Problem addressed

Western Macedonia (WM) has been Greece’s most significant coal region, producing 2,43% of national GDP, 45% of which has been coming from lignite industry and electricity supply. Both mining and power generation has historically been a critical source of employment in WM: in 2018, it directly employed 3,899 individuals in full-time positions and additionally 750 on 8-month contracts. Following the delignitisation goal to yield environmental benefits, the mines closure by 2028 will potentially impact approximately 16,000 jobs and another 11,000 indirectly tied to the Public Power Corporation- PPC (World Bank, 2020). Unemployment is a constant challenge for WM, recording the highest unemployment rates in the country (60% among 15-24), reaching 19,1% among the active population (ELSTAT, 2022), with a notable gender gap (34% of women unemployed). As a result of the above, the largest population decrease is recorded in WM (-10,3%, census 2021). Youth outmigration has been extensive, too: between 2009-2022 WM lost 26% of its young population. At the same time, outmigration in WM has been coupled with high numbers of NEETs (20% of youth 15-24, 14% national average) among the remaining young population.

Within this context, Kozani (industrial sector accounts for 60% of GVA) the mid-sized capital city of WM, with a population of 67,224, faces multiple intertwined challenges, including economic hardship (unemployment 16,4%, ELSTAT 2022), environmental concerns, demographic shifts (3,5% population decline in 10 years). Moreover, unlike some other regions in Greece, Kozani lacks significant natural attractions or major archaeological sites to draw tourists. 

Despite these challenges, Kozani is striving for a "smart and alternative development" driven by innovation and investments. Moreover, the EU included Kozani in the European Mission of 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030. However, this endeavour is particularly challenging due to limited options for economic diversification. Additionally, these new development strategies remain top-down plans that have weak local grounding.

Against this background, a just work transition in Kozani is closely tied to the need to transition away from lignite-based industries, while preserving the city's cultural identity and productive social capital at all ages and social groups. The youth drain, combined with prolonged structural problems, pinpoint the need for alternative employment outlets.

Innovative solution

EcoZani perceives cities’ attractiveness in terms of productive social capital within the economic development triad of Talent-Technology-Tolerance. The project develops 3 T-ecosystems, to address the challenge of just work transition in the de-lignitisation era, by empowering the city’s productive social capital and preserving its socio-cultural identity. Employing the Kozani Carnival as a driver with strong bonds within generations and communities, Ecozani works towards an integrated legacy: the strategic goal is to unearth, harness and retain talent, while the tactics is to turn the event into the first Zero-waste/ Zero-emission/ Zero-exclusion (3Z) Carnival in Greece and Europe. 

- The Ecosystem of Talent develops a local ‘Talent Booster’ reinforcing local youth entrepreneurship by initiating a Business Youth Competition, to innovate round the 3Z transformation of Kozani’s Carnival. 

- The Ecosystem of Technology hosts a hands-on group of activities towards the production of new 3Z products, their application to the re-branded Carnival and the establishment of its legacy through: i) the UpCycle Creative Reuse Center and ii) the Municipal Inclusive Circu-Tech Hub in the renovated Railway Organisation Premises.   

- The Ecosystem of Tolerance opens EcoZani’s vision to the ‘city’. From a 3Z Carnival to a 3Z City and from 10-day to 365 use of 3Z products, includes public consultation for urban acupuncturing interventions as physical reminders of the city’s 3Z transition including upskilling/ reskilling training programmes and capacity building for unemployed people, vocational education learners and municipal administrators. 

Key results and benefits

Public and Private support of youth innovation and entrepreneurship:

- young people remain in Kozani, attempting to work, create, entreprendre, innovate and live in the city and its rural periphery

- MoK expands its capacity to operationaly support the MICTH (incl. incubator, accelerator, fablab, coworking & community space)

- young entrepreneurs and existing businesses feel supported by the local governance

- young entrepreneurs and existing businesses get free support by the partneship experts on several topics of skills building (green, business, management, marketing, digital, circular, community liaison, etc.)

- MoK strengthens its plans towards just work transition

Activation of trans-local communities and business ecosystems:

-The transition strategies get grounded to the local scale, becoming popular among local businesses and inhabitants

-Local inhabitants join public consultation and participatory planning processes

-Young vocational education learners, NEETs and unemployed youth get upskilled though training modules and internship in public structures and SMEs

-The urban core - rural periphery relationship is being enhanced through the Business Youth Competition and the co-creation of 3Z products for agricultural purposes

-People from Kozani all over the world are proud for the Carnival's re-branding as the first 3Z big event in Greece and Europe

High level of innovation diffusion readiness among cities of WM and other urban contexts in Europe:

-MoK is a pioneering city of WM with respect to just work transition away from lignite-based industries and preservation of its cultural identity and its productive social capital at all ages and social groups, with a special focus on youth (15-30)

-MoK initiates peer-learning networks and partnerships with translocal events/festivals, with Greek and European Cities for 3Z Management of Big Events / Carnivals, with Green Transition Cities 

-MoK expands its capacity to transfer knowledge and heritage re-branding

Potential for mainstreaming

The maintenance of the innovative solution both as a whole and with respect to its different aspects will be secured, since: 

- The MICTH will be piloted as a municipal Hub of Kozani but the aim is to become a Regional Hub to cover the needs of WM as a whole. The Local Government Association of WM will assist towards this direction throughout the project's lifetime. In this way, the MICTH will be included in the Regional Operational Programme and therefore activate funding resources and secure interest and participation from young people all over the region.

- The Carnival will remain a 3Z event, using and re-using all 3Z products, following the 3Z transition Plan and communicating good practices and impact through the Cities Network for 3Z Management of big events. 

- The UpCycle Creative Reuse Centre will continue to operate under DIADYMA's responsibility (DIADYMA operates 3 more Centre in WM), that is also going to guarantee the support to young entrepreneurs in creative circular economy.

- The small-scale urban acupuncture interventions will remain in the cities and MoK will include their maintenance in its operational budget.

- The training programmes and the MOOC will be adopted by the VET providers and the UoWM, while more SMEs and activated business ecosystems will host interns.