The small municipality of Kozani in Greece’s Western Macedonia region is emerging as a groundbreaking role model for others as it strives to achieve climate neutrality by 2030. Known for its rich history, significant agricultural and livestock sectors, and unique products such as the Kozani Crocus, the area also plays an important role in the energy sector. This unique combination of factors has fostered remarkable creativity and innovation in the region, paving the way for a more sustainable and prosperous future.
AMWAJ had the opportunity to visit Cluster of Bio-economy and Environment (CluBE) a pioneering organization in the region and an active member of our initiative, back in May 2024. CluBE’s Founder Ioannis Fallas and Senior Project Manager Stefanos Dodouras, offered their insights into the organization’s history, goals, activities, potential and challenges.
They also shared their vision for the future of the organization and the region, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts and innovative solutions to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable development in Kozani and beyond.
What was the motivation and why in Kozani?
CluBe was officially launched in 2014 in Kozani as a non-profit platform for cooperation with its members coming from the five pillars (fivefold helix) of the regional economy: Public Institutions, Research & Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Environment and Society.
The traditional isolation of the area due to the mountains, the difficult accessibility due to the infrastructure, the decline in the operation of power plants, and the exodus of youth as a result of the economic crisis inspired Ioannis Fallas, with the support of co-founder Nikolaos Davos, to create the first cluster in the area, which has become an important pillar of development.
What is the gap that the cluster is trying to fill?
Like every region, Western Macedonia has its own weaknesses. The distance from the traditional development model of Greece due to its geography, the lack of access to the sea, and the lack of a skilled workforce trained specifically for energy are some of them.
The fact that in the past, the local population only had the possibility to be employed by the Public Power Corporation did not encourage the development of its endogenous potential. CluBE, with its actions, tries to give a small response to this problem by creating new opportunities and options of employability that could bring back a part of the young workforce to the area.
What are the areas of activity and the footprint in the daily life of the region?
In the beginning, the cluster’s interest was focused on bioenergy and the environment. Bioenergy was promising at the time because biomass was seen as part of the answer to the region’s energy future; it could involve farmers, provide them with additional income, and be an aspect of a more sustainable future. Along the way, CluBE realized that bioenergy and bioeconomy are huge fields. The fact that combustion is at the bottom of a pyramid that has many more levels of biomass utilization convinced the cluster, and then other members, to open up the field more.
Today, the activity has broadened significantly to include renewable energy sources, hydrogen, which entered the life of the region in 2019-2020 and has since flourished, thermal insulation and/or the use of bio-based materials in buildings. In addition, policies, digital, nature-based solutions, AI, but also education, which has been very recently introduced in the last two years, are included in the fields of activity.
If water can be integrated into a properly managed circular bioeconomy plan, it can have a positive outcome.
Ioannis Fallas and Stefanos Dodouras, CluBE
There is a qualitative (small or large) productive, cultural, social and environmental footprint . The contact between local actors and members, and their European counterparts, leads to the exchange of know-how, to the opening of options and minds, but also to the identification of the weaknesses of the region. In other words, in the context of the bio-economy, CluBE asks: “What would it be like to have a bio-refinery in Kozani?” while identifying possible gaps and trying to fill them. In this sense, CluBE is involved in consortia and projects that bring knowledge to the region, which is then diffused in different directions while looking for European Horizon projects (innovation actions) that can be applied in member companies and local businesses. There is a significant social footprint, considering that the cluster team consists of 50 people, up from 30.
What is bioeconomy? How are you working on it?
The bioeconomy in general is the use of waste from companies, industries, especially organic waste, to generate some extra income and maybe even a new small business. As for the importance of this in everyday life, let’s talk with examples.
One example is the collection of used cooking oil. For years, used cooking oil has been collected from restaurants, but not from homes, where it used to be thrown down the sink. The Municipal Enterprise for Water Supply and Sewerage (DEIA) commented on the load of used oil in the biological purification system, which was abundant and undesirable. CluBE made a proposal that was approved, and two pilot oil collection machines were installed, where the citizen registers, follows the collection process and is rewarded with something simple. Such an approach works well in this society and especially in schools, because children act as a “Trojan horse” at home.
