2026 started with the celebration of the first LTC Sarea Encounter of the year in Biarritz 

2026 began with the first LTC Sarea Encounter of the year, held on 24 February in Biarritz. 

The meeting brought together members of the LTC Sarea community for a working session focused on exchange and reflection. Participants shared updates, experiences and perspectives in a setting designed to encourage open discussion and collaboration. 

The plenary session was opened by Amaia Esquisabel, Director of Science Policy at the Basque Government’s Department of Science, Universities and Innovation. Organised in a colloquium format, the session enabled dialogue between speakers and attendees. 

Senior and early-career researchers from the Laboratories for Transborder Cooperation (LTC) and the LTC Incubators of the Basque Country and Nouvelle-Aquitaine took part in a joint reflection on the future of cross-border scientific cooperation. Discussions addressed current challenges, opportunities for strengthening collaboration and the development of emerging research initiatives in the region. 

The encounter provided a space to review ongoing work and consider next steps in reinforcing scientific cooperation across the border. It was an opportunity to explore future actions for the evolution of innovative and advanced training models and cross-border mobility schemes linked to shared scientific agendas, for connecting cutting-edge research and building innovation ecosystems. 

Thanks to the testimony of few LTC members who have experienced it, transformation of investigation to innovation is not an easy step to take but not impossible. Through the mentimeter voting tool asking the audience about its projection towards knowledge transfer or entrepreneurship, a strong interest from the participants has been highlighted. 

Further to the explorative discussions and constructive exchange of ideas, we will continue to work on the development of the network, developing areas of interest with capacity of improvement, and will keep identifying new connections and possible synergies.