Second national stakeholder meeting by STRIA

Valuable. Forward-looking. Warm and engaging.

These are the words that best describe the second STRIA stakeholder event held on 12 February in Budapest, organised within the framework of the Interreg Europe GRANDIS project.

The event brought together women entrepreneurs, business leaders, and the organisations that support them. The headquarters of the Budapest-based Union of Hungarian Women Association provided a fitting and welcoming venue for the occasion.

Among the participants was Mr Zoltán Haász, Managing Director of STRIA, who delivered a brief yet inspiring speech, reaffirming his support for the attendees and their work.

Inspiring Topics
The meeting followed a dynamic and engaging agenda:

• A presentation on best practices shared during the international partner meeting

• An interactive “challenge mapping” workshop exploring the key obstacles women entrepreneurs face in the context of the green and digital transitions. Topics included cultural attitudes and mindsets, skills gaps, access to finance, and the availability of support networks

• A discussion on whether current policies effectively support the so-called twin transition (green and digital)

• A Q&A session with open dialogue

There was unanimous agreement on the urgent need for initiatives that support and educate women. Programmes tailored to women entrepreneurs often place strong emphasis on motivation and confidence-building as cornerstones of success.

The following issues were highlighted by participants:

• Access to childcare

• Community building, networking opportunities, and the exchange of best practices, experiences, and success stories

• Flexible working arrangements

• Training and educational programmes to support the green and digital transitions

• More favourable legal and tax frameworks to enable flexible entrepreneurial paths

Lunch and Networking

The meeting continued over a delicious lunch, where the conversation naturally evolved into deeper connection-building in a relaxed, convivial atmosphere. We were delighted to witness not only thoughtful discussion and active engagement, but also the formation of new relationships and business opportunities.

Together, we continue the journey!