Consortium
Verne is a consortium of 15 multidisciplinary organisations.
The consortium represents 11 European countries and associated countries (including Spain, Denmark, Slovenia, Germany, Finland, Greece, Austria, Italy, Turkey, Sweden, and Ireland). Their collective and extensive expertise allows them to professionally implement a Research and Innovation project to demonstrate circular systemic solutions to promote a transition towards sustainable tourism in Europe.
PNO
About & Role Website
Description of Partner
PNO Innovation Spain, part of the PNO Group, leader in accelerating innovation processes, offering comprehensive services such as innovation management, project development, R&D&I financing, and business intelligence. PNO specializes in exploitation strategies for advanced technologies and establishing international technology transfer, open innovation networks, and knowledge-sharing communities.
Role in the Project
In its role as coordinator, PNO will strategically support the advancement of circular models in Europe, aiming to enhance
scalability and replicability (WP5) and will contribute on impact maximisation (WP6).
Rethink
About & Role Website
Description of Partner
The AEI Re Think Tourism, is registered in the Ministry of Industry & Tourism as an innovative business group (AEI), is made up of around 500 tourist accommodations and 8 knowledge and research centres. It generates tools that provide competitiveness and optimize business strategy through sustainability. As well as new business opportunities and synergies for our partners. Identifies, manages and obtains fundings for sustainability and renovation projects with the aim of increasing the competitiveness of the hotel sector.
RETHINK drives sustainability in Spanish tourism by organizing annual competitions to discover and fund top projects.
Role in the Project
RETHINK will conduct a comprehensive analysis of existing assessment methodologies and co-develop an approach tailored on tourism. With a broad network in the hospitality sector, RETHINK will play a key role in dissemination.
Website
CETT
About & Role Website
Description of Partner
CETT is the Barcelona School of Tourism, Hospitality, and Gastronomy recognized as an international academic hub that connects people and links academia with the business and public administration sectors. Renowned for its research expertise, CETT focuses on sustainable and responsible tourism, digital transformation in tourism enterprises, and innovation-driven tourism planning and management.
Role in the Project
Previous research conducted by CETT plays a pivotal role in shaping the VERNE project’s scientific conceptual foundation and multi-dimensional methodological framework, facilitating the transition of participating destinations toward sustainable and circular tourism models (WP1). In line with CETT’s commitment to transferring knowledge to administrations, communities, and businesses of the tourism sector, the project findings will provide strategic decision-making resources for local and regional authorities at the analyzed destinations, supporting their tourism development plans and fostering replicability in other tourism contexts (WP 5, and WP6).
Website
INLAB – UPC
About & Role Website
Description of Partner
INLAB serves as the innovation and research laboratory for the Informatics Faculty of Barcelona at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC). Specializing in multidisciplinary R&D&I projects within the ICT field, it views innovation and training as the cornerstones for progress and knowledge transformation.
Role in the Project
InLab will be actively involved in the design of the relationship models that will underpin the upgrade of VERNE’s multistakeholder apps and tools. These models will define how different users and systems interact with each other, including researchers, policymakers, citizens, data sources, etc. The goal is to assure that these models are robust, scalable, and meet the needs of all stakeholders involved in the VERNE project. This work will involve data analysis, model conceptualization, validation techniques, etc.
Website
LU
About & Role Website
Description of Partner
The Department of Service Studies is part of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Lund University (LU). The Department of Service Studies at Campus Helsingborg hosts internationally competitive and high-quality research in service studies. Some key areas of research are: Consumption, marketing and retail; Tourism, place and mobility; Management, organization and work; Sustainability, resources and services; and Culture and creativity. Through a broad interdisciplinary profile, the research contributes to sustainable development in line with Agenda 2030. Lund University is ranked 3rd in the world in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2025.
Role in the Project
ULUND is leading the VERNE pilot on Bornholm, a Danish island in the Baltic Sea. The pilot is exploring how circular tourism behavior in the food domain can be promoted through actions such as promotion of local food consumption, reducing food waste in the hospitality sector and the promotion of green local food experiences. The work is carried out using the Communities of Practice approach (CoP) with a strong engagement of local stakeholders and their professional networks. The work is focused on increasing the availability of digital information about food and its origins to tourists and travelers.
Website
ITC
About & Role Website
Description of Partner
ITC is a non-profit Business Support Organization fostering cross-sectoral innovation and implementation of novel technologies and ICT in rural-based sectors. The organization envisions creating a unique Europe-wide innovationbased ecosystem by bringing together target groups, including SMEs, food system actors, farmers, and other rural stakeholders, transforming them into ‘Smart’ entities.
Role in the Project
In VERNE, ITC is responsible for a Pilot case in the region of Pomurje in Slovenia. In addition, ITC will coordinate the analytical work around VERNE digital apps and tools together with pilot actors, as well as supporting the Dissemination, Communication and Exploitation activities informing the local stakeholders about VERNE results.
Website
SDU
About & Role Website
Description of Partner
SDU is recognized for its world-class research, earning a position among the top fifty young universities globally.
Role in the Project
In VERNE, SDU will lead a Pilot case in Sønderjylland-Schleswig, a rural cross-border region between Denmark and Germany, and will contribute original data on how regional corporations can incorporate sustainable model measures such as the corporate museum to attract regional, slow and cultural tourists.
Website
CSCP
About & Role Website
Description of Partner
CSCP, international nonprofit Think and Do tank dedicated to promoting a good life. In the circular economy topic, they foster collaboration among businesses, policymakers, partner organizations, and civil society, ensuring the sustainability and social inclusivity of circular strategies, incorporating the consumer perspective, and co-developing circular business models. The CSCP actively engages with partners across various sectors to facilitate a fair and sustainable transition, aligning with key EU priorities.
