Inescop takes part in the launch of the Erasmus+ RAICES project at the European Economic and Social Committee
Inescop attended the launch meeting of the Erasmus+ RAICES project at the headquarters of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels. This initiative has a strong social impact and aims to revitalise the traditional artisan fabric of Peru and Colombia. The event marked a milestone for the technology centre, which shared the table with a broad representation of European institutions, diplomatic delegations and Latin American partners at the start of a project with a clear social and territorial scope.
Inescop was represented by Esperanza Almodóvar and Gloria Chorro from the International Relations Department. They took part in a meeting featuring representatives from the European Commission, the EESC, the Permanent Representation of Spain to the EU (REPER), the Embassy of Colombia to the EU and the Peruvian–Belgian Chamber of Commerce, as well as international organisations, technical training centres and experts from the textile and footwear sectors and the field of circular economy.
A launch at the heart of European civil society
Carlos Silva, Vice-President of the EESC Follow-up Committee on Latin America and member of the EU–Andean Domestic Advisory Group, delivered the welcome address, recalling that the EESC is “the home of European civil society”, where employers, workers and other groups such as consumers and farmers are represented. Silva highlighted the Committee’s role in issuing opinions and recommendations to the European Parliament and the European Commission and stressed that “the EESC protects the most vulnerable groups, such as women, young people and marginalised communities”, in a context shaped by the EU–Peru–Colombia–Ecuador agreement and the ongoing debate surrounding Mercosur.
RAICES: artisan heritage, training and circular economy
Within this framework, RAICES was presented as a project that seeks to revitalise the capacities of traditional artisan communities and ancestral knowledge in Peru and Colombia. It aims to strengthen vocational education and training in the textile and footwear sectors, promote green and digital skills and connect traditional know-how with new, more sustainable business models.
During the presentation of the consortium, Esperanza Almodóvar, Head of International Relations, introduced Inescop’s role in the project. She began with a brief overview of the technology centre’s capabilities, particularly its R&D line in circular economy, showcased through its various technological demonstrators. She then reviewed Inescop’s track record within the Erasmus+ programme and its previous cooperation experience with Peru and Colombia, before detailing the centre’s specific contribution to the project.
“It is a real privilege to represent Inescop and its role in RAICES, sharing the table with such a broad representation of European institutions and our partners in Colombia and Peru”, said Almodóvar, who described the project as “the starting signal for a collaboration with enormous social impact, bringing together artisan heritage, training and circular economy”.
The perspective from Colombia and Peru: building from the ground up
The Latin American partners provided insight from the field. A representative of the Colombian Institute of Learning (INCAP) expressed gratitude for “the vision from Europe in recognising the value of traditional artisan communities and their craftsmanship”, noting that they work with young people from low-income backgrounds and that more than 80% of their students enter the labour market. INCAP underlined that one of its main challenges within RAICES will be “translating gaps in sustainability, digitalisation and entrepreneurship into training programmes that these communities can take ownership of and turn into better long-term business opportunities”.
On behalf of the Association for the Study and Promotion of Andean Amazonian Development (DESCOCENTRO), Ángela Dionisio emphasised the need to build the project “from the ground up, with the dignity and respect that traditional knowledge deserves, and then bring it to the market”. Dionisio recalled that in regions such as Huancavelica, where 70% of the population is rural, “only around 15% has access to the internet”, and that many challenges begin at the very start of the value chain, from animal breeding to the availability of raw materials. “It is not just about design, but about ensuring that raw materials are available and helping this popular art find its place in the digital era without losing its identity”, she noted.
A project aligned with European priorities for Latin America
Finnova Foundation, the project coordinator, outlined RAICES’ contribution to European cooperation policies with Latin America, placing particular emphasis on mobilising European funds to promote training, youth entrepreneurship and sustainable business models. It was recalled that a significant share of the EU budget is allocated to training and capacity building under the principle of “leaving no one behind”, a concept fully aligned with the project’s philosophy.
Alexis Hoyaux, Policy Officer at the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) of the European Commission, also addressed the meeting. He highlighted that “Global Gateway is now key to linking partner countries with Europe” and noted that “around 13% of the Commission’s budget is allocated to training”. Hoyaux stressed the importance of responding to the real needs of companies, considering the role of trade unions and ensuring social inclusion — all aspects directly addressed by RAICES.
The meeting also featured a contribution from the European Confederation of the Footwear Industry (CEC), which reviewed the main challenges facing the European footwear sector, from international trade tensions to the implementation of ecodesign regulations and extended producer responsibility, as well as the need to incorporate digital and green skills into training to make the industry more attractive to new generations.
Representatives from REPER, the Embassy of Colombia to the EU and the Peruvian–Belgian Chamber of Commerce emphasised the value of EU–Latin America cooperation, the role of culture and craftsmanship in peacebuilding and the opportunities offered by integrating crafts into formal and international value chains.
An institutional milestone for Inescop and an opportunity for social impact
For Inescop, the launch of RAICES at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) represents an institutional milestone and an opportunity to contribute its expertise in vocational education and training, sustainability applied to textiles and footwear, waste valorisation and support for innovation in traditional value chains.
“RAICES enables us to connect what we do at Inescop in circular economy, training and footwear with the reality of traditional artisan communities and ancestral knowledge in Peru and Colombia”, concluded Almodóvar. “The challenge is to help preserve their artisan heritage while opening up new future opportunities for the people who sustain it”.
