On September 12th 2022, University of Patras organized the second stakeholders meeting within the frames of project CD-ETA add-on, Interreg Europe 5th restricted call for project proposals. The aim of the meeting was to review the good practices presented in the two Thematic seminars organized online during the project, as well as to present to the Region of Western Greece additional actions for the digitization of natural and cultural heritage, in response to the challenges of the recent pandemic.
At the beginning of the meeting, Prof. Vagelis Papadakis, had a brief review of the project as well as a brief reference to the content of the proposals that will be sent to the Region of Western Greece and specifically to Mr. Fokion Zaimis, Deputy Regional Governor for Entrepreneurship, Research and Innovation of the Region. The aim for these proposals is to be included in the Regional Development Programs and launched as new financial tools that will promote the digitization of natural and cultural heritage.
In continue, Mrs. Eleni Arvaniti, presented the achievements and good practices presented by the partners in the two Thematic seminars organized during the last year, giving particular emphasis to the good practices that best fit into the profile and needs of the Region of Western Greece, which have been identified and recorded after bilateral meetings with representatives from the Region.
Dr. Konstantinos Antonopoulos, member of the research team of the project, presented in detail the priority interventions included in the proposals and the linkage with the respective priority axes of the existing policy tools.
The Director of the Institute of Industrial Systems, Prof. Chrysostomos Stylios, emphasized that as a technological provider, he is committed to support this effort and the implementation of these actions with know-how and provision of human resources in the digitization of the natural and cultural wealth of the region.
Finally, Mr. Stathis Papachristopoulos, Head of the Scientific and Technical Support of the Regional Development Fund of the Region of Western Greece, the responsible body for the policy instrument, praised the effort that has been carried out over the last six years, which he closely monitors from the position of the decision maker and manager of regional policy instruments. He pointed out that following the 4th Industrial Revolution for digital transition, the Region of Western Greece will be the only pilot Greek region that will proceed with the digitization of local government processes, extending corresponding actions to natural and cultural heritage. For this reason, the proposals of the University of Patras will be a very important tool for focusing on individual key directions.
Afterwards, the participants with a physical and online presence, continued the discussion and the exchange of ideas as well as proposals for further continuation of the project through other financial programmes.
