BeCircular project officially closed on 4th November 2023

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The closure of BeCircular on November 4, 2023, marks a significant milestone in the project’s journey. As part of the project’s comprehensive approach to documentation and dissemination, both a short promotional video and a longer video, detailing the project results that have been developed. These videos aim to offer in-depth insights into the various facets of the project’s implementation, highlighting key achievements, successful strategies, and the overall impact on the targeted objectives.

Watch the videos here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYRgMy-2KAE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgE1fNpPgRA

Guide for Young Entrepreneurs: Circular Economy, Bioeconomy, and Business Development

Tailored for young engineers, scientists, artists, and technicians, this guide offers specialized training in circular economy, bioeconomy, and business development. The goal is to empower them as entrepreneurs in the cross-border area, aligning with EU strategies for waste prevention and Circular Economy promotion.

The guide also provides actionable insights on leveraging entrepreneurship to boost employment in the circular economy and bioeconomy within the cross-border region.

Activities take place in Western Macedonia (Florina, Greece) and Pelagonia (North Macedonia). This strategic approach supports cross-border cooperation, capitalizing on the proximity of eligible program areas.

To have a look at the guide see the link below:

Guide

The SYMBIOSIS online platform is up!

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Ιn the frame of the implementation of the BeCircular project of the European program INTERREG IPA CBC Greece – Republic of North Macedonia 2014-2020, the existing SYMBIOSIS online platform is upgraded and redesigned with additional functions to act as a Circular Economy Hub.
The SYMBIOSIS Platform is a tool designed to match-make materials and services between different businesses more efficiently, creating this way new ideas through the development of B2B models for Bioeconomy, Circular Economy and Industrial Symbiosis.
The main goal of the SYMBIOSIS online platform is to connect industrial facilities or SMEs, where the waste or by-products of one facility can become raw materials for the other. The platform enhances the collaboration between different, closely located facilities that exchange resources (e.g. material, energy, water and by-products) that can be used as substitutes for products or raw materials, and therefore contributes to the production of less waste.
As part of the project, in order to improve the services provided, the upgraded SYMBIOSIS platform will be used as a circular economy hub, supporting and enhancing the communication between SMEs and individuals as well as facilitating the operation of the research and development (R&D) center.
To enter the SYMBIOSIS platform, click here:  https://symbiosisplatform.symbiolabs.gr/ GR 3258387

Info Day on Circular Bioeconomy and Entrepreneurship for Students

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The Cluster of Bioeconomy and Environment of Western Macedonia (CluBE), in the framework of the BeCircular project of the European program INTERREG IPA CBC Greece – Republic of North Macedonia 2014-2020, met on 16/05/2023 with the students of the School of Fine and Applied Arts of the University of Western Macedonia in Florina, with the aim to inform them about Circular Bioeconomy and Entrepreneurship.

The event started with a short greeting of Mr. Philippos Kalamaras, assistant professor of the School of Fine and Applied Arts of the University of Western Macedonia. Afterwards Mr. Alexandros Vezos, Project Manager and Business & Entrepreneurship Expert of the Cluster, presented shortly the general activities of the Cluster of Bioeconomy and Environment of Western Macedonia (CluBE).

Then Mr. Vasileios Balachtsis, Project Manager of CluBE and responsible for the BeCircular project took over with the presentation of the BeCircular Project and the SYMBIOSIS digital platform. The platform has been upgraded within the project to integrate more functions and is essentially a tool dedicated to the efficient matching of materials/services between different businesses, leading to new ideas through the development of B2B models related to the Bioeconomy and industrial symbiosis.

The information session came to an end with the presentation of Mr. Alexandros Vezos about Entrepreneurship in the Circular Bioeconomy and an open discussion with the students and the event’s participants on the same topic followed.

