Meeting with CHORUS Cluster in Thessaloniki
On 14.09.2022, a friendly meeting was held in the city of Thessaloniki between Cluster Sofia Knowledge City and the CHORUS Cluster, Greece. The purpose of the meeting was to establish partnership relations between the two clusters, exchange good practices and search for opportunities for regional cooperation.
From the Bulgarian side in the meeting participated the members of the Management Board Mr. Dimitar Filipov, Mr. Stanislav Chervenkov and Mr. Dimitar Hristov and from the Greek side, Mr. Chrisostomos Kalogirou - Cluster manager and economist and Mr. Athanasios G. Konstandopoulos - cluster scientific advisor and professor in Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the largest university in Greece.
CHORUS is a technological Cluster operating in the fields of Clean Energy, Clean Tech and Circular Economy. It brings together companies and research entities located mainly in the geographical area of Northern Greece. Its main areas of interests are Renewable Energy, Clean Processes, Energy efficiency, Resource Efficiency and Green Transport and its main task is to establish an arsenal of renewable and zero / low carbon footprint technologies, transformable into innovative, integrated products and solutions for the global markets.Similar to our cluster CHORUS cluster initiative has been aimed to provide services to its members supporting them in the Networking, Promotion & Communication, R&D Projects, Education & Training
At the meeting, it became clear that the two clusters have similar challenges in their activity and development. At the same time, there are great opportunities for both for joint projects in the field of regional development (Interreg), in the field of research and development (Horizon Europe), common work under the ECCP initiatives as well as cooperation in attracting investments by businesses from both countries. The parties agreed also that digital, green and resilient transformation of the cities are key areas where technologies and innovation of the members of the both clusters can be used through smart city projects, stimulating in such a way smart technologies market growth in both cities - Sofia and Thessaloniki.
A principal agreement was established that in the very near future a common roadmap will be elaborated for joint activity in the field of research, development and implementation of innovative clean solutions that address energy and environmental challenges, increasing in that way the regional production and implementation of integrated cleantech solutions and circular economy."