INNLocal

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...

13/05/2026

About last week!

13/05/2026

29/04/2026

Another One in Alijó: INNlocal Sparks Innovation Through Play

INNlocal brings innovation game to Alijó in hands on session with municipal staff.

On 10 April, the INNlocal project travelled to Alijó for a working session designed to spark new thinking within local public administration, engaging municipal staff in an afternoon of experimentation and collaborative problem solving.

The session opened with a short introduction to the project’s mission and areas of focus, before moving into the central activity: the Innovation Journey game. Developed under INNlocal, the game challenges participants to navigate scenarios inspired by real world municipal contexts, using action cards, strategic constraints, and group discussion to explore alternative approaches to public sector challenges.

Throughout the session, participants worked in teams to analyse situations, debate options, and propose innovative responses to issues that mirror the daily realities of local government. The dynamic format encouraged active participation and helped create an environment where creativity and critical reflection could emerge naturally.

Feedback from the group was highly positive, with participants highlighting the value of the exercise in stimulating dialogue, encouraging fresh perspectives, and strengthening collaborative skills within the municipal workforce.

20/03/2026

A New CBL Session in Mogadouro

From Classroom to Territory: INNLocal Launches a New Challenge-Based Learning Session

The INNlocal project held another Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) session, this time focused on the municipality of Mogadouro. The activity brought together students from the Polytechnic University of Bragança in an active learning experience connected to real local contexts and developed in collaboration with local partners.

The session was part of the project’s pilot activities and reflected INNlocal’s commitment to promoting innovative learning approaches that bring Higher Education Institutions closer to local public administration and the needs of communities. In this case, the challenges explored during the session were designed with local partners, taking the context of Mogadouro as the basis for collaborative work.

Through this approach, students were encouraged to engage with real-life issues, work in teams and explore ideas and solutions in a practical and participatory way. The activity also reinforced the value of CBL as a methodology that supports critical thinking, cooperation, and the development of skills connected to public innovation.

With this new session, INNlocal continues to strengthen its goal of connecting higher education with the realities of local public action, while fostering a culture of innovation that is collaborative, inclusive, and rooted in the territories where it takes place.

19/03/2026

Shaping Microcredentials for Local Public Innovation

Learning Innovation, One Microcredential at a Time

How can micro-credentials help strengthen innovation in local public administration? This question was at the heart of a co-design session held at INA, I.P., where IPB, in partnership with INA, I.P., brought together local civil servants for a forward-looking discussion within the INNlocal project.

Built around active methodologies and collaborative dynamics, the session created a space for joint reflection on new learning pathways for the public sector. Participants were invited to share perspectives, discuss needs, and contribute to the development of micro-credentials designed to support innovation in local public administration.

The activity forms part of INNlocal’s broader effort to co-design training and capacity-building opportunities that respond to current public sector challenges. In this context, micro-credentials are being developed as flexible learning tools connected to key areas such as innovation, environmental sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and citizenship and participation.

By involving local civil servants directly in this process, the session highlighted the value of collaboration in building practical, relevant, and future-oriented training pathways for a more innovative, inclusive, and citizen-centred public administration.

18/03/2026

Unlocking Innovation in Chaves!

INNlocal fosters innovation in Chaves through a working session with local civil servants

The INNlocal project held a working session in Chaves, dedicated to exploring new approaches to innovation in local public administration.

The session brought together local civil servants from Chaves City Council for an activity that combined an institutional presentation with participatory dynamics, centred on playing the Innovation Journey card game, one of the project's tools. The initiative began with an introduction to INNlocal, focused on its main lines of action — environmental sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and citizen participation — as well as on the role of local governments as agents of transformation.

The highlight of the session was the game, which invited participants to engage with challenges inspired by real local government contexts. Through simulated scenarios, action cards, and strategic obstacles, the participants were encouraged to propose solutions, discuss ideas in groups, and reflect collectively in an interactive format that stimulated collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.

18/03/2026

Unlocking Innovation in Chaves!

INNlocal fosters innovation in Chaves through a working session with local civil servants

The INNlocal project held a working session in Chaves, dedicated to exploring new approaches to innovation in local public administration.

The session brought together local civil servants from Chaves City Council for an activity that combined an institutional presentation with participatory dynamics, centred on playing the Innovation Journey card game, one of the project's tools. The initiative began with an introduction to INNlocal, focused on its main lines of action — environmental sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and citizen participation — as well as on the role of local governments as agents of transformation.

The highlight of the session was the game, which invited participants to engage with challenges inspired by real local government contexts. Through simulated scenarios, action cards, and strategic obstacles, the participants were encouraged to propose solutions, discuss ideas in groups, and reflect collectively in an interactive format that stimulated collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.

Participants’ feedback was very positive, highlighting the value of the activity in fostering reflection and constructive debate around current public sector challenges.

12/03/2026

INNlocal Challenges PhD Minds

Bridging Research and Practice: INNLocal Engages PhD Students at the University of Minho

On 27 February, the INNlocal was featured in the Seminar Course Unit of the PhD in Public Administration at the Universidade do Minho. The session, entitled “INNlocal – Between Scientific and Local Governance Practice,” explored how active research methodologies can effectively connect academic knowledge with local governance challenges.

During the seminar, the project team presented its participatory and Challenge-Based approaches, highlighting how co-creation and mission-oriented innovation contribute to the redesign of local public services and the strengthening of innovation capacity in public administration.

The session concluded with the Innovation Journey Card Game, an interactive tool that engages participants in simulating innovation processes within local governance contexts. Through collaborative gameplay, PhD students reflected on experimentation, foresight, and public value creation, reinforcing the project’s commitment to turning research into practical and transformative impact.