Almost 120 participants, both online and in person, attended the info day for potential beneficiaries of the 8th call in Ioannina on 10 September. “This is the last opportunity to join the Greece-Italy Programme 2021–2027, which has already funded 54 common and strategic projects. Today’s event and the one on 16 September in Taranto are also unmissable opportunities for networking and meeting potential project partners” said Eva Karagianni, Head of Unit A (Programming and Evaluation Unit) of the Managing Authority.
The information day was hosted by the University of Ioannina, whose vice-rector, Prof. Xenofon Bitsakas, opened the proceedings with an official welcome: “This call represents a unique and valuable opportunity to transform university research into opportunities for the development of our regions across borders. It is not only the funding, but also the commitment of Interreg programmes such as the Greece-Italy Programme that are the true drivers of a real impact on citizens”.
With total funding across Parts A and B of almost 5 million euros, the 8th and final call for this programming period will fund ‘small call’ projects focused on the following specific objectives: circular and resource-efficient economy, culture and sustainable tourism in economic development, social inclusion and social innovation (S.O. 2.6 & 4.6 – Part A) and the institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders, as well as macro-regional, sea-basin and other territorial strategies (ISO 6.1 & 6.4 – Part B).
Launched on 29 July, with a deadline of 9 October, the call was presented by Nikoletta Tarari (MA), who emphasised that the right question for potential beneficiaries should not be “how can we fit a project idea into a small budget?”, but rather “what is the smallest, focused intervention that can produce a meaningful cross-border result?”. It was precisely the meaning of ‘small scale’ that the coordinator of the Joint Secretariat, Gianfranco Gadaleta, also emphasized: “A small-scale project must – even more so than a ‘common’ or ‘strategic’ one – take the form of a focused intervention with an effective team, one that has a tangible impact on citizens’ lives”.
During the information day, various aspects were discussed to assist beneficiaries in developing their project ideas and establishing partnerships, covering topics such as budgeting, financial requirements and communication. To conclude, ample time was devoted to a question-and-answer session, both in person and remotely. The next event to provide further details on the current call for proposals is scheduled for Wednesday 16 September at the Taranto Local Health Authority (Via De Palma 166) at 10.00. To register: https://forms.gle/zwpdDWVPFG1DXR6o6
