Awards, demonstrations, workshops: an action-packed month for FIRE-RES

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In recent weeks, FIRE-RES has been actively involved in a wide range of initiatives, including Innovation Actions and Open Innovation Challenge solutions demonstrations. The result was a month of international awards, high-level events and in-depth exchanges. Here’s a quick roundup of what’s been happening across Europe.

Courtesy of Martino Rogai (CNR/IBE)

FIRE-RES PARTNER CNR IBE won the Forest Monitor Award al FORMEC 2025

From June 9 to 13, 2025, the 57th International Symposium on Forestry Mechanization (FORMEC) took place in Joensuu, Finland, where the Italian National Research Center’s Institute of Bioeconomy (CNR IBE) received the Forest Monitor Award for the best oral presentation. The prize was given to Martino Rogai for the work “Fuelbreak management with a multipurpose light tracked harvester”, developed within our project. During the symposium, several researchers from CNR IBE had the opportunity to connect with experts and professionals from around the world. 

Courtesy of Martino Rogai (CNR/IBE)

PORTUGUESE LIVING LAB PARTNERS SHARED UPDATES AT fEs 2025

Early June also coincided with the 4th International Congress on Fire in the Earth System: Humans and Nature, (fEs2025)”, held in Algés, Portugal. The event brought together participants from diverse backgrounds to exchange experiences and discuss the development of innovative approaches to fire research. FIRE-RES partners contributed with three presentations about proactive governance, engaged communities, and the EU culture of risk.

  • Brigite Botequim (CoLab ForestWISE) shared the highlights of  “Bridging policy and people: Collaborative wildfire risk governance in the Rural–Urban Interface of Lousã“, a participatory Policy Clinic that was piloted using both the Policy Coherence Matrix approach and the OPERA methodology. The core message of the work focused on wildfire prevention in rural–urban interface (RUI) areas like Lousã (Central Portugal), emphasizing that effective prevention depends not only on operational strategies or legal frameworks, but also on policy coherence and collaborative governance.

  • Cátia Santos (CoLab ForestWISE) presented “From Perception to Prevention: What Rural Communities Know About Fire? — A Mental Models Approach to Inform Risk Communication.” She highlighted the importance of understanding local perceptions when developing effective wildfire risk communication strategies, using a mental models approach.

  • Conceição Colaço (ISA/CEABN) introduced the Fire Education Platform, an online educational infrastructure designed to disseminate fire ecology and related behavioural and management recommendations for fire prevention.

Courtesy of University of the Aegean

FIRE-RES Adaptive Territorial Management Workshop in Athens

On May 27 and 28, 2025, the FIRE-RES Adaptive Territorial Management Workshop was held, co-organized by UAegean Research and Innovation and the National Observatory of Athens.  

The two-day workshop brought together researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders from across Europe, the USA, and Chile to exchange insights on wildfires scenarios planning and adaptive landscape, as well as discussing fuel management under future fire regimes. The agenda included high-level keynotes, case studies from the Greece and Portugal Living Labs, hands-on tool demonstrations, scenario planning for fuel treatments, and interactive sessions on integrated wildfire management.

The workshop was attended by 23 participants on-site and 21 online, offering a valuable space for dialogue within the Greece Living Lab and its wider Community of Wildfire Innovation.

The event also contributed to setting a six-month roadmap for adaptive territorial management, coordinated by UAegean, and highlighted the importance of collaborative, cross-sectoral approaches to wildfire resilience.

OBCT publishes the third chapter of its wildfire awareness campaign

As summer approaches and Europe prepares for a new fire season, FIRE-RES partner OBCT – Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa launched the third chapter of its Wildfire Awareness Campaign. This new article explores the urgent need to rethink our relationship with fire. As extreme wildfires reach unprecedented intensities, suppression alone is no longer enough: science, collaboration, and adaptive strategies are essential to replace outdated approaches.  Read the full article, featuring an interview with project partner TIEMS, here, and subscribe to the OBCT dedicated newsletter!

Courtesy of Hightek S.r.l. and Hoze Solutions GmbH

Two Open Innovation Challenge solutions tested in the Canary Islands Living Lab

In May, two Open Innovation Challenge (OIC) solutions were tested in the Canary Islands Living Lab.

HoZe Solutions GmbH demonstrated the FireFence system in the mountains of Cabildo De Gran Canaria. That is an unmanned, resource-efficient system designed for fireline containment and asset protection during wildfire operations. The demo showcased how the system can protect a forestry station, housing vital firefighting resources: an example of critical infrastructure that must remain operational during wildfires. One of the key challenges addressed by this innovation is the need for efficient water usage on the fireline during wildfire suppression.

The Gran Canaria Living Lab hosted the test of another OIC solution: Hightek carried out a live demonstration of the Q.SYSTEM, an advanced avionic technology for aerial firefighting. Q.System is designed to support pilots and aerial firefighters in the field and transmit real-time aerial data to Q.WEB, an integrated disaster management and wildfire intelligence platform. The demonstration was supported by PEGASUS AERO GROUP, which provided aircraft, pilots, and technicians.

Author:  Francesca Moglia (Euromontana)

Contributor: Beatrice Bellavia (Euromontana).