The ENNEPlus project is bringing together diverse Vocational Education and Training (VET) teams for the First Edition of the Eco-Digithon, a collaborative, challenge-based competition that merges environmental sustainability with digital innovation. This unique event will be held across Austria, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, engaging students and teachers in a shared mission: to design practical solutions for real-world eco-challenges through creative use of digital tools.
The participating VET teams represent a wide spectrum of educational approaches, socio-cultural backgrounds, and regional sustainability challenges. Each group has been selected for its commitment to advancing both green and digital transitions within their local context—two key priorities of the ENNEPlus initiative, in line with the European Green Deal and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Austria will showcase teams from institutions that integrate environmental studies with applied technology training, tackling topics such as renewable energy solutions, circular economy strategies, and eco-conscious product design.
Italy’s teams bring expertise from technical schools and vocational centres, combining craftsmanship traditions with digital manufacturing, aiming to modernise processes while reducing environmental footprints. Many projects focus on sustainable materials, waste reduction, and green entrepreneurship.
Portugal welcomes teams from coastal and inland regions, highlighting how diverse ecosystems inspire innovation. These groups are exploring topics like sustainable tourism, marine conservation, and local food systems, blending cultural heritage with forward-looking digital strategies.
Spain presents teams from varied socio-economic contexts, from urban hubs to rural communities. Their projects often address pressing issues such as water scarcity, mobility, renewable energy adoption, and smart agriculture, supported by strong community engagement.
By involving a broad range of participants, the national Eco-Digithons create a vibrant, transnational exchange of ideas and practices. Teams not only present their solutions at the National competitions but also engage in peer learning, gaining insights from other regions’ environmental and technological realities through a community of practice platform
Following each national event, detailed project presentations and documents will be made available on the ENNEPlus Community of Practice platform, allowing educators, students, and stakeholders to replicate and adapt these innovative solutions.
The diversity of the participating VET teams reflects a core belief of ENNEPlus: that meaningful progress in sustainability requires both local adaptation and international collaboration. The Eco-Digithon is more than a competition—it is a catalyst for building a shared culture of eco-innovation, equipping young people with the skills, creativity, and global perspective needed for the green and digital transitions ahead, embedding social change.
