On June 21st, 2024, the Public Central Historical Library of Corfu became a vibrant hub of innovation and networking as it hosted the DIN-ECO Showcase Event. The “Digital Innovation Vision-Action-Plans: Tracing the Journey of Impact with DIN-ECO” event aimed to inform various target groups about the DIN-ECO project’s activities and achievements while fostering valuable connections within the innovation ecosystem.
The event kicked off with an opening session led by Professor Adamantia Pateli, who, along with welcoming remarks from the representative of the Region of Ionian Islands and the Rector of the University of the Ionian Islands, Andreas Floros, set the tone for an inspiring day. The representative of the DIN-ECO coordinator provided an insightful overview of the project’s journey and accomplishments.
Professor Adamantia Pateli highlighted the achievements of the DIN-ECO consortium, detailing the project’s implementation and what attendees could expect throughout the day. The event featured a series of presentations and discussions by 12 distinguished speakers, including 10 members of the DIN-ECO project team.
Institutional Engagement & Change
Associate Professor Themis Exarchos and Professor Matteo Vignoli presented efforts to enhance Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) through institutional engagement and change. Collaborating with the University of Bologna, DIN-ECO organized seminars attended by over 170 participants, focusing on innovation, technology transfer, commercialization strategies, and intellectual property rights. Expert-led workshops and personalized coaching sessions further equipped participants with strategic skills, fostering sustainable frameworks for ongoing innovation and collaboration between academia and industry.
Innovation and Entrepreneurial Education
Roula Mourmouri and Assistant Professor Michał Borowy discussed the project’s impact on innovation and entrepreneurial education. Establishing a working group across diverse partner organizations enabled tailored training and mentorship for students, academic staff, and non-academic professionals. Students received guidance on business idea development, business models, and pitch preparation, culminating in hackathons that provided feedback and integration into the broader innovation community.
Startup Empowerment
Professor Matteo Vignoli and Stefano Zamparo presented initiatives aimed at empowering startups. A structured mentoring program was established to train mentors, ensuring they possessed the skills to effectively guide emerging entrepreneurs. Business plan seminars, covering market analysis, strategy development, and financial planning, were complemented by personalized mentoring sessions, supporting startup growth and idea development.
Networking and Knowledge Integration
Associate Professor Ceray Aldemir highlighted the importance of networking actions and the international workshop organized to strengthen partnerships towards Knowledge Triangle Integration. The workshop featured key presentations and breakout sessions focused on enhancing digital innovation in higher education, fostering synergies between education entities, and aligning with national educational agendas.
Dissemination and Community Engagement
Ira Alevra emphasized the role of dissemination tools and events in knowledge sharing and creating synergies. She presented DIN-ECO’s actions, tools, and initiatives designed to engage and sustain a vibrant community throughout the project’s duration and beyond. These efforts aimed to enhance higher education institutions’ entrepreneurial and innovation capacities within the European and international ecosystems.
Showcasing Digital Ecosystems
Attendees explored DIN-ECO’s robust digital ecosystem through demonstrations of three pivotal platforms: the DIN-ECO Training Platform, VMENTORS Platform, and EXCO Platform. Special reference was made to the processes of digital certification, including DIN-ECO Digital Badges and Digital Assessment.
The event concluded with a roundtable discussion focusing on the role of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in fostering innovative entrepreneurship and technology transfer. Speakers shared their experiences and discussed institutional changes and innovation outcomes. The discussion also covered the role of companies in developing and utilizing digital ecosystems, as well as strategies for improving innovation and entrepreneurship capabilities in HEIs.
The DIN-ECO Showcase Event highlighted the project’s significant impact on fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and education. By bringing together students, startups, academics, professionals, and policymakers, the event underscored the importance of collaboration and continuous improvement in driving the digital innovation agenda.
