INECO: Innovative Economy Ecosystem

Financing: Greece – Albania IPA CBC Cooperation Programme 2014 – 2020

Project Partners

• Chamber of Kastoria, Greece
• University of Thessaly – Department of Economics, Greece
• Association of Womens Entrepreneurs of Western Macedonia, Greece
• Chamber of Commerce and Industry Gjirokaster, Albania
• Studies and Development Center, Albania
• University “Eqrem Çabej” Gjirokaster, Albania

Objectives of the Project

The overall objective of INECO – in compliance with the general objective of the priority to which it belongs – is to address a broader innovative ecosystem in the cross-border area.

The specific objectives of the project are described as followed:

• The development of a pre-incubation strategy in the CB area based on international experience and capitalizing on existing methodologies.
• The formulation of Business Plans and development of prototypes for potential entrepreneurs and teams.
• The development of a Business Pre-incubating Acceleration Tool and Virtual Platform, associated with all the particular Modules.
• The creation of an International Mentors Network / Advisory Board / Pre-incubator Group.
• The installation and equipped of two pre-incubation structured mechanisms.
• The consultation with key stakeholders, policy recommendation and capitalization
• The development of a holistic pre-incubating support program involving training, coaching, mentoring and laboratory activities.

ACCEL: Corporate Acceleration For Existing Ventures

Financing: Greece – Albania IPA CBC Cooperation Programme 2014 – 2020

Project Partners

• University of Western Macedonia, Greece
• Tourism Organisation of Western Macedonia, Greece
• Center for Development and Democratization of Institutions, Albania
• Chamber of Commerce and Industry Gjirokaster, Albania
• Albanian Network for European Integration, Albania

Objectives of the Project

The CB region is challenged with a) population decrease due to the brain drain phenomenon where highly educated people immigrate to other countries, mainly in central Europe, seeking better career opportunities, and b) high unemployment rates.

The project main outputs are:

• A mainstreaming guide with project results/outputs/links to accessible online business support resources,
• A Diagnosis Tool assessing business ideas/team/product innovation,
• An international mentors network,
• An Advisory Board offering professional and executive business advice,
• A virtual corporate accelerator “V.Xelerate, a three month intensive, unique and empowering training and mentoring programme to support business innovation and new product development,
• An Action Plan describing methods for strategy adaptation and policy development for harmonising business support schemes with real business needs.

ACCEL project is innovative in its nature providing the opportunity to business in the CB area to grow, hence boost economic activity. Furthermore, ACCEL provides the opportunity for business in the CB area to participate to project activities virtually, benefiting the whole CB area.

CULTURE PLUS: Culture Branding – Strengthening extroversion

Financing: Greece – Albania IPA CBC Cooperation Programme 2014 – 2020

Project Partners

• University of Thessaly, Greece
• Tourism Organisation of Western Macedonia, Greece
• Agricultural University of Tirana, Albania
• Chamber of Commerce and Industry Gjirokaster, Albania
• University of Western Macedonia, Greece
• Center for Research and Development, Albania

Objectives of the Project

The Project’s idea concerns the rebranding of the cross-border area of Greece-Albania through the enhancement and skillful promotion of eco-cultural resources, focusing on tourist development. The specific objectives of the project involve:

• The valorization of cross border areas cultural and natural heritage for tourist purposes.
• The effective enhancement and promotion of the current tourist image of the area.
• The development of an integral and innovative tool for managing place branding.
• The resurgence of a conversation concerning the common European identity, which is not yet prominent in the Greek-Albanian cross-border area since Albania is an IPA country.
• The creation of a new brand based on the detailed record about c-b areas cultural and natural heritage and
• The reinforcement of the Greek-Albanian borders conception as an area with similar geophysical and cultural characteristics.

The aforementioned common eco-cultural resources should form a vehicle towards the establishment of a new identity, aiming to the enhancement of the common European concept and tourist development. This identity will be highlighted and formed through marketing strategies towards the whole cross-border area’s rebranding.

Furthermore, training and consultation processes among key stakeholders, involved in place marketing and branding strategies, will take place in the area. Besides existing practices ameliorated and contextualised into the Project’s idea, the follow-through of the Project will be accompanied by the development of a dynamic/on-line knowledge base and networking platform that is anticipated to continue to operate after the completion of the Project, aiming at the diffusion of knowledge and ongoing training.