The IN4SAFETY project concluded with great participation, an initiative that involved citizens, institutions, and Italian and Slovenian rescue teams to promote awareness and disaster risk prevention. The event represented an important moment of exchange and connection for those who work every day for the safety of communities, increasingly attentive to environmental protection and emergency management.

Two days dedicated to meetings, demonstrations and in-depth discussions showed concretely how cross-border cooperation can strengthen prevention, management, and community resilience in the face of natural risks and emergencies. The event offered a significant opportunity to share knowledge, experiences, and good practices among project partners and emergency management experts.

Friday, 17 October – public conference
The public conference on Friday, 17 October, held at the Hotel Perla in Nova Gorica, opened with institutional greetings from Italian and Slovenian authorities, confirming the strong cross-border collaboration that characterises the IN4SAFETY project.

Speakers included Janez Furlan, Head of the Department for Economy and Development of the Municipality of Ajdovščina, and Dr. Francesca Sibilla from the Interreg VI-A Italy–Slovenia Programme. Representatives from the Municipalities of Gorizia and Nova Gorica, and the Civil Protection of the Autonomous Region Friuli Venezia Giulia also took part, highlighting the value of joint work and the shared commitment to strengthening prevention and cooperation between territories.

Also attending the conference were Romina Kocina, Director of EGTC GO, and Ezio Benedetti, officer for European projects development, together with many partners and stakeholders in the sector. They discussed strategies, innovations and cooperation between Italy and Slovenia, focusing on risk awareness and assessment, and technological and operational preparedness to effectively face common challenges.

They shared the results of their activities and presented projects related to the themes addressed by IN4SAFETY. The presentations enriched the overall experience by offering data, tools and good practices that strengthen the network of cooperation between Italy and Slovenia and lay solid foundations for the future of cross-border collaboration.

In particular, the speeches covered key subjects such as:
– hydrogeological risk management and landslide monitoring in Friuli Venezia Giulia;
– development of early warning systems for extreme weather and seismic events (CRISAFE, SaferCAST projects);
– strengthening local resilience and cross-border healthcare cooperation (EDURES, ReBUS, SANITAS projects);
– interoperability of monitoring systems and emergency response (CONCORDIA project);
– wildfire prevention in the Karst region (KARST-SAFE project);
– field experiences and early warning systems involving first responders (CROSS ALERT project).

The conference concluded with a presentation by ISIG researcher Alice Rossi, who illustrated the results and experience of GOin4SAFETY, the cross-border exercise organised last June together with project partners, a culminating moment of cooperation and shared learning.

Saturday, 18 October – final event
Piazza Transalpina and the EPICenter were transformed into a large Safety Fair open to everyone. The day offered a rich programme of activities designed to engage the public in an educational and participatory experience.

Visitors could explore vehicles and equipment from the Fire Brigade, Civil Protection, and Forestry Service up close, watch spectacular simulations – including controlled explosions, rescue operations and fire extinguishing exercises – and take part in themed games with gadgets, designed to raise awareness among adults and children about safety issues.

Inside the EPICenter, discussions and presentations were held with experts on topics such as forest fire prevention, the use of satellite imagery, GIS systems, and lessons learned during the GOin4SAFETY exercise. In the demonstration corners, visitors could discover other European projects in which ISIG is a partner, dedicated to cooperation and territorial resilience, including CONNECT (climate adaptation, led by EGTC GO), CRISAFE (early warning and cascading multi-risk events), KARST ADAPT (improving Karst resilience to climate change), and SYNERGIES (promoting a culture of disaster preparedness).

The atmosphere of the day was lively and engaging, with moments of discovery, learning and cooperation involving everyone present. The final event of IN4SAFETY was a significant moment for the Italian and Slovenian public. It demonstrated how cooperation, knowledge and participation are key elements in building safer, more aware and resilient communities.