Waste Management of Western Macedonia (DIADYMA SA) liked the idea and after the first pilots ordered 30-40 more, which they placed in Kozani and will start to place in other cities. The whole plan started in 2022 and there is already a result in the collection of the oil and now we are starting the steps for the utilization from biodiesel to higher uses in cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies, thinking of a business model that could be very positive. Another related issue is the collection of used coffee from cafes for higher uses, such as bioplastics. The cluster follows exhibitions and keeps an eye on what is happening outside Greece while trying to involve and mobilize everyone who could contribute, including the art faculty of the city of Florina, to give some artistic ideas.
What european projects is CluBE involved in?
A good example is the BBTWINS project, which creates a digital twin based on a farmers’ cooperative.
ROBOCOOP is another project that focuses on value chains, mainly vineyards and cereals. Here, too, the main question is how the residues after distillation can be used in producing materials like face creams, for the benefit of all involved in the chain. Especially abroad, it is something participatory, where someone can be a shareholder in the whole process until new, innovative products come out.
Another good example was the NOMAD project, which was about the use of liquid waste from biogas plants and how to clean it with a mobile unit.
Each project has an impact environmentally, economically and culturally, resulting in new opportunities and a good foothold to promote such actions to policy-makers! As a growing and learning organization, issues such as water, trails, industrial heritage, may not have been on the agenda a few years ago, but are now being developed and responsibly placed within a framework.
How relevant is education to the activities of clube?
With the example of DIADYMA in educational actions, which has been operating for 30 years, it seemed more than worthwhile to invest in the educational part in the sense that it creates a mindset, a society with a different way of thinking.
The participation of CluBE in Kozani 2030 deserves a special mention. It was a collaboration with the Municipality of Kozani that was ultimately successful in being included in the European Commission’s 100 Climate Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030. By supporting the municipality and educating other cities, this could gradually lead to the whole of Western Macedonia becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
CluBE is also working closely with the University of Western Macedonia hydrogen and energy, with IEK (school of continuing education), while getting information about what the needs are, what can be offered, what training process should be used in eachparticular place. This is the concept of clusters, to be participative, to “mobilize the local ecosystem”. CluBE is constantly opening up new areas and expanding its network.
Moreover, in December 2023, the first Winter Academy of Environmental Trainers took place, where trainers were trained in environmental issues, mainly in Nymphaeum, with certified participation, in cooperation with the University of Western Attica.
Water matters?
Water is seen as an asset of the region, as its many water resources are particularly important. In particular, if water can be integrated into a properly managed circular bioeconomy plan, it can have a positive outcome. Practices of participation, proactivity, and being part of the region’s bigger picture cannot ignore water issues, despite being overlooked for years. In fact, CluBE is looking for possible partnerships, for knowledge that could be taken from other areas of the Mediterranean and possibly bring its own expertise, which may not be in the water itself, but related to the intense industrial activity, the mines, the artificial wetlands and how they are managed.
How does CluBE see the future?
It would be nice for CluBE to continue to evolve and become better known locally. That is, that people better understand and appreciate that it takes patience and perseverance to see results. It would be nice to see that the actions of the cluster are fruitful and that the efforts to do something for Western Macedonia are recognized. With a slogan we would say: “We want CluBE to continue to exist”.
We are developing a network, with the support of AMWAJ, to contribute to a more sustainable, contemporary future in Western Macedonia.
Ioannis Fallas and Stefanos Dodouras, CluBE
Every year is now about growth, it’s no longer about survival. For example, the process of delignification, which was a “dark matter” for many people in the region, was seen by the cluster as an opportunity for a greener future. And definitely, finding ways to spread the word to the general public is something to keep working on.
While activities in schools are very successful and fruitful, conversations with the general public should be more frequent so that they can understand what CluBE is doing in simple language. Recently, journalists in the area have contacted us with the aim of informing people more often through the media.
So yes…gradually a network is being developed and with the help of AMWAJ, without any sense of arrogance, but mainly for information for a more sustainable, contemporary future, to continue to contribute positively to the area of Western Macedonia. It’s something good to do, because CluBE sees that there is still hope.
