CERTH’s Winemaking Regional Core Group: Bridging key insights and ideas with regional opportunities
On 11 November 2025, as part of the GREENSMARTMED project, CERTH held an important online meeting with its regional reference group for the wine sector. The session focused intensely on the project’s Methodology and the ideas development stage, specifically discussing how to align them with available regional opportunities.
GREENSMARTMED Methodology, Progress, and Next Steps
A key focus of the meeting was the review of the GREENSMARTMED Methodology stages, particularly the current application phase. Participants strategized on the next steps for the winemaking core group, including establishing collaboration with other regional core groups from partner regions in the same sector.
Key Insights from the SMEs Questionnaire
During the session, CERTH presented the results derived from the SMEs’ questionnaires completed during one-to-one meetings held with representatives of the local wineries within the preceding period. The presentation highlighted valuable data on how each winery integrates terms such as sustainability, circular economy, internal management, innovation, and financial stability into its operations. Furthermore, the presentation provided valuable insights into the businesses’ ESG performance, as well as key areas for improvement.
Following the presentation and discussion of the questionnaire results, the session transitioned into the ideas development stage – a core step in the project’s methodology. During this segment, CERTH presented the collective ideas previously proposed by the winemakers during their individual meetings—ideas that hold the potential to benefit the entire sector collectively. A group discussion followed, allowing everyone to express their opinions on the proposed concepts. This collaborative dialogue ultimately led to the prioritization of these ideas based on their significance and usefulness for the winemaking industry.
Connecting to Regional Opportunities: The Living Labs Call
A significant part of the agenda was the presentation of a Call concerning the funding of the design, development and operation of Living Labs in the areas of the Territorial Just Development Transition Plans of Western Macedonia, in order for the wineries’ representatives to be informed and discuss how they could benefit from their potential implementation.
The Call aims to establish open innovation ecosystems following the Quadruple Helix model, where research, businesses, public administration, and civil society collaborate to co-create, test, and evaluate innovative solutions in real-world settings. The goal is to enhance the resilience of local businesses and attract new scientific and entrepreneurial interest to the region. CERTH, as a research centre and one of the potential beneficiaries, plays a crucial role in leveraging this opportunity to secure funding for the development and operation of a Living Lab that will directly serve the local winemaking sector’s needs for green transition and innovation.
The Living Labs Call represents a direct and tangible opportunity for the working group to implement the insights and ideas gathered and developed through the GREENSMARTMED project. The idea is to establish “Live Labs” that would function as pilot initiatives, allowing local winemaking SMEs to test, validate, and adopt innovative solutions for circular economy and sustainability right where they operate.