Role in the Project
Bringing expertise in stakeholder engagement and multi-actor approach, participatory strategies, and related activities, CSCP will set-up, coordinate and manage the Community of Practice in VERNE.
Website
LUKE
About & Role Website
Description of Partner
LUKE is a research organisation that builds sustainable future from renewable natural resources. Currently, LUKE is involved in about 80 EU-funded projects (13 coordinated). Luke researchers from the Bioeconomy and the Environment Unit, Recreation and Nature Values Group will be part of VERNE project thanks to their expertise in virtual nature solutions. This expertise brought them to develop the VirtuLab research infrastructure, a system that can also be used for developing Virtual nature-based tourism.
Role in the Project
In VERNE, LUKE will lead the Pilot located in Helsinki & Uusimaa region, Finland. LUKE actively collaborates with local stakeholders of Uusimaa region to drive forward innovation. LUKE provides top-tier infrastructure for the development and delivery of immersive virtual nature-based tourism experiences.
Website
UNI
About & Role Website
Description of Partner
Uni Systems a long-standing strategic ICT partner to financial institutions, public organizations, telecom operators and enterprises in the European region, has been providing integrated solutions and value-added services since 1964. Today, the Company invests substantially in its European perspective and demonstrates a proven track record of accomplishments in complex and mission critical IT projects in more than 20 countries through its subsidiaries in Belgium, Romania, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain, and Cyprus
Role in the Project
Renowned for its client-centric approach, commitment to excellence, and agile management style, Uni Systems is recognised as a specialised and reliable ICT digital provider in the European market. Uni Systems will have a pivotal role in VERNE, actively participating in the development of digital technologies for stakeholder interactions.
Website
ANRI
About & Role Website
Description of Partner
ANRI is a research and innovation institute dedicated to promoting nature-based solutions and circular economy principles to drive the transition toward climate-smart and sustainable societies. We develop and pilot innovative approaches in the fields of water management, resilient cities and infrastructure, agriculture and food, bio-based value chains, and circular buildings and industries. Through interdisciplinary research, advisory and trainings, and international collaboration, we actively contribute to shaping future-proof solutions.
Role in the Project
ANRI plays a central role in the VERNE Project, leading Work Package 2 (WP2) on circular solutions and business models for sustainable tourism. Leveraging their expertise in VERNE, ANRI will help define of circularity pathways for the pilots. Moreover, ANRI will contributes to mapping and analysing stakeholder networks to formulate specific BMs for the intricate tourism ecosystem in VERNE.
Website
IHA
About & Role Website
Description of Partner
Impact Hub Athens inspires, connects, and enables impact makers with unlikely allies for social and environmental innovation at scale. Their mission is to turn ideas into lasting impact in the areas of: climate action, equitable cities and rural regeneration.
Part of a global network of 120+ Impact Hubs, the IHA teams focuses on capacity building, business engineering, canalizing resources & knowledge, connecting science and innovation with the market, ecosystem building and community engagement for the establishment of purpose driven and wellbeing economy.
Role in the Project
IHA is converting a hotel to an agro-tourism unit by implementing onsite wastewater treatment and composting, along with open space rainwater drainage systems and promotion of transport through electric vehicles. Additionally, their role is to engage actively the tourism industry stakeholders, local community & visitors of Santorini in NBS practices and the circular economy culture through actual tools, gatherings, co- creation and hands on experiences.
Website
APRE
About & Role Website
Description of Partner
APRE is a non-profit research organization established through a collaborative effort involving the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research, as well as various public and private entities. Its objective is to support and facilitate Italian participation in EU R&I funding programs by providing information, training, and assistance services. It is noteworthy that APRE’s extensive engagement in projects enables the establishment of liaisons and active involvement in numerous EU-funded initiatives, particularly those centred around circular and bio-based economy.
Role in the Project
APRE will lead VERNE’s communication efforts, ensuring effective dissemination of project outcomes. Leveraging its strategic position and strong relationships with key policymakers in the sector, APRE will also oversee the development of policy recommendations based on VERNE’s research findings and outputs.
Website
BUU
About & Role Website
Description of Partner
Our university has 2,713 academic staff, 68,428 students and 1,953 administrative staff. It is built on a large area of more than 14 million square metres, 6 million square metres of which are forested areas and ponds. The mission of the university is to educate scientifically and professionally equipped, preferred individuals, to produce qualified and original knowledge, to contribute to social development by presenting the produced knowledge to all stakeholders. Its vision is to be a pioneering research university that shapes the future with its quality education, qualified scientific research, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Role in the Project
A team from BUU’s Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences and BMI LAB of BUU will actively participate in VERNE’s project, leveraging their expertise in the assessment, deployment, and validation of sustainable business models developed by the VERNE Project. The BUU Academic Staff and BMI LAB already have expertize on identifying the existing business models and how to innovate them.
Website
ATU
About & Role Website
Description of Partner
The Atlantic Technological University (ATU) is a new University located in the north and west of Ireland. The ATU is a key pillar in the educational and economic development fabric of the region. The ATU has over 20,000 students from across Ireland and 93 countries worldwide and 2,253 staff across 9 campuses. Over 600 study programs from apprenticeships to PhD level are offered in: science, health, computing, engineering, humanities, social sciences, business, sport, tourism, hospitality and law. The ATU has an expanding research, innovation, and knowledge transfer function and a commitment to forging collaborative alliances with enterprise and communities in the region and Europe.
Role in the Project
The ATU’s experience and expertise will contribute to the VERNE across several activities including the validation of business models and capacity-building programme.
Website