LOTTI LIM 5: Local Identity Meets Innovation in Puglia

From April 8–9, 2025, the region of Puglia welcomed partners and stakeholders of the Interreg Europe LOTTI Project for its fifth Interregional Meeting (LIM 5), marking another important step in advancing local identity-led innovation across Europe.

The event opened at Palazzo Guerrieri in Brindisi, where regional leaders—Gianna Elisa Berlingerio, Director of the Economic Development Department; Deputy Mayor Teresa Giuliana of Brindisi; and Vittorio Rina, President of ASI Brindisi—offered a warm welcome. Their opening remarks underscored the vital role of interregional cooperation in shaping innovation rooted in local culture and place-based development.

The first day featured an Exchange Workshop: Partners’ Introduction and Policy Change, starting with introductions and a special welcome to new project partners. In Working Session 1, each delegation presented a concise five-minute overview of their progress on policy change, setting the stage for shared learning and feedback.

After a short break, Working Session 2 invited partners and stakeholders to share one good practice each through quickfire elevator pitches. These presentations focused on evaluating the practices’ potential for future bilateral exchange visits. Partners also engaged in deeper discussions around Policy Change Reports and Action Plans, identifying key implementation strategies and exchanging insights on challenges and opportunities.

Practical tools such as the Survey on Capacity Needs and the evolving High Road Map were explored, sparking dynamic dialogue on their application in real-world policy development and capacity building efforts.

Participants then toured Palazzo Guerrieri’s Certified Incubator, where Salvatore Modeo, founder of The Qube, introduced the space’s innovative approach to supporting entrepreneurs through the fusion of tradition and technology.

In the afternoon, the delegation visited Oasi del Cillarese, a tranquil reservoir and public green space managed by ASI Brindisi. Giuseppe Solito provided context on the site's ecological importance and infrastructural role, aligning environmental stewardship with local development.

A formal dinner at La Nassa in Brindisi provided an opportunity for informal networking and cultural exchange in a relaxed setting.

Day two began with a focused Steering Committee meeting at Palazzo Guerrieri, where partners discussed communication strategies, progress reporting, and next steps for strategic planning across the consortium.

The day’s site visits began at Castello Aragonese in Taranto, a historic fortress now serving as a backdrop to the Taranto Futuro Prossimo initiative. Presented by Silvia Visciano and Elio Sannicandro (Director of ASSET Puglia), the project exemplifies how culture, sustainability, and urban regeneration can transform regional futures.

The final stop was at Valle Fiorita srl in Ostuni, where R&D Manager Andrea Minisci showcased cutting-edge food production methods. Partners also met with stakeholders from the Innotipico Project, fostering discussion on potential synergies and transregional collaboration.

As LIM 5 concluded, participants reflected on a rich programme of dialogue, discovery, and deepening relationships. The visit to Puglia reaffirmed the LOTTI Project’s commitment to placing local identity at the heart of sustainable, inclusive innovation.