The collaboration meeting of the members of the Western Macedonia Development Platform was successfully held, with an aim to leverage institutions and modern digital tools to support entrepreneurship and innovation. This initiative aspires to facilitate effective cooperation among all relevant stakeholders, both within and outside Western Macedonia, that can contribute to the assistance of businesses during the region’s post-lignite transition period.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the European Commission, of METAVASI S.A., as well as key members of the “Skills Development and Employment Centers” program. Additionally, representatives from the Managing Authority of the Regional Operational Program (ROP) of Western Macedonia were in attendance, highlighting the importance of institutions adapting to the needs of the modern labor market.
Discussions focused on labor market demands, the identification of skill gaps in the workforce, and targeted training and education to strengthen the local human resources. Particular emphasis was placed on fostering synergies among stakeholders to avoid overlaps in services and to ensure the optimal use of available resources.
Special mention was made of the RIS Support Structure of the Regional Development Fund of Western Macedonia, which systematically collects and publicly shares studies, projects, and program results through the Research and Innovation Portal (https://portal.pta.pdm.gr/), which is continuously updated with new content.
From ANKO Western Macedonia S.A., General Manager Tasos Sidiropoulos and Head of Entrepreneurship – Innovation Department Liana Papaterpou participated in the discussions, contributing insights on the development of local businesses and on support for innovation.
