The EFFECTOR project was officially launched on 4 February 2025, at an opening conference held in the amphitheatre of the Institut des sciences analytiques et de physico-chimie pour l’environnement et les matériaux (IPREM), in Pau, France.
The conference was opened by Christelle BONNEMASON-CARRÈRE (Deputy Mayor of Pau) on behalf of the French Prime Minister, M. François Bayrou and confirmed the importance of this project. Speeches reinforcing this were given by Prof. Isabelle LE HECHO (University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour – UPPA representative), Dr. Jean-Marc SOTIROPOULOS (IPREM director). Wishes were expressed to strengthen the bonds between industry and academia, and great success to the EFFECTOR team.
Dr. Roger HIORNS gave an overview of the project objectives stressing the extraordinary responsibility each member of the team has to make EFFECTOR work, given our exceptional diversity and complementarity.
After a speech by the European Project Adviser, Mauricio RICHTER RIOS, who reminded the rules of EU funding, the opening conference was followed by 2 days of meetings of the supervisory board, which worked to launch the project and its various Work packages, in a studious, collaborative and warm atmosphere.
The partners concluded the kick-off meeting with a series of bonding activities and a chance to discover the Béarn region: axe throwing, Béarn gastronomy, wine tasting and an electric bike ride through the Jurançon vineyards. The sun shone brightly over the 2 days, auguring a fruitful collaboration and a bright, successful project!
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