This past October 19th to 21st 2018 IAAC Head of European Projects Chiara Farinea joined the Middle East – Europe Forum held in Kish Island, Iran. Together with Brazil, Oman and China, Iran is one of the international observatory partner countries of EU H2020 project UrbiNat.

This initiative focuses on the regeneration and integration of deprived districts in urban development through innovative Nature-Based Solutions. The central focus of the gathering -joined by several UrbiNat partners- was to work out common initiatives to enable universities, researchers and key stakeholders to engage in effective collaboration in support of future prosperity and sustainable development.

During the Forum, organised with the aim of promoting innovation and solutions in support of a sustainable future, in-depth discussions aimed to lay the basis for cross-border match making of research and innovation activities in four areas: Urban Issues and Solutions, Water, Renewable Energy, and Non-communicable Disease.

Apart from addressing policy and strategic issues, the event – that brought together decision-makers, strategists, research foundations, universities, researchers and practitioners – represented a unique occasion for overcoming barriers and realising mutual benefits from collaboration in aspects of research, innovation and education of high shared importance.