inforelais celebrates 25 years today – what a privilege to continue to have opportunities and motivation to bring forward culture (policy) development! It was an exciting period to become an entrepreneur back in the year 2000, just to think again of some cornerstones of the past 25 years: Emerging digital applications allowed me to reach- out far with a company (still) placed in a small Austrian village. Working with major European culture networks enhanced my understanding of main challenges and opportunities for culture and beyond. Being part of the rising efforts to bring culture (policy) closer to the European project did materialise in related funding and support eco- systems. Supporting creative industries with my expertise contributed to the understanding of the economic and job potential of the culture and creative sectors. Engaging for culture and regional as well as rural development allowed for enhanced opportunities for transnational cooperation and learning. Important actions also to be taken into account for (future) European Capitals of Culture which I had the privilege to select and monitor for 6 years. We were many joining forces to bring forward all these topics, and (EU) culture (policy) will need a continued common effort in Europe - and beyond as I can also see in my work with South Korean, African and Canadian partners! As a mission-driven entrepreneur, I also want to look ahead. World has turned upside-down a hundred times in the past 25 years, and will continue to do so. I have learned to understand change as a permanent transformation which I address with the concept of the collaborative transformation policies. Currently I apply this concept to culture and democracy. A related paper with Creative FLIP is in the pipeline for spring 2025. Furthermore, I am convinced that enhanced Africa- Europe Europe-Africa relations could provide large parts of global populations with an alternative pathway compared to some American and Asian models. We will present our related common (culture) policy recommendations on 18 February 2025 – elaborated in the context of the Deconfining arts, culture and policies in Europe and Africa project. Last but not least, the massive disruptions in the earth systems (geosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere) will need a substantial cultural change – I could present my related first paper on collaborative water culture policies at the UN Water Conference in New York. And to conclude, I wanted to thank all those with who I could share this journey in the past 25 years. I am looking forward to many common engagements and endeavours in the years still to come!