Establishing a forum dedicated to carbon farming Research and Innovation (R&I) within the CARBONICA platform represents a significant initiative to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and community building across various regions and expertise.
This forum is envisioned as an online space that gathers experts from all three Widening Countries (Cyprus, Greece, and North Macedonia) to pool their knowledge, experiences, and insights regarding carbon farming. It transcends geographical boundaries, encouraging participation from local experts and diaspora communities, fostering a diverse and global perspective on the subject.
At its core, this space is inclusive and inviting, welcoming project partners, stakeholders (such as farmers, researchers, policymakers, and environmentalists), and individuals enthusiastic about contributing to climate-resilient agriculture and carbon farming innovations.
CARBONICA Brain Gain Conference#2-Carbon Farming and Climate Adaptation: Solutions for Resilient Regions and Local Communities
Цитат од eratosthenes-1 на јули 4, 2025, 12:47 amTitle: Carbon Farming and Climate Adaptation: Solutions for Resilient Regions and Local Communities
Date: April 3, 2025
Location: Centre for Dissemination of Research Results (KEDEA), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (hybrid)
Lead WG: Greece
Invited Diaspora expert speaker:
- Chrysanthi Giortsou, Head of Unit DIGIT.B.3– European Commission (Policy), “A keynote of digital trust in the Brain Gain”
- Olympia Dolla, Head of Sustainability Program EMEIA, ASSA ABLOY (Industry), “EU Green Deal: Opportunities for State-of-the-Art Strategies in Sustainable Development “
Other keynote invited speakers:
- Maria Goulaptsi, Deputy Head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Support Directorate, Region of Central Macedonia, Greece, “The Role of Regional Innovation Support Services in Brain Gain”
- Dr Georgios Papastergios, Head of the Dept. of Operational Planning & Development Programmes Monitoring (Resilience Office), Municipality of Thessaloniki, Greece, “The Role of Municipalities in Strengthening Brain Gain:
Municipal actions and programs for climate resilience”- Spyros Ignatiadis, Board of Directors member, Hellenic-Italian Chamber of Commerce of Thessaloniki, “Greek market and brain gain: Funding tools and financing opportunities within the new carbon production model for the return of young scientists."
- Nikolaos Theodorakis, Scientific Director of Walk-AUTh Innovation Accelerator, “The Walk-Auth Innovation Accelerator”
- Dimitra Palantza, Research Associate, Spectra Lab, AUTH – MRV4SOC
- Kostas Karyotis, Research Associate, Spectra Lab, AUTH – AI4SoilHealth
Overview:
The second CARBONICA Brain Gain Conference was led by the Greece WG, and specifically i-BEC. The conference brought together key regional stakeholders and experts from diaspora to explore the intersection of carbon farming, climate adaptation, and strategies for reversing brain drain. Designed as a single, integrated session, the event emphasized the catalytic role of carbon-smart agriculture and local governance in empowering resilient communities and creating new employment pathways for young scientists.
Key Outcomes
- Brain gain is not only about returning scientists but also about providing meaningful, future-oriented opportunities linked to the green and digital transition.
- Municipalities and regions are emerging as critical actors in enabling innovation and entrepreneurship driven mechanisms, attracting young talents for employment, and demonstrating local climate resilience.
- Academic Institutes and Universities can play an important role in guiding young scientists to the right path, keeping them in the country.
- EU-funded initiatives such as CARBONICA, MRV4SOC and AI4SOILHEALTH offer practical bridges for diaspora engagement and sustainable employment creation.
- Synergies among municipalities, governmental agencies, and academia—fostered through EU-funded initiatives—have been identified as a promising avenue for advancing brain gain, innovation, and carbon farming practices at the regional level.
- From the industry perspective it is noted that the implementation of the EU Climate Law marks a turning point for industrial transformation, which requires regulatory compliance and creates the need for strategic changes, opening new pathways for green innovation, carbon accountability, and skills-based job creation in sectors undergoing sustainability transition.
- Close collaboration of all these sectors can be proven more that useful to mitigate brain drain.
Title: Carbon Farming and Climate Adaptation: Solutions for Resilient Regions and Local Communities
Date: April 3, 2025
Location: Centre for Dissemination of Research Results (KEDEA), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (hybrid)
Lead WG: Greece
Invited Diaspora expert speaker:
- Chrysanthi Giortsou, Head of Unit DIGIT.B.3– European Commission (Policy), “A keynote of digital trust in the Brain Gain”
- Olympia Dolla, Head of Sustainability Program EMEIA, ASSA ABLOY (Industry), “EU Green Deal: Opportunities for State-of-the-Art Strategies in Sustainable Development “
Other keynote invited speakers:
- Maria Goulaptsi, Deputy Head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Support Directorate, Region of Central Macedonia, Greece, “The Role of Regional Innovation Support Services in Brain Gain”
- Dr Georgios Papastergios, Head of the Dept. of Operational Planning & Development Programmes Monitoring (Resilience Office), Municipality of Thessaloniki, Greece, “The Role of Municipalities in Strengthening Brain Gain:
Municipal actions and programs for climate resilience” - Spyros Ignatiadis, Board of Directors member, Hellenic-Italian Chamber of Commerce of Thessaloniki, “Greek market and brain gain: Funding tools and financing opportunities within the new carbon production model for the return of young scientists."
- Nikolaos Theodorakis, Scientific Director of Walk-AUTh Innovation Accelerator, “The Walk-Auth Innovation Accelerator”
- Dimitra Palantza, Research Associate, Spectra Lab, AUTH – MRV4SOC
- Kostas Karyotis, Research Associate, Spectra Lab, AUTH – AI4SoilHealth
Overview:
The second CARBONICA Brain Gain Conference was led by the Greece WG, and specifically i-BEC. The conference brought together key regional stakeholders and experts from diaspora to explore the intersection of carbon farming, climate adaptation, and strategies for reversing brain drain. Designed as a single, integrated session, the event emphasized the catalytic role of carbon-smart agriculture and local governance in empowering resilient communities and creating new employment pathways for young scientists.
Key Outcomes
- Brain gain is not only about returning scientists but also about providing meaningful, future-oriented opportunities linked to the green and digital transition.
- Municipalities and regions are emerging as critical actors in enabling innovation and entrepreneurship driven mechanisms, attracting young talents for employment, and demonstrating local climate resilience.
- Academic Institutes and Universities can play an important role in guiding young scientists to the right path, keeping them in the country.
- EU-funded initiatives such as CARBONICA, MRV4SOC and AI4SOILHEALTH offer practical bridges for diaspora engagement and sustainable employment creation.
- Synergies among municipalities, governmental agencies, and academia—fostered through EU-funded initiatives—have been identified as a promising avenue for advancing brain gain, innovation, and carbon farming practices at the regional level.
- From the industry perspective it is noted that the implementation of the EU Climate Law marks a turning point for industrial transformation, which requires regulatory compliance and creates the need for strategic changes, opening new pathways for green innovation, carbon accountability, and skills-based job creation in sectors undergoing sustainability transition.
- Close collaboration of all these sectors can be proven more that useful to mitigate brain drain.