STEP4NAMs Partner Meeting in Tübingen: Where strategy meets practice – and training becomes action
At the beginning of a busy week for the 3R community — just ahead of the THE 3R LÄND Conference 2026 — Tübingen became a meeting point for a different kind of exchange: focused, collaborative, and forward-looking. On 23 and 24 March 2026, partners of the STEP4NAMs project gathered at the University of Tübingen for their fourth consortium meeting — followed by the first in-person session of the Strategic Advisory Board (SAB).
It was not just another project meeting. It was a moment where several strands of work came together — and where the project moved from preparation into implementation.
Day 1: Aligning perspectives – and launching something tangible
The first day was dedicated to the consortium itself. Around the table: project partners from across Europe, each bringing their expertise, progress, and open questions. What quickly became clear was that STEP4NAMs has reached a turning point. The discussions were no longer only about concepts or planning — but about delivery, coordination, and impact. At the centre of this shift was the launch of the EDUCATE training programme.
After months of development, the core module went live on 23 March. For the first time, the project’s approach to building knowledge around New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) became accessible beyond the consortium. The ambition is straightforward but ambitious: to create a shared understanding of NAMs across SMEs, industry, research, regulatory bodies, and public authorities.
And this is only the beginning. With specialised modules on technologies such as organoids, organ-on-chip systems, digital twins, and simulation approaches to follow soon.
From learning to doing: thinking ahead to ENABLE and APPLY
What happens after the training?
This is where STEP4NAMs goes one step further than many initiatives. The partners used the meeting to sharpen the next phases — ENABLE and APPLY — both designed to move beyond knowledge transfer.
ENABLE is about making things work in practice. It targets SMEs that have completed the training and supports them with hands-on formats: on-site technical training, tailored guidance, and direct implementation support. The goal is not just to understand NAMs, but to use them.
APPLY takes this one step further. Instead of theoretical exercises, SMEs will work on real-world challenges together with industry partners. Through mentoring, targeted training, and collaborative development, ideas are tested under real conditions. It is here where innovation meets application — and where results are expected to move closer to the market.
By the end of the first day, one message was clear: STEP4NAMs is building a pathway — from awareness to implementation.
Day 2: Opening the room – and widening the perspective
If the first day was about internal alignment, the second day deliberately opened up the discussion. The first in-person meeting of the Strategic Advisory Board brought in external expertise from across Europe and beyond. The Experts Milena Mennecozzi, Lena Smirnova, Francesca Pistollato, Mario Beilmann, Ronan MacLaughlin, and Debby Weijers joined representatives from industry and NGOs to challenge, validate, and enrich the project’s direction.
The format was intentionally interactive. Instead of long presentations, discussions took centre stage — from open exchanges to smaller World Café sessions. Different perspectives met: regulatory realities, scientific innovation, industrial feasibility, and societal expectations.
These conversations were not always about easy answers. They focused on real challenges: regulatory uncertainty, limited adoption, and the gap between technological potential and practical use. But this is exactly where the value of the SAB became visible. The input was concrete, experience-based, and directly relevant for the next steps of the project.
A shared understanding of the bigger picture
Another important moment of the meeting was the presentation of the STEP4NAMs NAM report. Rather than just a deliverable, it provided a common reference point for discussion.
Based on extensive research and 45 stakeholder interviews conducted in 2025, the report paints a clear picture: while NAMs are advancing scientifically, their uptake is still uneven. Barriers such as regulatory complexity, fragmented infrastructures, and limited awareness continue to slow down implementation.
At the same time, the report highlights where opportunities lie — and where targeted action can make a difference. The results of the report will be published — so stay tuned. For the consortium and the SAB alike, this created a shared understanding of both the challenges ahead and the role STEP4NAMs can play in addressing them.
Moving forward: from momentum to impact
As the two days came to an end, the atmosphere was shaped by a sense of momentum — but also by clarity. What stood out in Tübingen was not only the progress made, but the way it was achieved: through collaboration, open exchange, and the willingness to challenge assumptions.
https://step4nams.nweurope.eu/blog/step4nams-news-215/step4nams-partner-meeting-in-tubingen-where-strategy-meets-practice-and-training-becomes-action-1747