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Description
Since its establishment the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been focusing on providing tools and services to businesses established and located in Greece in order to promote their development, build their capacity to respond to developments in the market, enhance their ability to obtain funding required for their operations and growth, as well as improve their ability to export their goods and services in international markets, thus increasing both their revenues and their contribution to the national economy. The Greek economy, however, has been under significant stress during the last 20 years, which undoubtedly affected the competitiveness especially of SMEs, due to their limited access to financial resources from institutional and private funding sources.
In order to address the above, the current project aims at developing a web of interrelated activities spanning from assessing the current status of the Greek market and in particular the degree of awareness and incorporation of ICT and environmental issues in their daily operation and long term planning; to the development of educational activities and preparation of trade missions in order for SMEs and innovative startups to improve their chances of hedging against future threats related to changes in the market imposed by changes in the status of the wider system. Furthermore, by developing the skills of entrepreneurs in specialized fields, improving their managerial capacity, and providing opportunities to establish collaborations in international markets, the project aims at increasing the sustainability of Greek SMEs and innovative startups.
Summary of project results
Since its establishment the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been focusing on providing tools and services to businesses established and located in Greece in order to promote their development, build their capacity to respond to developments in the market, enhance their ability to obtain funding required for their operations and growth, as well as improve their ability to export their goods and services in international markets, thus increasing both their revenues and their contribution to the national economy. The Greek economy, however, has been under significant stress during the last 20 years, which undoubtedly affected the competitiveness especially of SMEs, due to their limited access to financial resources from institutional and private funding sources.
In order to address the above, the current project aims at developing a web of interrelated activities spanning from assessing the current status of the Greek market and in particular the degree of awareness and incorporation of ICT and environmental issues in their daily operation and long term planning; to the development of educational activities and preparation of trade missions in order for SMEs and innovative startups to improve their chances of hedging against future threats related to changes in the market imposed by changes in the status of the wider system. Furthermore, by developing the skills of entrepreneurs in specialized fields, improving their managerial capacity, and providing opportunities to establish collaborations in international markets, the project aims at increasing the sustainability of Greek SMEs and innovative startups.
Activity 1: Assessment of the status of the market in Greece
The partners (ACCI and OCC) conducted two surveys among ACCI member companies to assess the current conditions, challenges, and opportunities for SMEs and startups in Greece, especially in terms of sustainability and ICT adoption. The results of the surveys were used to design the educational and mentoring activities.
Activity 2: Development and implementation of non-formal education activities
ACCI in collaboration with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens designed and delivered a seminar program for professionals and entrepreneurs who wanted to develop innovative and sustainable business practices. The program covered various topics, such as lean startup, business model canvas, market sizing, marketing and sales, intellectual property, business planning, financing, valuation, ESG criteria, and pitching. The program consisted of two seminars per week for a total of 30 hours and involved 44 participants and 8 trainers.
Activity 3: Development and implementation of a certification program for individuals
The partners, in collaboration with Interchamber Certification Body (DIFOP), developed a certification scheme to verify the acquired knowledge and skills of individuals who were either employees or owners of SMEs and startups. The certification scheme, titled “Startup sustainability and development advisor”, was accredited by the National Accreditation System (ESYD) and aimed to ensure the quality and credibility of the external consultants who could support current and future startups. 39 individuals were certified.
Activity 4: Trade Missions
The partners, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Hellenic Republic in Oslo and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Athens, organized two trade missions, one in each country. The trade missions aimed to facilitate business networking and collaboration opportunities between Greek and Norwegian companies in the fields of ICT, blue economy, and sustainability. The first trade mission took place in Athens on 19th October 2023 and involved 9 Norwegian and 25 Greek companies, as well as a business forum with presentations from ACCI, OCC, and Enterprise Greece. The second trade mission took place in Oslo on 23rd of April 2024 and involved 15 Greek companies and 80 B2B meetings, as well as information sessions about the Norwegian market.
The project increased the knowledge and skills of the participants in the seminar and certification programs, as well as the companies that took part in the trade missions, in terms of innovation, sustainability, and internationalization. The project also provided them with valuable resources, tools, and networks that could enhance their competitiveness and growth potential. In total, 63 businesses (61 SMEs and 2 large companies) received business skills support. 10 of the companies were innovative startups. 49 professionals were also trained in innovative and sustainable business practices, out of which 38 passed the exams and were certified.
The project contributed to the development of the market in Greece and Norway by identifying the current conditions, challenges, and opportunities for SMEs and startups, especially in the focus areas of Green Industry Innovation and ICT. The project also supported the creation and development of sustainable and innovative businesses that could address the market needs and demands, as well as the social and environmental challenges.
The project strengthened the collaboration and cooperation between the project partners, ACCI and OCC, as well as between the business organizations and communities in Greece and Norway. The project also involved and engaged other institutional actors, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, the Embassy of Greece in Oslo, the Embassy of Norway in Greece, Enterprise Greece, and ESYD. The project resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between ACCI and OCC, which will serve as the basis for further development of bilateral relations.
Summary of bilateral results
The project provided a great opportunity to establish a solid partnership between ACCi and the Oslo Chamber of Commerce. ACCI and OCC signed an MoU on the 23rd of April 2024 (during the trade mission to Oslo). Besides that, due to the project, ACCI has strengthened their relationship with the Embassy of Greece in Oslo, as well as the Embassy of Norway in Greece. Furthermore, ACCI regularly updates the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the outcomes of the projects and their needs in order to increase its impact. Due to ACCI’s close collaboration with the Ministry and their focus on the Norwegian market, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs appointed a commercial attaché to the Greek Embassy in Oslo, but for now it was only for the duration of the project.