What began as an international networking and project development event in Portugal has now become a successful European cooperation project. In January 2026, the European Institute for Modern Board Games (EIMBG – Ludus Magnus) participated in E+ LAB – Partnership Building Activity & Youth Goals Project Creation Training, organised by Check-IN – Cooperation and Development. Nine months later, the connections established during that event have contributed to the creation of UNRING, a newly approved Erasmus+ KA220-YOU project coordinated by Ludus Magnus.
Building European Partnerships in Portugal
Held from 17 to 23 January 2026 in Beja and Lisbon, E+ LAB brought together representatives of European organisations working in youth development, education, inclusion and international cooperation. Organised by Check-IN, the activity combined international networking with practical workshops on designing Erasmus+ KA2 proposals. Participants exchanged ideas, identified shared priorities and worked collaboratively on potential European projects.
Representing Ludus Magnus, Azael Herrero had the opportunity to present the organisation’s experience in evidence-informed Board Game-Based Learning and explore new applications of modern board games in youth work, wellbeing and social inclusion. Beyond the training itself, the event provided an excellent opportunity to establish meaningful professional relationships and develop the mutual trust needed to build successful international partnerships.
From an Idea to an Approved Erasmus+ Project
One of the most significant outcomes of E+ LAB was the development of the partnership that would eventually create UNRING, an Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership in Youth focused on promoting healthier digital habits, psychological wellbeing and meaningful offline social interactions.
The project brings together five European organisations:
- Ludus Magnus (Spain) – Project coordinator.
- Check-IN (Portugal).
- Agrado (Italy).
- ENHI (Sweden).
- GAMMA Institute (Romania).
The Spanish Tolkien Society also supports the initiative as an associated partner.
UNRING will combine psychological expertise, non-formal education and modern board games to help young people and families develop healthier relationships with digital technology and strengthen their social connections. The proposal was approved in the Erasmus+ 2026 call managed by the Spanish National Agency (INJUVE), in which only 22 of 246 submitted projects received funding, representing an approval rate of 8.94%.
A Special Thank You to Check-IN
Ludus Magnus would like to express its sincere gratitude to António Gomes, together with Nicola Ferretti, Carolina Silva and the entire Check-IN team, for their excellent organisation of E+ LAB and for creating such a productive and welcoming environment. We also thank all the participating organisations for their openness, enthusiasm and willingness to develop new initiatives together. The journey from E+ LAB to UNRING illustrates the value of European networking activities: bringing people together, creating opportunities for cooperation and transforming shared ideas into projects with the potential to make a real difference.
Sometimes, the most important European projects begin with a simple conversation.
E+ LAB participants in Beja, Portugal (January 2026).
UNRING consortium during its first online meeting (November 2026).
