The awards ceremony of the cross-border open innovation contest of the Interreg Creative@Hubs project, took place in Patras (Greece) on Friday, 3 February 2023 at the Regional Council of the Region of Western Greece.
The event was moderated, on behalf of the Regional Development Fund of the Region of Western Greece, Mr. Andreas Tsiliras, cultural manager, while Mr. Takis Lybereas, project manager, referred to the general objectives of Creative@Hubs which will be completed within the year 2023.
The awards presented by sector are as follows:
- Agri-food sector
First prize: Pantelis Mylonas
Second prize: Spyros Lazaropoulos
Third prize: Natalie La Torre
- Crafts / Visual – artistic creations / Performing arts
First prize: Giuseppe Rinelli
- Cultural Tourism / Cultural Heritage
First prize: Paraskevas Laliotis
Second prize: Riverview Project SCE
Third prize: TRACES SCE
The results are also posted on the project platform: https://creativehubs.cti.gr/home.
Mr. Triantafyllos Tatoulis, representative of the 3 Chambers of Commerce (Aetoloakarnania, Achaia and Helia) referred in particular to the implementation process of the cross-border open innovation competition through the open innovation platform of the Region. He also presented the prizes, which briefly include the organisation and implementation of a Mentoring Programme of at least 20 hours, the development of promotional material (corporate identity, logo, corporate video) and the participation of the winners in an exhibition or event of the creative sector in one of the regions participating in the project.
After congratulating all participants in the contest, the Vice-Regional Head of Entrepreneurship, Research and Innovation Mr. Fokion Zaimis stressed the need to highlight similar business ideas of the creative sector in the Region of Western Greece among others. The Vice-Regional Governor held the award ceremony for the thematic section of Cultural Tourism / Cultural Heritage. The Director of the Regional Development Fund of the Region of Western Greece Mr. Christos Tzomakas, awarded the prizes of the thematic unit of the Agri-Food Sector, while two more prizes, including the first prize of the thematic unit Crafts / Visual – artistic creations / Performing Arts, will be sent to Italy.
Each of the award winners had the opportunity to present their innovative business idea to the participants, while the event was also broadcasted online.