The Workshop "Innovative public/private projects and good practices in the sectors of agri-food and tourism" will include short presentations by organisations and research institutes, like Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Business and Cultural Development Centre and American Farm School of Thessaloniki; presentations by networks, like Organic Products Cluster of the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece; and implemented projects and innovative activities by private companies.

In the afternoon there will be sight visits to the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas and to the American Farm School of Thessaloniki.

AGENDA

09:00Registration
09:15Welcome
Ioannis Spandos, Regional Development Fund of Central Macedonia
09:20Opening speech
Constantinos Michailides, Head of Directorate of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Support, Region of Central Macedonia
09:30Morning session: Presentation of good practices in agri-food and tourism

Biodiversity, research and entrepreneurship: Case studies from Central Macedonia
Anagnostis Argiriou, Senior Scientist, Institute of Applied Biosciences - Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH)

Business Support and Financing Structures in Central Macedonia, towards innovation and smart specialization. The case of KEPA and KEPA-ANEM
Ioannis Tsitsopoulos, Head of information and publicity

Neoklis Stamkos, European projects officer at the Microcredit department
Business and Cultural Development Centre – Development Association of Macedonia (KEPA - ANEM)

Food Incubators – Current Trends and Good Practices
Filippos Papadopoulos, Director of Strategic Project Management Office, American Farm School, Thessaloniki

Improving food production through innovative Smart Farming services
Vasilis Kappas, Director of Northern Greece, GAIA epicheirein

Organic Products Cluster: Developing tools for innovative entrepreneurship in the agrifood sector
Vasiliki Giatsidou, Managing Director, Organic Products Cluster

The contribution of LEADER Local Programmes to the promotion of innovative actions and initiatives in rural areas
Vasilis Papavasileiou, General Manager, Development Agency of Thessaloniki

New Milk: A “Spin out” initiative for innovative dairy products with advanced values
Efi Koutsomitropoulou, Head of R&D Milk & Cheese Related Division, Research and Development, Creta Farms S.A.

Taking innovations to market: A case in the Agrifood sector
Vangelis Vassiliadis, Agrostis co-Founder/CTO

NSRF 2007-2013. Development & sustainability tool in PHILOXENIA HOTEL in Halkidiki
Grigoris Tasios, Managing Director, PHILOXENIA HOTEL - President of Halkidiki Hotel Association

OLEA MARE – a small hotel – making the difference
Theodoros Liokas, owner – project manager of OLEA MARE  and George Liokas, Architect
12:30Light lunch
14:00On site visits:
Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH)
American Farm School
17:00Guided city tour of Thessaloniki
19:30Networking Dinner