The #8th Exchange of Experience hosted by KEPA was a success!

The #8th Exchange of Experience hosted by KEPA was a success!

COVID-19 pandemic stopped us from being together for more than one year and a half. Last month, from the 28-30 of September, the Innova-FI project’s partners were finally together for the #8th Exchange of Experience, an on-site event organised by KEPA – Business and Cultural Development Centre in Thessaloniki Greece.

Representatives of the project’s partners and their stakeholders travelled from 7 different European regions to participate in this 3-day meeting.

On the first day, everyone met at the Alexander Innovation Zone where Angeliki Barakli, Head of European Programmes Department of KEPA presented the organisation and the Innova-FI project. During the second part of the morning and afternoon, participants were enrolled in an interactive workshop titled “After Innova-FI project: Future actions and collaborations. Towards next Innovation Funding tools, methodologies, and inter-regional collaborations”. During the evening, there was a networking dinner, where everyone had the opportunity to try Greek delicatessen.

On the second day, participants travelled to Noesis Science Centre & Technology Museum where representatives of the most important organisations of Greece were invited to give lectures. We counted with the participation of the Managing Authority of Operational Programme Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation (EPAnEK), EquiFund, the Ministry of Development & Investments, Hellenic Development Bank, the Region of Central Macedonia and microSTARS.

During the afternoon, KEPA organised a study visit to the Noesis Science Centre & Technology Museum, Centre for Research & Technology Hellas – CERTH and ACT Entrepreneurship Hub – Venture Garden.

This was an intensive 3-day Exchange of Experience, but it was definitely good to be back to in-person meetings.