As the EXPER project nears its conclusion, partners from across Europe gathered in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on 11 March 2025 for the final Steering Committee meeting. This milestone event marked a crucial moment to reflect on the project’s achievements and outline the last steps before its official closure.
Led by Laura Gaspar Ramírez, project coordinator from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), the session brought together all consortium members for a comprehensive discussion on the progress made, challenges overcome, and future opportunities for sustaining the project’s impact.
Throughout its duration, EXPER—Excellent Peripheries for a Strong European Research Area—has worked to enhance research excellence and innovation in Europe’s peripheral regions, tackling key challenges such as brain drain, gender equality in research, and the development of strategic partnerships for long-term collaboration.
This final Steering Committee followed on from discussions held at the Second General Assembly in Calabria, where partners evaluated the outcomes of each Work Package (WP), including advancements in HRS4R implementation, the replication of the CLAB model, and the establishment of spin-off supporting offices. The meeting in Las Palmas served as an opportunity to consolidate these efforts, ensuring a smooth transition towards the project’s final conference and long-term sustainability.
With the last milestones now in sight, the EXPER consortium remains committed to leaving a lasting impact on regional research ecosystems, fostering innovation and strengthening the European Research Area.
