Social Innovation Strategies for Sustainability in the Pyrenees
The Sant Domènec Hall at La Seu d’Urgell hosted the conference “Participatory Methodologies and Social Innovation for the Sustainable Transition of Mountain Regions.” The event brought together experts and local stakeholders to define adaptive strategies for the Pyrenees, with a particular focus on areas linked to ski resorts.
The event, opened by Dr. Silvia Puigarnau, featured an inaugural presentation by Dr. Edu Inglés Yuba on the relationship between sports, territory, and participation. Following that, Anna Codorniu, Ian Serra Carrillo, and Montse Brugulat presented the results of the PITON project, detailing the methodology applied in the pilot studies in Catalonia and Andorra.
The session on innovation featured leading figures such as Yvan Lara Sànchez (Andorra Recerca + Innovació), Ferran Canudas (Cooperativa l'Arada), and Julen Larrañaga (ALC). Larrañaga discussed the concept of “Smart Participation” using the example of the Guggenheim in Urdaibai, where plans were being considered to expand the museum within a Biosphere Reserve. After outlining this scenario, he explored how tools such as Social Digital Twins could help in the future to model complex scenarios and measure the social acceptance of decisions in the region.
Dr. Pau Mateu closed the session with a summary of the day’s key points, highlighting the need for anticipatory governance to address the climate and economic challenges facing mountain regions.
The session focused on the Research-Action model, based on the premise that the Pyrenees do not require further external assessments, but rather the activation of processes where the inhabitants themselves lead the implementation of solutions in their own territory.