On October 24, 2024, the Development Organization of Piraeus successfully hosted its third Urban Local Group (ULG) meeting as part of the C4TALENT project. The meeting was integrated into the Municipality’s annual conference, “Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Sustainability in the Blue Economy,” held at the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce.
The event provided a valuable platform for the C4TALENT team to showcase the project to participants of the 9th Blue Growth Competition. During a dedicated workshop, young entrepreneurs and innovators were introduced to the program's vision of attracting and retaining talent. The interaction sparked enthusiasm among participants, with many expressing interest in future collaboration.
The Blue Growth Conference featured engaging panel discussions on critical topics such as “The Role of Universities in Strengthening Entrepreneurship and Sustainability in the Blue Economy” and “Blue Economy and Financial Instruments: From Theory to Practice.” These sessions shed light on the challenges and opportunities facing industries such as shipping, tourism, fishing, and port activities, drawing practical insights for sustainable development.
Highlights from the 9th Blue Growth Competition
The competition attracted 27 teams from 12 universities, with 16 teams advancing to the mentoring phase and participating in specialized workshops. The event culminated in awards for the top proposals:
- Best Presentation (€1,000): Chosen via live audience voting.
- 1st Place (€5,000): Nature4Nature – Developing eco-friendly artificial reefs using local bacteria to stabilize beach sediment, combating climate change sustainably.
- 2nd Place (€3,000): NEREID – Innovative software for marine tourism, automating marina operations with AI and 3D modeling to enhance efficiency and services.
- 3rd Place (€2,000): Angelfish – Autonomous boats for waterbody cleaning, equipped with waste collection, wave energy harvesting, and navigation systems.
The C4TALENT team in Piraeus hopes to foster collaboration with these innovative projects to support and further develop their groundbreaking ideas. This successful meeting demonstrated the alignment of C4TALENT’s mission with local entrepreneurship and sustainability efforts, reinforcing the project's commitment to empowering talent and fostering innovation.
