Updates & Events: 

From 29 January to 1 February 2026, Pontremoli will become the meeting point for community managers, digital nomads and local development practitioners from Italy, Spain and Romania, hosting the first international conference of Highland Community Managers (HiCoMa) under the patronage of the Municipality of Pontremoli.

For a few days, the “Gateway to Tuscany” turns into a European laboratory on how rural and mountain areas can reinvent themselves through participation, remote work and new alliances between citizens, institutions and businesses.

At the heart of the programme is the public conference on Friday 30 January at 3:00 pm at Teatro della Rosa, open to citizens, associations and local stakeholders. The event will present the outcomes of the HiCoMa project and the Pontremoli case study Start Working Pontremoli, a non-profit initiative that has attracted remote workers and digital nomads to the town, combining a free co-working space in the Town Hall with cultural and community-building activities.

The conference will also feature Marianna Vianello, CEO of Kid Pass srl and HiCoMa media partner, with a preview of Kidpass Tourism, and Alberto Mattei, founder of the Italian Digital Nomads Association, presenting the 4th Report on Digital Nomadism in Italy.

Between May and October 2025, HiCoMa – Highland Community Manager (KA210-VET-E475A14E) delivered an advanced international training course, involving 90 experts worldwide, 20 thematic round tables, over 100 trainees and more than 50 case studies. All outputs are available on www.hicoma.eu.

Go to HiCoMa Pontremoli 2026 page fordetailed program,  Press release ( ITA - En) ,  Press folder , Tavel Pack 

🗓️ Upcoming HiCoMa Online Job fair : New Professional Profiles for Sustainable Rural and Mountain Areas

The HiCoMa project is pleased to announce its upcoming online Job Fair titled:

🎯 “New Professional Profiles for the Sustainability of Rural and Mountain Areas”

📅 Date: Thusday, December 2, 2025
🕚 Time: 11:00 AM (CET)
📍 Location: Online Zoom (with multilingual subtitles available)
🌐working language will be Spanish

As part of the final stage of the HiCoMa online training course, the Job Fair will bring together key stakeholders, community managers, and rural development experts to discuss the emerging professional roles required to support the future of Europe’s highland and rural regions.

🔎 Key Topics

• Innovative roles for community management in remote areas

• Skills for territorial sustainability

• Building networks across rural territories

• Empowering local governance and youth engagement
  
  

👥 Speakers & Contributors

This seminar will feature leading organisations and institutions active in rural innovation, including:

• CREA 360 SL (Alicante)

• Mancomunitat El Xarpolar (Alicante)

• University of Alicante – Master’s in Local Development and Territorial Innovation

• ADICOVER (Cáceres)

• FEMUR – GAL Tierras del Cid (Segovia)

Participants include over 70 learners enrolled in the HiCoMa training program from Spain, Italy, Romania, and beyond.

🌐 Language & Accessibility

The working language will be Spanish, with automatic subtitles available in multiple languages for international participants.

📣 Why Attend?

This is a unique opportunity to:

• Explore real job opportunities in the field of community management

• Connect with rural development organisations and experts

• Discover the outcomes of the HiCoMa training and stakeholder engagement activities

• Share your voice in shaping the future of rural innovation 

🔗 Registration link  https://zoom.us/meeting/register/RS5rC4YSSka6_HtBmgJD3Q  

 HiCoMa Round Table
Title: Youth Employment and Rural Entrepreneurship
🕕 Time: 18:00 CEST (19:00 EEST)
⏱️ Duration: a bit over 90 minutes — we’re at the end of the course and the three speakers are unmissable!
Language: 🇬🇧 with translated subtitles

🎙️ Speakers: 

• Arisara Jaktreemongkol (Thailand) Mae Fah Luang Foundation empowers Thailand’s highland communities through sustainable livelihoods, forest restoration & culture. Creator of the “Sustainable Settlement Game,” inspiring youth to build resilient futures.

• Patrizia Loiola – Italy, President of For.Co.P. Cora and expert in training & social innovation. Patrizia Loiola designs creative learning paths that empower young people and communities through participation, art, and shared responsibility.

• Anamaria Moisa – (Romania) →President of Asociatia Se Poate 🇷🇴 | Youth trainer & facilitator empowering rural communities through participation, inclusion, and non-formal education.

 👉 Join us to explore real strategies for youth jobs & rural startups.

🔗 Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/93799951962?pwd=HaP7SjVKG6JaULIeiCJceGsQyQ2gWz.1

Feel free to share! 🌿 

 HiCoMa Round Table
Title: Youth Employment and Rural Entrepreneurship
🕕 Time: 18:00 CEST (19:00 EEST)
⏱️ Duration: a bit over 90 minutes — we’re at the end of the course and the three speakers are unmissable!
Language: 🇬🇧 with translated subtitles

🎙️ Speakers: 

Marina Milanović,(Serbia)  EU Projects Consultant & President of Digital Decanters | Promoting rural innovation and youth entrepreneurship across Europe

Simone Klinkon, (Italy)  Technology Consultant, Founder of SMAS APS and creator of the Fiera dell’Innovazione di Sovramonte, promoting tech innovation in rural and mountain areas.

Javier Expósito: (Spain) Founder of Exportory & Alvacor | President of ASED NGO | Expert in Internationalisation, Vocational Training & Rural Innovation

 👉 Join us to explore real strategies for youth jobs & rural startups.

🔗 Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/93799951962?pwd=HaP7SjVKG6JaULIeiCJceGsQyQ2gWz.1

Feel free to share! 🌿 

 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 27 September 2025

 𝟭𝟬:𝟬𝟬 CEST (Rome) – Online via Zoom

You are warmly invited to our next HiCoMa Key Lesson:

 𝙍𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙀𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣

Join us for an inspiring morning as experts and students come together to explore how renewable energy and the ecological transition can help build resilient rural and mountain communities throughout Europe.

 Don’t miss this chance to learn, connect, and collaborate on innovative solutions for a sustainable future!

🔗 Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/93799951962?pwd=HaP7SjVKG6JaULIeiCJceGsQyQ2gWz.1