The Local Quadruple Helix Workshop was successfully held on Thursday, 11 December 2025, at the premises of ANATOLIKI S.A. – Organization for Local Development, within the framework of the Interreg VI-B NEXT Black Sea Basin – QUEST project. The project aims to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders in the Black Sea region to identify, prepare, and effectively utilize funding opportunities, with a particular focus on the blue economy.
One of the key mechanisms through which QUEST seeks to achieve its objectives is the set-up of Quadruple Helix structures, fostering cooperation among organisations from four core sectors: Universities, Businesses, the Public Sector, and NGOs. The Local Quadruple Helix formed under the project includes, in addition to ANATOLIKI S.A., the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the International Hellenic University, the Region of Central Macedonia, and the organisation iSea.
The event opened with a brief welcome address by the General Director of ANATOLIKI S.A., Ms Vasso Papadopoulou, followed by a detailed presentation of the QUEST project by Mr Tassos Chatzieleftheriou (ANATOLIKI S.A.).
Subsequently, representatives of the Quadruple Helix institutions presented their work and experience in funded projects, as well as their perspectives relevant to their participation in the project. The participants included:
- Mr Giannis Krestenitis, Emeritus Professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
- Mr Lambros Kokokyris, Professor, International Hellenic University
- Mr Giorgos Emmanouilidis, Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Mr Giorgos Theodoridis, iSea
This was followed by an interactive workshop coordinated by Ms Nagia Tselepi (ANATOLIKI S.A.). During the workshop, participants mapped the strengths and weaknesses of their organisations in relation to project preparation and management, enabling the exchange of experiences and the identification of common challenges.
In the final part of the meeting, participants discussed their needs regarding funding, support tools and mechanisms, as well as ways to actively contribute to the implementation of QUEST.
The event concluded with a brief overview of the main outcomes and the next steps of the collaboration.
About the Project
The QUEST project is funded by the Interreg VI-B NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme, with a total budget of €507,780.00 and a duration of 18 months. The partnership structure is as follows:
- TCCI – Trabzon Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Türkiye) – Project Coordinator
- KTU – Karadeniz Technical University (Türkiye)
- UBBSLA – Union of Bulgarian Black Sea Local Authorities (Bulgaria)
- ANATOLIKI S.A. – Organization for Local Development (Greece)
More information: https://anatoliki.gr/quest/
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