Dear readers of INNOMED-UP Newsletter,

As our INNOMED-UP Project is entering its final phase of implementation, I am pleased to present you our 5th Newsletter. During the previous year the partnership made significant efforts to deal with the aftermath of the pandemic of Covid-19. To this end, special Steering Committees were organized by National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) as Lead Beneficiary. The 5th Steering Committee combined with a Consolidation Workshop was of a great importance, as it was organized on June 2022 in a hybrid manner, in Prato, Italy.

After three years of remote collaboration, several members of the partnership got together in order to work and share experiences in the physical space of the city. During 2022 the INNOMED-UP partnership worked towards the creation of the pilot clusters in each participating city. The preparatory work for the cluster creation in each city included the sign of several memorandums of understanding between the partnership and significant local stakeholders, such as professional chambers, trade associations and municipal agents. Moreover, the partners officially announced 86 sub-grants in total, which were awarded to small-medium enterprises of the cultural and creative sector (CCI SMEs) for the production of innovative products (39 sub-grants), for acquiring technical equipment (26 sub-grants) and for collaborative/mentorship schemes with third institutions (21 sub-grants), in order to integrate high-tech, innovative Circular Economy principles. The sub-grants were distributed in selected CCI SMEs in all participating countries and their budget is approximately %13,6 of the total project’s budget.

Parallel to the above-mentioned actions, the partners built the smart tools: the smart bins and bicycles according to the designs of the NTUA research team. After their reproduction the smart bins were distributed and installed in several local enterprises and other organizations throughout the city centers in order to collect secondary materials, which constitute the “fuel” for the creation of circular, up-cycled and innovative products within the clusters. In the coming months, we expect exciting outcomes from the pilot clusters in each city, as well as the circulation of innovative ideas and concepts between the members of the clusters. The full utilization of the smart tools and their interconnection with the INNOMED-UP platform will engage more and more interested parties,
spreading the word of circular economy and up-cycling among the creatives and beyond. The INNOMED-UP project will conclude in a vibrant and fruitful closing conference in late spring 2023 in which all the partnership will come together in Athens, Greece where the INNOMED-UP concept conceived.

Enjoy our newsletter and stay tuned for all that to follow through our official website (http://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/innomed-up) and social media.

Happy new year!
Sofia Avgerinou Kolonias
INNOMED-UP Project Coordinator
Emeritus Professor
National Technical University of Athens
(N.T.U.A.)