TWINNEDbySTARS closes in Madeira with final results and new routes for Atlantic cooperation

The TWINNEDbySTARS consortium gathered in Madeira from 15 to 16 July 2026 for its final steering committee, closing the project with a two-day programme focused on results, co-created tourism products and new routes for Atlantic cooperation.

Hosted by ACIF-CCIM in Funchal and led by ULPGC-TIDES with the support of partners including Consulta Europa, the meeting brought together project beneficiaries and Madeiran enterprises and stakeholders. The discussions highlighted the project’s work with maritime and coastal tourism SMEs, public administrations, universities, research centres and cluster organisations across the outermost regions.

Consolidating the project’s work

The first day took place at ACIF-CCIM’s headquarters and centred on a comprehensive review of TWINNEDbySTARS. Partners revisited the progress made in strengthening cooperation networks, building capacity, co-creating new maritime tourism experiences, and managing and disseminating the project.

Each work package presented its achievements and remaining tasks, feeding into a final roadmap designed to secure the project’s legacy and ensure that key deliverables are brought to completion.

Joint session with Madeiran enterprises

In the afternoon, attention shifted to a joint session with Madeiran enterprises and stakeholders, where the project’s concrete outputs were presented and discussed. This session provided an overview of TWINNEDbySTARS, followed by the presentation and evaluation of the two tourism products developed through the project: Atlantic Onboard Internships (AOBI) and Atlantic Star Adventures (ASA).

The discussion was framed around Madeira’s astro and blue tourism, with a strategic co-creation panel exploring how the products can support local development and how they might evolve in response to market needs and stakeholder feedback. The session was particularly valuable in linking project results to on-the-ground experience and in testing the transferability of the products beyond the consortium.

Learning from Madeira’s landscapes

The second day took the group out into the field, with a technical maritime excursion along Madeira’s south coast and a visit to the north of the island. The programme combined geological and volcanic interpretation of the Funchal coastline with readings of marine and coastal heritage and further stops in locations such as S. Vicente, Seixal and Porto Moniz.

These visits offered practical insights into sustainable coastal tourism models, geotourism and the integration of science and tourism, while opening up discussion on how similar approaches can be replicated in other outermost regions.

Looking ahead

For Consulta Europa and the wider consortium, the Madeira meeting underscored the value of TWINNEDbySTARS as a bridge between research, policy and business in the blue economy. It showed how cooperative frameworks, training activities and co-created products such as AOBI and ASA can support more sustainable and innovative forms of marine tourism.

As the project formally closes, partners will continue working to keep these networks active, to promote the tourism products, and to build on the experiences gained in Madeira and across the partner regions.