The Democritus University of Thrace – (D.U.Th.), Enora Innovation, and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Region (EMT), with support from the Regional Development Fund Region of Eastern Macedonia & Thrace, held the first regional RESIST Project workshop in Komotini on 14 March along with key local stakeholders. Participation in the RESIST project is one of the many initiatives to develop and implement effective practices across the region to mitigate the threats arising from climate change.
RESIST project stands out as one of the European Union’s flagship climate endeavours, comprising 56 partners and organised into four distinct pilot areas. Each pilot is spearheaded by regions that are at the forefront of risk and disaster management strategies. These leading regions impart their expertise to affiliated partners, with Southwest Finland playing a lighthouse role for EMT. The goal of the workshop was to engage all partners and stakeholders in a meaningful dialogue to identify and prioritize essential needs and objectives.
Ms. Artemis Tsolaki, representing EMT Region, highlighted the project’s collaborative framework, indicating plans for subsequent meetings to pave the way for effective knowledge exchange. Highlighting the practical benefits of such collaborative projects, the EMT Region’s Ms. Maria Hamitidou, emphasised the invaluable opportunity to synergise with research institutions like DUTH and innovative companies like ENORA. This collaboration focuses on leveraging collective expertise to focus on challenges such as flood mitigation, ensuring impactful outcomes that will significantly benefit the region.
Representing DUTH, Dr. Antonis Gasteratos, Dean of the Polytechnic School, Dr. Christos Akratos, Associate Professor, and Dr. Symeon Symeonidis, Postdoctoral Researcher, underscored the project’s aim to refine climate change mitigation practices through a partnership model with Southwest Finland. This approach emphasises the use of natural solutions to address flooding and water-related phenomena, showcasing the Polytechnic School’s vital contribution to environmental engineering and research.
Mr. George Koutalieris from ENORA Innovation presented the OneAquaHealth EU Project linking it with RESIST Project’s goals. OneAquaHealth is employing participatory design methods to develop software solutions aimed at mitigating the impact of climate change on freshwater ecosystems.
This project addresses critical challenges such as urbanisation, biodiversity loss in freshwater habitats, and the degradation of urban water systems, all of which pose significant threats to public health. During his presentation, he demonstrated Enora Annotation Tools and Experts’ Dashboards that have been developed for OneAquaHealth following the AENEA methodological steps. This methodology emphasises the importance of end-user involvement throughout the development process, ensuring that solutions are both effective and tailored to meet the specific needs of the community.
This workshop underlined the collective resolve of the EMT (RDF – PAMTH) Region, DUTH, and ENORA Innovation to champion nature-based solutions for environmental challenges. Through collaborative efforts, the project aims to promote local engagement and foster community-driven approaches to climate resilience.