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The Laboratory of Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation of the University of Patras at the 2025 Collaboration Hackathon

The Laboratory of Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation of the University of Patras actively participated in the Collaboration Hackathon, which successfully took place on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the JOIST Innovation Space in Ioannina.

The Laboratory was represented by Ms. Dimitra Papadimitriou, Director of the Laboratory, Professor of Department of Business Administration and Dr. Katerina Sotiropoulou, researcher, who both contributed as mentors, offering guidance and support to the participating teams in developing their proposals based on the principles of social and cooperative entrepreneurship.

This action was part of the "Development of Cooperation" Interlocal Cooperation Plan, implemented under the Rural Development Programme of Greece 2014–2020 (RDP), Measure 19, Sub-measure 19.3.

During the Hackathon, teams from Epirus and beyond worked intensively, presenting proposals that respond to real social, environmental, and development challenges through innovative and collective approaches. The Laboratory’s contribution as a mentoring body played a key role in improving the quality and impact of the proposed ideas.

The three projects that stood out and received awards were:

  • "Wool from Your Land – The Pokari Project": focusing on the revival of local wool processing and cottage industry traditions.
  • "Social Agropark of Kalamas Valley – Oikotopia Social Cooperative Enterprise": promoting food self-sufficiency, culture, and cooperation.
  • "Co-living 60+ – Solidarity Counseling Network": designing new community-based housing models for people over 60, rooted in mutual care.

The event concluded with final presentations and the announcement of the winning teams, marking a festive and collaborative closure to a productive and inspiring day.

We warmly thank the organizers (Epirus Development Agency, Impact Hub Athens), the Vassilios Tsingos Foundation for supporting the monetary awards, and all mentors, participants, and the public who contributed to the success of the Hackathon.

The participation of our Laboratory in the 2025 Collaboration Hackathon reinforces our mission to promote social innovation and support sustainable and cooperative forms of entrepreneurship with a meaningful social footprint.

You can view all team presentations here: https://bit.ly/43Nd17e