Blue Lab, the recently launched Business Innovation Center for Blue Growth of the Municipality of Piraeus was presented in an open informative event held on Wednesday the 9^th of October at the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The aim of event, which was open to the public, was to present the Center, its mission, its goals and services, thus informing potential beneficiaries and key stakeholders on the ways they can be involved in this innovative project implemented by PLANET.

Blue Lab is the first center to promote and support business innovation exclusively for Blue Growth in Greece.  It is a flagship initiative of the Municipality of Piraeus, aiming to provide a springboard for developing new ventures, ideas and products using advanced technology, always within the Blue Economy. Providing two pillars of services, one focusing on advanced technologies and another focusing on entrepreneurial support, the center welcomes young people who want to develop technological and business skills, cultivating the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship within the field of Blue Economy.

Mrs Machy Karagianni,  Chief Operating Officer of PLANET SA, the consultancy chosen by the Municipality of Piraeus to implement this aspiring project, presented the Lab’s services focusing on entrepreneurial support, whereas Mrs Niki Lavdaki, Senior Associate of PLANET and Head of Blue Lab, presented in detail the overall project and its activities.

PLANET, with its long-term expertise in youth entrepreneurship support projects has undertaken the establishment, management and day to day operation of Blue Lab for the first 26 months of its activity. Among others PLANET is responsible for the establishment of Blue Lab facilities, including its beyond of the state of art technological equipment, the provision of all Blue Lab services (training in key enabling technologies, school study visits, business support for young entrepreneurs), the promotion of the lab and its goals.

The opening speeches of the event were delivered by the Deputy Minister for Research and Technology Mr. Christos Dimas, Governor of Attica Region Mr. Georgios Patoulis, Mayor of Piraeus Mr. Giannis Moralis and the President of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mr. Vassilis Korkidis. The event attended, among others, Members of the Greek Parliament, representatives of Greek Ministries, higher education institutions, and Municipal Authorities as well as university students and young people that wished to be informed on the operation of Blue Lab.

For more information on Blue Lab, please visit the official website www.bluelab.gr