Crowdpolicy at Innova-Fi stakeholder meeting
As part of the project ‘Financial Instruments for Innovation’ — Innova-FI of the European Interregional Cooperation Programme INTERREG EUROPE, the Centre for Business and Cultural Development (KEPA) held an online meeting with Stakeholders on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 on “Investigation of financial tools to enhance innovation in combination and beyond the Structural Funds”, via video conference (with Microsoft Teams tool). The teleconference, coordinated by Mr Stavros Manzanakis, CEO of Emetris S.A., lasted about 2 hours (11:30–13:15) and 15 participants took part.
Crowdpolicy participated with the presence of four executives, Mr. Karamanolis, Kinanlis, Michalopoulos and Skarpelis. Among the participants there were executives from the General Secretary of Public Investment and NSRF, EYD EPANEK, Praxi Network and the Region of Central Macedonia, which participates as a partner with Crowdpolicy in the BLUE CROWDFUNDING project of INTERREG MED.
The work and purpose of the teleconference was presented by Angeliki Barakli, Head of the European Programs Department of KEPA, followed by an overview of the project and the objectives of Innova-FI by Mrs Popi Economou, member of the project team. Particular reference was made to the results of Innova-FI, especially as regards the good practices highlighted by the partners in the regions of Europe participating in the project, emphasising the data that are of particular interest to our own region and country. Vassilis Tsanidis, from the Department of European Programmes and Co-operations of the Region of Central Macedonia, referred to the NICS (National Centre for Public Administration and Self-Government) for training seminars with target audiences responsible for public procurement, which is expected to take place at September and proposed as an idea to integrate business education actions within the framework of the Digital Innovation Hubs initiative of the European Commission.
Panagiotis Kinanlis, Project Manager of Crowdpolicy, presented the activities and experience of the company in the fields of Govtech, Fintech and Open Innovation and at the same time analysed Crowdpolicy’s participation in the BLUE CROWDFUNDING project of INTERREG MED, whose goals he presented briefly. Antonis Skarpelis, National and European Projects Planner at Crowdpolicy, explained the value of the ‘Crowdfunding’ tool, which, although still in infancy in Greece, can be complementary as an alternative finance tool. In addition, Antonis Skarpelis noted that there are regulatory loopholes, and in his opinion the administration should investigate them if it aims to promote Crowdfunding as a tool. In fact, the European Commission is preparing a relevant directive for its Member States.
The aim of the Innova-FI project is to improve the design and implementation of financial instruments as a means of implementing the Structural Funds, in order to better meet the financing needs of innovative enterprises and businesses dependent on Research, Technological Development and Innovation (ERDF) at all stages of their development. The results of the meeting were particularly useful and are expected to contribute to the development of a regional Action Programme for the design and implementation of the financial instruments as a means of implementing the Structural Funds.
