On the 15th of February 2023 the third Research and Innovation Session of the MSCA-H2020-RISE project HIGHLANDS.3 took place in the Argentinian Andes. We are pleased about the active participation of about 50 participants from a total of 11 countries, around half of whom came from european countries.
The program started in the south of Argentina in Patagonia, more precisely in Calafate, Santa Cruz. The R&IS was planned in such a way that three important regions of Argentina could be visited within the four weeks. The start in Patagonia was followed by the Central Andes in the region around the city of Mendoza. The third and last stop took place in the northwest, the Valles Calchaquíes, Tucumán.
The division of the session into three stops allowed to cover the diversity of the Argentine Andes. Thus, the imposing beauty of the Patagonian mountain ranges could be admired, the vitality of the Mendoza region, with its vineyards, the arid Andes and its innovative society and finally the socio-cultural, economic and scienic variety of the Valles Calchaquíes.
A total of 55 initiatives contributing to sustainable development at local or supra-regional level were visited and interviewed. As in the two previous sessions, there was a wide diversity in the initiatives and the research fields in which the participating scientists are active. This resulted in a very transdisciplinary form of research, broadening the own scientific horizon and gaining valuable experience for all involved.
The very successful session in Argentina, which was, in comparison to the rather difficult start of the project, less influenced by the Corona pandemic, motivates for the upcoming Research & Innovation Sessions within the Highlands.3 project.
