3rd Transnational Congress & Synergies Workshop
Two important events will take place in May, aiming to highlight the collective efforts of all project partners into fostering and facilitating collaboration opportunities and innovation in the field of Sustainable Energy.
The Synergies Transnational Workshop, organized by GAIA & supported by UNIWA and IDEC, will take place on May 21st 2026, from 09.30 to 15.00 p.m. (EEST). The workshop aims to create a space for collaboration among projects that are working on skills development, reflecting on the challenge of ensuring the sustainability, transferability and exploitation of project results. The event will bring together projects and stakeholders working in areas such as: Energy and Green Skills, Centers of Vocational Excellence, and Alliances for Innovation.
The 3rd and Final Transnational Congress, organized by UNIWA & supported by IDEC, will take place on May 22nd 2026, from 09.00 to 15.15 p.m. (EEST). The Congress will discuss the role of sustainable energy in its relation to VET Education, and how VET can support the uptake of innovative practices in this sector. Furthermore, the Congress will host presentations from the winners of the National and European Applied Research Competition, ending with the prestigious Award ceremony.
SECOVE Synergies Transnational Workshop
Date: May 21st, 2026
Time: 09.30 – 15.00 p.m. (EEST)
Venue: Ancient Olive Grove campus (UNIWA) in Egaleo, Athens
Contact: Mr. Mitxelena (mitxelena@gaia.es)
The workshop aims to create a dynamic forum where participants can connect, exchange best practices and explore opportunities for collaboration. Participants will reflect on common challenges related to effective exploitation, stakeholder engagement, and continuation strategies for cooperation.
If you are involved in a European project related to skills and would like to contribute to this dialogue -sharing experiences and presenting your own results- please register your participation and contact Mr. Jon Mitxelena (email above) with your information.
SESSION 1: Opportunities and Challenges in Skills Related European projects
09:30 – 09:40 Introduction and arriving to our meeting
Presentation of SECOVE. Prof. Georgios Priniotakis, Head of Department of Industrial Design and Production Engineering, University of West Attica, Project Manager of SECOVE project.
Introduction and explanation of agenda (SECOVE). The event will be moderated by: Maria Scordialos and Alexandros Pantazidis from Pedio Dialogou
09:40 – 09:50 Context of Exploitation and Sustainability
What is exploitation and sustainability and the challenge in European projects (Natassa Kazantzidou – Head of International Projects at IDEC)
09:50 – 10:35 Sustainability and Exploitation opportunities and challenges in COVEs
Interaction with different skills related projects (Centers of Vocational Excellence) (3 projects)
- SHOREWINNER (Hellenic Centre for Marine Research – Dimitris Mylonakis – Research Assistant)
- PORTABILITY (Federica Ruggiero – Sociologist, European project coordinator, consultant, and trainer at CIOFS-FP)
- SEED (Martijn Rietbergen (PhD.) – Programme Manager Sustainability, University of Applied Science Utrecht
Presentation of projects and their key outputs and panel discussion
10:35 – 11:10 Sustainability and Exploitation opportunities and challenges in Skills Alliances
Interaction with different skills related projects (Centers of Vocational Excellence) (3 projects)
- ASC4INN (Dr. Olga (Volha) Yakavenka, M.Sc. – Lead Project Manager at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)
- Katapulk Toolkit (John Herfkens – Director Human Capital Programs at Katapult/PTvT)
- Digi4Wearables (Tatjana Spahiu – Head of Teaching Group “Garment Technology and Design” at Polytechnic University of Tirana)
Presentation of projects and their key outputs and panel discussion
11:10 – 11:30 Small break and preparation of working session
SESSION 2: Let’s Work! Sustainability and Exploitation of Skills related European projects
11:30 – 12:30 Working session 1: Let’s exploit our project results
Working session divided in groups to work on opportunities, challenges and best practices related to Exploitation of project results
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch break and networking
13:30 – 15:00 Working session 2: let’s see how can we make our projects sustainable
Working session divided in groups to work on opportunities, challenges and best practices related to Sustainability of European projects related to skills.
15:00 – 15:15 Conclusions and wrap-up
15:15 Event Closure
3rd Transnational SECOVE Congress
Date: May 22nd, 2026
Time: Registrations open at 09.00 a.m. (EEST)
Venue: Ancient Olive Grove campus (UNIWA) in Egaleo, Athens
Our main goal through this event is to discuss the role of sustainable energy in its relation to VET Education, and how VET can support the uptake of innovative practices in this sector. The Conference will help the consortium mainstream new approaches to education and training for sustainable energy sources, ensuring the sustainability and validity of its approach to excellency in VET.
9.00 – 9.30: Registrations
9.30 – 10.20: Opening Speech – Welcome
Prof. Georgios Priniotakis, Head of Department of Industrial Design and Production Engineering, University of West Attica, Project Manager of SECOVE project.
Institutional Greetings
– Prof. Theodoros Xanthos, Vice Rector, University of West Attica
– Dr Eva Tsouparopoulou, State Scholarships Foundations “IKY”, Greek National Contact Point for Erasmus+
– Ioannis Mastronikolas, President of BEP – Piraeus Chamber of Small and Medium Sized Industries
– George Apostolides, President of ΕΒΗΕ – Hellenic Federation of Solar Industries
10.20 – 11.10: National Applied Research Competition Winners’ Pitching, Participating winners from SECOVE Innovation Hubs
– The Entrepreneurship Academy (SAEK Delta 360, Athens),
– Digital Transformation Innovation Hub (PIT, Txorierri),
– IHE2B – Innovation Hub on Energy Efficiency of Buildings (CIOFS-FP, Sardegna),
– SOLTEX – Solar Textiles Innovation Hub (UNIWA, Athens),
– Smart and Green Buildings (TUKE, Kosice),
– Technology Driven Innovation Hub (IPP, Porto)
Session Moderator: Efi Mavrou, CRES
Winners’ Award Ceremony
11.10 – 11.30: Coffee break
11.30 – 12.45: Round Table -“The SECOVE Project: Results & Lessons Learned” Representatives from SECOVE National COVEs
– Prof Georgios Priniotakis, Head of Department of Industrial Design and Production Engineering (UNIWA, Greece)
– Anabel Menica, Director of Strategy and Innovation (Politeknika Ikastegia Txorierri, Spain)
– Marco Rinaldi, Energy Department Manager (Ri.el.co Impianti S.r.l., Italy)
– Prof. Zuzana Vranayova, Civil Engineering Faculty (Technical university of Kosice, Slovakia)
– Dr. Sofia Resende , Department of Computer Engineering (Technical University of Porto, Portugal)
Session Moderator: Nefeli Dimopoulou, Project Manager, IDEC
12.45 – 13.45: Lunch Break
13.45 – 14.45: Round Table: “Building a sustainable future and the role of VET” Representatives from Successful CoVE Projects & Technology Transfer Offices
– John Herfkens, Director Human Capital Programs (Katapult/PTvT, the Netherlands)
– Prof Emmanouel Karapidakis (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University)
– Marievi Gretsi, Team Leader AKMI International
– Dr Athanasios Tamvakos, Senior EU Project Manager, CERTH
Session Moderator: Natassa Kazantzidou, Head of International Projects Department, IDEC
14.45: 15.15: Conclusions & Open Discussion
Congress moderator: Irene Gkotsi, Project Manager, IDEC
Travel Guide
Both Synergy workshop and the Congress will take place at the
Conference Centre of the University of West Attica (UNIWA).
Campus: Ancient Olive Grove
Address: 250 Thivon Ave., Egaleo
Location Map: Google Maps
Our Complete Travel guide HERE