 

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Workshop on Circular Bioeconomy with Local Businesses

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The Cluster of Bioeconomy and Environment of Western Macedonia (CluBE), in the framework of BeCircular project of the European program INTERREG IPA CBC Greece – Republic of North Macedonia 2014-2020, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Florina organized on 15.05.2023 at the premises of the Chamber a “Workshop on Circular Bioeconomy with Local Businesses.”
The workshop targeted local businesses who are active in the Bioeconomy sector.
Mr. Vasileios Balachtsis, Project Manager of the Cluster of Bioeconomy and Environment of Western Macedonia (CluBE) and responsible for the BeCircular project, was coordinator of the event and gave the floor to Mr. Savvas Sapalidis, president of the Chamber, and to Mr. Vasileios Ambas, Regional Councilor of the Region of Western Macedonia and Director of the Directorate of Agricultural Economy (DAOK), for a short greeting.
Afterwards, Mr. Alexandros Vezos, Project Manager and Business & Entrepreneurship Expert of the Cluster of Bioeconomy and Environment of Western Macedonia (CluBE) through his presentation, analyzed and highlighted the role and the goals of CluBE.
Subsequently Mr. Vasileios Balachtsis presented the BeCircular project and the SYMBIOSIS digital platform to the attendees. The platform has been upgraded within the project to integrate more functions and is essentially a tool dedicated to the efficient matching of materials/services between different businesses, leading to new ideas through the development of B2B models related to the Bioeconomy and industrial symbiosis.
The workshop was successfully completed with an open discussion, with the main goal being the exchange of ideas between entrepreneurs and participants.

 

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Info Day on Circular Bioeconomy and Entrepreneurship for students

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The Cluster of Bioeconomy and Environment of Western Macedonia (CluBE), within the framework of the implementation of the BeCircular project of the European program INTERREG IPA CBC Greece – Republic of North Macedonia 2014-2020, organizes and invites you to the info day on Circular Bioeconomy and Entrepreneurship for students in the department of Fine and Applied Arts of UOWM in Florina on Tuesday 16 May 2023 from 12:30 to 15:00.

 

The Project is co-funded by the European Union and national funds of the participating countries

Workshop on Circular Bioeconomy with Local Businesses at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBE) in Florina

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Workshop on Circular Bioeconomy with Local Businesses
The Cluster of Bioeconomy and Environment of Western Macedonia (CluBE) together with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBE) of Florina, within the framework of the implementation of the BeCircular project of the European program INTERREG IPA CBC Greece – Republic of North Macedonia 2014-2020, organizes and invites you to a workshop on Circular Bioeconomy with local businesses at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBE) of Florina on Monday 15 May 2023 from 18:00 to 20:00.

 

The Project is co-funded by the European Union and national funds of the participating countries.

Contest for the best Business model created by High school students in Pelagonia

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On May 10th at the Center for Entrepreneurship and Creativity in Prilep, a competition will be held where Pelagonia High School students will participate, with the aim of highlighting the best business model. The jury together with the audience will conclude the result.
More detailed information can be found as follows:

Jury members:
• Representative from ZMAI
• Representative from GAUSS
• Representative from Networker entity working with start-ups.
• Representative form the Faculty of Economics – Prilep

Contest concept:
Step 1: The schools that will participate should inform ZMAI by the end of April 2023. All schools are invited to apply with one team of students.
Step 2: Starting from that moment until May 10th, the students and their teachers will work together to develop the best Business Canvas Models using the startapp.mk platform.
Step 3: They can improve and test their ideas using the learning materials published on the platform.
Step 4: The teams from each school should make 1minute long video presenting their idea.
Step 5: A training by professional trainers working with start-up companies will be made for the teams. They will be thought pitching techniques that can be used in-front of potential investors.
Step 6: Pitching of the Business Models.

