The Gazelle Project participated for the second consecutive time in the Beyond International Exhibition of Digital Technology and Innovation. The Beyond Expo was held in Thessaloniki, from May 24th to May 26th, 2023, providing a highly significant platform for startup engagement, technology transfer, innovation, and investment attraction.
The first day of the Expo saw a valuable meeting between partners and the managing authority of the project, which provided an opportunity to discuss the project’s progress, its challenges, and its future outlook.
“Developing innovative companies – Gazelles in the Balkan Mediterranean”, 25.5.23
On Thursday, May 25th, a central event was organized on the topic “Developing innovative companies – Gazelles in the Balkan Mediterranean”, where the experience from the European Project GAZELLE – orGAniZing accELaration for high-potential innovative SMEs, of the INTERREG Balkan – Mediterranean 2014 program, was presented. The event was a showcase of the project’s achievements, innovations, and success stories. The organizers of the event were ACCI, coordinating partner of the Project, the Hellenic Investment and Foreign Trade Company – Enterprise Greece and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), partners of the Project.
Agenda of the event:
Welcome Remarks
- Mrs. Sophia Kounenaki – Efraimoglou, President of Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)
- Mr. Marinos Giannopoulos, CEO, ENTERPRISE GREECE
- Dr. Haris Lambropoulos , President at Hellenic Development Bank of Investments S.A.
Keynote Speeches
- The Greek startup and Business Angel ecosystem, Dr. Antonis Livieratos, Ass. Professor at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- International Experience of Growing and Scaling innovative SMEs, Mr. Alfredo Coppola, Co-CEO, US Market Access Center
Gazelle Project: Strengthening the innovation ecosystem in the Balkan Mediterranean
- Business acceleration and technology transfer for innovative SMEs Dr. Dimitris Karydis, Senior Advisor, Enterprise Greece
- Supporting and networking activities for innovative SMEs, Mrs. Eleni Foti, Director of International Commercial Relations of the ACCI
- Startup, business acceleration and technology transfer: the Gazelle experience of Cyprus, Mr. Christos Andreev, Research Associate, Cyprus University of Technology
- Startup, business acceleration and technology transfer: the Gazelle experience of Bulgaria Mrs. Stela Dionisieva, International Projects Department, Ruse Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Startup, business acceleration and technology transfer: the Gazelle experience of North Macedonia Mrs Andrijana Bogdanovska, Center for Knowledge Management
The experience of Gazelle Project from the SMEs’ point of view
- Dataphoria: Anastasios Stamatis
- Project Parenting: Marina Arplia
- Kleesto: George Pilpilidis
Summary and Recommendations
- Dr. Antonis Livieratos, Ass. Professor at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- Fragiskos Theofilaktos – Member of Business Angels Network Greece (BANG) of the A.C.C.I.
“Pitch Session: High-potential innovative SMEs in Balkan Med area”, 26.5
On the third day, May 26th, twenty-one (21) selected startups pitched their ideas and presented their progress to 60 investors and business angels. Specifically, the following SMES: the Greek CAMPSAROUND, IVOLUNTRY, VIVESTIA, QUETRI, ATHLETON, UNLIMITΕD ADRENALINE, ELECTRIBE, INTELIGG, DATAPHORIA, PROJECT PARENTING, RHOE, WELLBEE, KLEESTO and QUANTUM NEURAL TECHNOLOGIES, the Cypriot IREROBOT, the Bulgarian Voca Academy and the SMEs Avtomotodrom, CarbCoin, Hovercraft Adria, MIR-JOS LLC Tetovo and Green Transport from North Macedonia.