The COST Action CA21155 HISTRATE held a strategic meeting in Casablanca, Morocco, on 25th – 26th of September to advance the Action’s objectives and strengthen future collaboration across its network. The meeting focused on coordinating and monitoring the progress of research activities within the Working Groups (WGs), while also engaging local researchers and institutions in Morocco – broadening the Action’s inclusiveness. The event was locally organized by the team from ESITH – École Supérieure des Industries du Textile et de l’Habillement (School of Textile and Clothing Industries).
Discussions reviewed HISTRATE’s achievements to date, administrative updates, and collaborative research initiatives, with a forward-looking perspective on the Action’s future role. Key topics included the integration of Early Career Investigators (ECIs), gender and inclusiveness goals, and the continuation of the Action beyond its official lifetime. Special emphasis was placed on joint publications, engagement with industrial partners, and ensuring the sustainability of the HISTRATE website.
WG leaders reported progress in experimental testing methodologies, simulation frameworks, and certification strategies, while the roadmap for upcoming networking activities was refined. Strategic planning for the next grant period included working on use cases, structuring Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs), and preparing the next training school, industrial meetings, and conference. Participants reached agreement on cross-WG collaboration.
In addition, Horizon Europe and other funding opportunities were thoroughly analyzed, with a focus on leveraging HISTRATE results for new project proposals. Resources—both financial and human—were allocated to support the action plans.
The meeting also fostered closer ties with Moroccan institutions. Founded in 1996, ESITH is a public engineering school in Casablanca that trains highly skilled professionals for the Moroccan textile industry. A visit to its testing and control laboratories highlighted strong potential for collaboration. Participants also visited the Institute of Aeronautics within the Aerospace Moroccan Cluster (AMC), an industry-oriented training and research hub for aeronautics and aerospace companies. This industrial visit opened opportunities for joint participation in HISTRATE activities.
By extending the network into North Africa, the Casablanca meeting significantly strengthened the Action’s international dimension. It laid the foundation for long-term cooperation, enhanced knowledge transfer, and built bridges between European and Moroccan researchers in the field of advanced composites. The meeting successfully achieved its objectives of scientific coordination, inclusiveness, and international networking, contributing directly to HISTRATE’s roadmap and supporting its overarching goal of developing certification-by-analysis pathways for composites under dynamic loading.
