A steadily increasing interest in developing innovative green entrepreneurship practices was observed among participants in the Co-Creation Workshop successfully implemented by KEPA, within the framework of the European project GREENSMES.
The workshop, based on the Design Thinking methodology, aimed to bring together representatives from the ecosystem of green economy and innovation — public organizations, businesses, academia, and civil society — covering the key pillars of the Quadruple Helix of innovation. Its main goal was to facilitate the exchange of views and the joint development of ideas and proposals that will strengthen policy and promote Green Entrepreneurship in the Region of Central Macedonia.
Participants worked in groups, following the core stages of the Design Thinking approach, which fosters creativity, collaboration, and collective decision-making. They explored challenges and opportunities related to the green and circular economy, using co-design tools, and highlighted the need to enhance the culture of sustainability among small enterprises, improve cooperation with institutional stakeholders, and strengthen the link between research and the market.
During the workshop, findings from the GREENSMES report on the current state of the green economy and innovation in Central Macedonia were presented. Participants also examined the following good practices:
• WEnCoop, the first women’s energy community in the world
• The Composting Programme of the Municipality of Thermi
• ECOCAR by ECO//SUN, an innovative solution promoting urban electromobility in Greece
As part of the co-design process, the brainwriting technique was applied — a group idea-generation method enabling all participants to contribute creatively and equally. Through this method, participants recorded their thoughts and proposals focusing on two key challenges:
• How can marketing be used to inspire and encourage consumers and businesses to appreciate and adopt green practices?
• How can businesses be supported in adopting green and circular business models at local and regional levels?
This activity served as a true co-creation hub, fostering open idea exchange, mutual enrichment of proposals, and the formation of common concepts.
Participants gained valuable knowledge, felt inspired, and described the workshop as particularly constructive, emphasizing that the Design Thinking methodology proved to be an effective tool for generating creative ideas and realistic proposals to address key challenges. They also underlined that the process exceeded their expectations, offering valuable networking opportunities and new prospects for collaboration.
In the next phase of the GREENSMES project, the results of the workshop will be utilized in the preparation of the final report, which will feature ten good ideas and practices forming the basis for the upcoming Transnational Online Design Thinking Workshop.
Through this initiative, KEPA once again confirmed its role as a connector and enabler of the Quadruple Helix, contributing decisively to the development of a green innovation ecosystem that combines sustainability, entrepreneurship, and collaboration at a regional level.
KEPA will continue to implement creative and impactful actions within the framework of the project, aiming to empower SMEs and support them in their transition toward a sustainable, green, and competitive business model.