The 1st Plenary Meeting of the SPICE project took place on 22–23 January 2026 in Barcelona (Spain), hosted by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) at the Faculty of Translation and Interpreting. The meeting brought together all project partners, both onsite and online, marking a key milestone in the early implementation phase of the project.
The plenary meeting provided a valuable opportunity for the consortium to align on the project’s vision, review progress across all work packages, and jointly shape the next steps towards the development and testing of SPICE’s participatory co-creation framework and digital toolkit.
Day 1: Progress and Coordination
The first day focused on project alignment and progress review across all work packages. Partners discussed key milestones achieved so far, upcoming deliverables, and the need for close coordination to ensure coherence between participatory methodologies, digital tool development, pilot planning, impact assessment, and communication activities.
Special attention was given to inclusivity, accessibility, evaluation approaches, and preparation for the pilot phase across the demonstration sites. An open discussion among pilot partners highlighted practical challenges, stakeholder engagement, and the role of local dissemination events in launching pilot activities.
Day 2: Harmonisation and Tool Development
The second day was dedicated to collaboration and testing. An interactive harmonisation session enabled partners to jointly explore challenges related to citizen participation, institutional engagement, and the long-term sustainability of co-creation processes.
This was followed by a session where early mock-ups of the SPICE digital tools (chatbot, 3D Scene Editor, mobile app, platform) were presented and discussed. Partner feedback will directly inform the next development steps, with upcoming testing planned at major events at selected European events and academic settings.
Looking Ahead
SPICE project moves towards actual pilot activities and real-world testing. The consortium members also defined specific objectives under a certain time framework relating to next steps. With strong collaboration and a clear roadmap ahead, the SPICE project continues to build momentum towards inclusive, citizen-centred urban co-creation.
