The Conference on Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainability in the Blue Economy was successfully held as part of the “Blue Innovators of Piraeus” project, an initiative of the Municipality of Piraeus aimed at highlighting the innovative activities of businesses in the blue economy. The event was organized by the Municipality of Piraeus in cooperation with Break-Even Consulting and the Foundation for Economic & Industrial Research (IOBE), under the auspices of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI). The event was attended by Ministers, representatives of Chambers, representatives of Local Government, representatives of political parties, the Bank of Greece, as well as members of the academic community. More than one hundred and fifty (150) participants were informed about the state of entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability in the blue economy sector, as well as the overall results of the project and its impact on strengthening entrepreneurship and innovation in the Municipality of Piraeus. The event was opened by the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Sustainable Development, Mr. Dimitris Kafidis and the Vice President of PCCI and President of the Athens-Piraeus Association of Industrial Enterprises, Mr. Dimitris Mathios, who emphasized the importance of cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises for strengthening their competitiveness. The Mayor of Piraeus, Mr. Yiannis Moralis referring to the project, stressed that “the Municipality must be part of the discussion on the blue economy,” noting that the future of Piraeus is directly linked to blue growth and referring to the initiatives “Blue Innovators” and “Blue Growth Piraeus.” He highlighted the importance of having an integrated network of cooperation in the blue economy sector, from which more than 230 businesses in Piraeus have already benefited. Finally, he emphasized the value of the Blue Growth Piraeus innovation competition, describing it as an “institution for the city.” The Deputy Regional Governor of Piraeus, Ms. Stavroula Antonakou, congratulated the Municipal Authority for its strategic support of blue growth and entrepreneurship, stressing that “the Piraeus Region will always be a supporter of this effort.” Keynote speeches followed, with the Minister of Development, Mr. Takis Theodorikakos highlighting the importance of cooperation between local government and the state for the implementation of every development plan, while emphasizing the need to support entrepreneurship. He specifically stated that “innovation is a prerequisite for increasing productivity and creating competitive products in international markets.” The Governor of the Bank of Greece, Mr. Yannis Stournaras presented data on the contribution of the blue economy to the national economy, noting that “among the sectors of the blue economy, the maritime sector employs 83% of workers, followed by maritime transport.” He also highlightedthe “significant growth prospects of the Blue Economy in the coming years, which, however, depend on the transition to a sustainable and circular economy. This requires all sectors of the Blue Economy to reduce their environmental and climate footprint in order to ensure the preservation of healthy seas and the sustainable use of their resources.” . The keynote speeches concluded with an address by the Rector of the University of Piraeus, Mr. Michail Sfakianakis who highlighted the importance of the blue economy for the country, while also making special reference to the close cooperation between the University and the Municipality of Piraeus. The overall results of the “Blue Innovators of Piraeus” support mechanism were then presented by Dr. Evangelos Sioka Head of Actions, Ms. Eleni Mitsia, and member of the project team, Dr. Petros Dimas . The program lasted 14 months and was structured around four pillars: Training and Mentoring, Networking, Infrastructure, and Publicity and Promotion. The program supported a total of more than 250 businesses in the Municipality of Piraeus, providing more than 500 hours of support, including face-to-face meetings, participation in three (3) exhibitions, and the organization of four (4) educational seminars.
More Information: The Blue Innovators of Piraeus mechanism is an initiative of the Municipality of Piraeus and is implemented in cooperation with Break Even Consulting and the Foundation for Economic & Industrial Research (IOBE), with funding from the Attica 2014–2020 Operational Programme and Attica 2021–2027 Programme. |