Rules of the contest:
• All teams will present their ideas in front of the audience.
• All members of the jury will have the right to ask one question that will help them form the final score.
• The jury and the audience will vote for the winner and their voices will participate 50-50 ratio in the final decision.
• The participants won’t be allowed to vote for their team.
• The jury should vote the way a potential investor would. And they explain their decision for the choice.
• Three representatives from the audience will be asked to explain their votes.
• The rules are made in such a way that the expertise of the jury can be taken into consideration, but we also aim to hear the opinions of the wider audience.

The teams of ZMAI and GAUSS as well as the members of the jury will work with the winning team to help them and mentor them in realizing their Business Models and or help them use their creativity to find jobs in the region and move forward after finishing their high-school education. This competition is financed through the project BeCircular with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of the material provided are the sole responsibility of BeCircular partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union, the participating countries, and the Managing Authority.

Meeting with the new Associates of CluBE at the Department of Visual and Applied Arts of the University of Western Macedonia in Florina

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The meeting with the new partners of the Bioeconomy and Environment Cluster (CluBE) in Florina, which aimed to inform them about the BeCircular project, was successfully completed. The meeting took place on 30/03/2023 at the new branch of CluBE, which is located in the premises of the Department of Visual and Applied Arts of the University of Western Macedonia in Florina.

At the meeting the new partners were informed about the progress of the project, what it has achieved so far and what are the final goals to be meet as the BeCircular project moves towards its final course. The needs of the implementation of the program, the definition of the tasks of the new partners and the intention of the whole team for a smooth and productive collaboration were discussed in detail with great interest.

You can see photos below:

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Opening of the New Center for Entrepreneurship and Creativity located at the Faculty of Economics in Prilep

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The Center was established within the framework of the BeCircular project (Boosting Employment through Entrepreneurship in Circular Economy), which is funded by the Cross-Border Cooperation (IPA CBC) program of the European Union. Organizations from the Republic of North Macedonia and Greece participate in the project. The E&C Center was created by the Research and Analysis Association – ZMAI, as part of the project activities.

The inauguration of the Center took place on March 23, 2023 and it is now open to the public and to those who are interested in visiting, getting to know and using its new facilities.

“Υoung people from both countries can now work together, exchanging ideas and knowledge thus promoting the concepts of Entrepreneurship of the creative industries, the Circular Economy and the Bioeconomy. These sectors offer new opportunities for the development of “green” business models. They could mean the opening of new jobs for the local population, as well as the creation of new businesses that can provide additional economic activities to the local economy” said Viktor Mitevski, President of the Association for Research and Analysis ZMAI.

The Rector of the University, Prof. Dr. Igor Nedelkovski, emphasized the importance of such projects for students. According to him, investments in Entrepreneurship and Circular Economy always have a positive impact on communities. This concerns both the economic and financial side, as well as the ecological and green entrepreneurship side. The Rector added that students and young entrepreneurs will use the new center to develop advanced ideas. According to him, it is very likely that the next big startup in Pelagonia will come from these areas.

Ιt is worth noting that at the opening of the new center, co-financed by the Ministry of Local Self-Government, the Minister, Risto Penov, gave a speech.

The Dean of the Faculty of Economics in Prilep, Prof. Dr. Dragica Odzaklieska, also gave a speech at the event and emphasized that the school is proud to have such a center on its premises.

She continued by adding “The center is fully aligned with the iconic building of the School of Economics. The areas of entrepreneurship and innovation will have the opportunity to grow and give space to students and professors to develop new ideas and expand their knowledge. As an educational and scientific institution, the School of Economics in Prilep will be able to offer a space to all current and future entrepreneurs. The development of concepts related to Circular Economy and Bioeconomy is the future of the entire Economy and we are proud to be part of the initiative”.

The Center for Entrepreneurship and Creativity should become a place where students and young entrepreneurs from Pelagonia region in the Republic of North Macedonia will develop their ideas and create conditions for the development of the local economy. Young entrepreneurs will finally have their own space in Prilep where they can create, socialize, and innovate together.

You can see photos from the opening below:

 

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