The SYNERGIES project was one of the many participants at the 8th NEEDS (Network of European Emergency and Disaster Studies) 2026 conference, hosted by the Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) in the Baltic States.

Set within a unique geopolitical and security context, this year’s theme “Societal Resilience in Times of Cascading Crises and Disasters” brought together scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to tackle the challenges of systemic risk. Today, our social, economic, and environmental ecosystems are so tightly interconnected that local disruptions can quickly escalate into widespread crises.

To address this complexity, theoretical frameworks are no longer enough; operational tools are essential. This is exactly what the SYNERGIES consortium partners brought to Kaunas, during panels, interactive workshops, and co-creation sessions.

Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam (VU): The VU team had the privilege of delivering the opening comments for the conference. They engaged in inspiring panels and discussions focused on strengthening epistemic fluency across disciplinary and sectoral silos. Additionally, they led a highly productive scoping workshop on educational approaches for involving younger generations in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), generating a wealth of great ideas.
University of Tartu (UTARTU): Bringing innovation directly to the audience, UTARTU presented the PrepCap system. Through a strictly hands-on approach, participants were able to test the tool through practical activities, exploring how to assess preparedness capacities and social vulnerabilities in real-world scenarios.
Save the Children: The team showcased their educational products and tools developed within SYNERGIES. They demonstrated how true preparedness must actively include schools, children, and youth to build genuine risk awareness without causing anxiety or fear.
ISIG – Istituto di Sociologia Internazionale di Gorizia: Presented the ATLAS of Empowerment, illustrating to the audience how this user-friendly platform fosters active participation and strengthens the disaster management capabilities of both institutions and citizens.

Our participation at NEEDS 2026 reaffirms SYNERGIES’ commitment within the European Civil Protection and Disaster Risk Management landscape: transforming research into tangible, field-tested, and ready-to-use solutions to build better-prepared communities.