviana Capurso took part in the DUT Projects events held in Milan — a dynamic two-day gathering that brought together all projects launched under the DUT Calls 2022 and 2023. The event represented an invaluable opportunity for learning, interaction, and networking among project coordinators, researchers, innovators, and communication specialists from across Europe.
The sessions were designed to foster meaningful exchange, with participants divided into small, interactive groups to discuss shared challenges, explore synergies, and learn more about the practical implementation of the DUT framework. The agenda included plenary discussions, thematic sessions, and a poster exhibition featuring the wide array of projects currently funded by the DUT Partnership.
AREA attended the event as subcontractor for Communication of the Feed4Food project, which operates under the Circular Urban Economy thematic pillar of DUT together with other projects like SURFIT, NATURO and FOCUSE. Alongside project coordinator Lia Van Wesenbeck, representing the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the Amsterdam Centre for World Food Studies, AREA presented the project’s communication and dissemination activities and contributed to the poster exhibition.
The Feed4Food poster attracted strong interest from participants and organisers alike, highlighting the project’s innovative approach to developing Living Labs in urban food systems. The poster showcased how Feed4Food connects local authorities, universities, SMEs, and community organisations to co-create sustainable food solutions tailored to vulnerable groups in various European cities, including Strovolos (Cyprus), Drama (Greece), and Bucharest (Romania).
Throughout the event, participants engaged in lively discussions about the future sustainability of DUT-funded initiatives, with particular attention to scalability, replicability, and long-term data collection. Feed4Food was recognised as a particularly promising example, thanks to its dashboard, its capacity to adapt its Living Lab model to diverse contexts and its emphasis on community engagement and co-creation.
Beyond the poster sessions, AREA had the opportunity to exchange experiences with representatives of other projects focusing on Positive Energy Districts and 15-Minute Cities, two other flagship themes within DUT’s mission to accelerate urban transformation in Europe. These exchanges offered valuable insights into how different sectors — energy, mobility, food, and housing — can converge in pursuit of more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive cities.
For AREA, participation in the DUT Projects Event reaffirmed the company’s commitment to sustainability-driven innovation, knowledge transfer, and collaborative learning. The discussions, tools, and methods shared during the event will further strengthen AREA’s ability to design and deliver impactful communication strategies that connect research with real-world transformation.
Reflecting on the workshop, Viviana Capurso, Dissemination and Communication Specialist from AREA, shared a personal impression:
“I truly believe that beauty will save the world — and during this event, I could see how concepts like Positive Energy Districts, Circular Urban Economy, and 15-Minute Cities can embody both the effectiveness and beauty of sustainability. These approaches show that by helping vulnerable communities rediscover their towns in a new, more inclusive way, we are not only transforming spaces but also restoring hope and dignity.” As always, growth through collaboration and learning remains at the heart of AREA’s work. Engaging with the DUT community was not only a chance to showcase the progress of Feed4Food but also a moment to reflect on how the principles guiding this project — inclusion, co-creation, and circularity — resonate across many of the fields in which AREA operates. This exchange of ideas and best practices will continue to inspire AREA’s ongoing efforts to build a more sustainable and connected future.
