The Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) and the Hellenic Industrial Property Organization (OBI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on September 30th, 2021 aimed at supporting the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem for the "Intellectual Properties Capacities for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in the Mediterranean Region" (IPMED) project.

The MoU was signed by the Vice-President of the TCCI, Mr. Emmanuel Vlachogiannis and the General Director of the  OBI, Mr Panagiotis Kanellopoulos in the presence of the representatives from both institutions.

Mr. Emmanuel Vlachogiannis said that this partnership comes from the TCCI's  belief in the importance of providing support to entrepreneurs, intellectual property protection and develop small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), promote economic and social development and support innovative entrepreneurs’ projects, in order to improve and develop the business environment for SMEs and promote a culture of entrepreneurship.

He indicated that TCCI through this MoU signed with OBI is working to establish ways for effective, organized and responsible cooperation between them to support and protect the creative ideas of entrepreneurs and SMEs operating in the service and industrial sectors.

According to the MoU, the Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation will give open access to its regional library to all the beneficiaries of IPMED project and the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the activities will be carried out to promote the IPMED project.

Furthermore, the TCCI and OBI will collaborate in the preparation and submission of European projects focusing on issues of common interest, will implement actions in common and will organize info days, conferences and other events aiming at promoting innovation and spread information on intellectual property issues.