After 36 months of implementation and with a total executed budget of €990,769.35, Twinned by Stars, a project coordinated by TIDES under the leadership of  Matías González and Yen Lam, has officially come to an end.

The final project meeting took place in Madeira (Portugal) on 15–16 July, hosted by ACIF. The event brought together project partners, nautical tourism companies from Madeira and the Canary Islands, and a wide range of local stakeholders.

The first day focused on reviewing the project’s achievements, deliverables, and overall results. Particular attention was given to two of its flagship outputs: Atlantic Onboard Internships and Atlantic Star Adventures. Developed in close collaboration with participating companies, these initiatives have created a new nautical tourism offering through two multi-destination platforms dedicated to promoting Atlantic marine eco-tourism experiences.

These platforms combine maritime activities with citizen science initiatives, onboard technologies for whale-watching excursions aimed at collecting data on cetacean vocalizations, nighttime experiences linked to traditional navigation and stargazing, astronomy-themed educational activities, and the promotion of high-quality night skies and Starlight-certified destinations across the Atlantic region.

To reach this milestone, the project progressed through several phases, including an open innovation process, support for the most promising and market-ready business initiatives, specialized training programmes, the creation of a shared brand identity and digital platforms, and the facilitation of cooperation agreements among companies from the Canary Islands, the Azores, Madeira, and Martinique. The project concluded with pilot actions and promotional activities, some of which remain active today.

Another key topic discussed during the meeting was the future exploitation of the training courses developed for nautical tourism companies, including opportunities for their formal recognition as micro-credentials.

The programme also featured demonstration activities and technical visits to some of Madeira’s most significant cultural and natural heritage sites.

Beyond celebrating the successful completion of the project, the final conference focused on approving a three-year legacy and exploitation plan, as well as several cooperation agreements designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of Atlantic collaboration and the continued development of the project’s results.