The first BRRIDGE Annual Meeting took place at the University of Galway, Ireland, bringing together key stakeholders for a series of insightful sessions and discussions. The event began on Thursday, 5th October 2023, with an optional site visit to Galway Living Lab(s), offering participants an opportunity to explore innovative local initiatives.

The core of the meeting unfolded on Friday, 6th October 2023, providing an overview of the project, featuring opening remarks and updates on all six work packages, giving a comprehensive view of the project’s progress. Networking opportunities and sessions dedicated to administrative and financial matters, including updates on deliverables and milestones, were also included. The afternoon focused on research and collaborative efforts, with presentations on preliminary results from mapping and matchmaking events and a collaborative effort between EUI and UMB on the Voting Compass (VAA). An open discussion and Q&A allowed participants to engage deeply with the research findings. The day concluded with a discussion on Human Forum planning, closing remarks, and acknowledgments.

An additional optional session was held on Saturday, 7th October, at the Irish Centre for Human Rights. This session focused on writing common research proposals, including a workshop and interactive discussion on proposal development. Participants had the chance to collaborate on ongoing proposals and explore new ideas for future research endeavours.

The BRRIDGE Annual Meeting was a dynamic and collaborative event, fostering connections and advancing the project’s goals.