My IVY Journey with Community4Innovation: Learning, Collaboration and Sustainability
Hi everyone! My name is Charis Kardogianni, I am 24 years old and I recently graduated from the National Technical University of Athens, School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering with an environmental engineering direction. For the past months, I have had the opportunity to be part of the Interreg Euro-MED project Community4Innovation as an IVY volunteer at Dynamic Vision P.C. This experience has introduced me to the world of European cooperation projects and allowed me to better understand how innovation and collaboration can contribute to sustainable development across the Mediterranean region. The Innovative Sustainable Economy Mission that includes the Community4Innovation project aims to foster a fair transition toward a circular economy through the development of novel technical knowledge and its translation into policy actions. Community4Innovation is the network that aims to create a Community of Practice for the projects of the Mediterranean region to enhance their collaboration and exchange valuable information regarding innovative solutions for sustainability issues of the region. Having participated in this project has turned out to be an interesting experience both in terms of knowledge and personal skill development. Through my voluntary assignment, I was able to learn not only about how international collaborations work, but also get involved in certain actions linked to Community of Practice, Catalogue of Actionable Knowledge and Interreg Euro-MED Academy. On top of that, I had the chance to improve my soft and professional skills in an international environment. Some of the most interesting activities of my volunteering assignment were the ones regarding WP1 – REUSE and Community of Practice. Some of the responsibilities included helping prepare draft agenda and invitations for meetings, taking notes during meetings and helping organize the meeting’s flow. I found this very helpful in realizing what lies behind planning and implementation of cooperation activities and how important coordination is for achieving successful collaboration. Another highlight of my volunteer assignment is the participation in Community4Innovation activities in the framework of Circle the Med Forum, which took place on the 20-21 of May. On the first day, I helped prepare the 3rd MED Innovation Summit, while on the second day I attended the 5th ISE Community of Practice event. My role included assisting in preparing documents for the events (e.g. agenda materials, invitations) and following the discussions and gaining interesting insights about the topic from communication among participants. Participating in such forums provided me with a special opportunity of being part of inspiring conversations regarding innovative approaches and achievements in sustainability-related issues of the Mediterranean region. Another significant aspect of my volunteering assignment was learning from my mentor about filling in the Catalogue of Actionable Knowledge. This Catalogue serves as the most important output deliverable of Community4Innovation. The Catalogue consists of an online document that gathers information about the results that were achieved through projects of the Mission one of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme and highlights the information about transferability, replicability and SDG contributions. My responsibilities involved gathering and organizing this information in addition to giving my suggestions on making the new version of the Catalogue more interesting and easy-to-use for its users. Coming from an environmental engineering background, I have always been interested in sustainability and innovation. What makes this experience especially meaningful for me is the opportunity to connect my academic studies with real-world European initiatives that aim to create positive impact for local communities and future generations. My IVY journey so far has been extremely rewarding, and I am grateful to be part of a project that encourages cooperation, innovation and shared learning across Europe. I am excited to continue learning and contributing throughout the rest of this experience. – Charikleia, IVY Project Partner at Dynamic Vision P. C., for the Interreg project Community4Innovation – C4I, under the programme Interreg Euro-Med.
Inside European Cooperation: My Experience as an IVY Reporter in the Interreg Euro-MED Programme
My name is Lara Beatriz Kotviski, and I hold a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and a Master’s degree in Development and International Cooperation from Sapienza Università di Roma. Throughout my academic trajectory, I developed a strong interest in the concept of governance, particularly in how, in an increasingly interconnected world, challenges such as climate change transcend national borders and require international cooperation to be effectively addressed. Through my experience in the Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) at the Italian National Contact Point of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme, I was able to observe this dynamic in practice, particularly in how countries, regions, and institutions work together to address shared issues. The Euro-MED programme brings together 14 countries and 69 regions across the Mediterranean area around four main priorities: promoting greener living areas, protecting natural heritage, strengthening an innovative economy, and enhancing sustainable tourism. These priorities are implemented through a multi-level governance model based on transnational partnerships, ensuring coordination, shared responsibilities, and concrete territorial impact. In my very first week, I participated in a National Committee, where representatives from Italian regions, ministries, and other national authorities define priorities to be brought to the Monitoring Committee. The Monitoring Committee, in turn, brings together representatives from participating countries to take strategic decisions, such as project approval and resource allocation. This provided me with a concrete example of how such governance mechanisms operate in practice within European cooperation. As an IVY Reporter, I also worked on the communication activities of the National Contact Point, contributing to increasing the visibility of the programme through content production, such as thematic newsletters focused on project progress, challenges, and results. These activities are part of the “results amplification” strategy, which aims to ensure that developed solutions are replicable and generate impact beyond the funding cycle. In this context, I further deepened my understanding of the concept of “capitalisation”, understood as the transfer and reuse of knowledge across territories. I also supported the organisation of institutional events such as the Interreg Euro-MED Forum, as well as the planning and follow-up of other initiatives. In this context, I contributed ideas that were later implemented, including the development of a content plan with an editorial calendar to structure communications around strategic themes. Another example was the design of a webinar aimed at promoting the IVY initiative among programme project partners. It brought together testimonials from volunteers and host organisations to illustrate how the initiative works in practice and its benefits. At the end of my experience, I participated in the European Youth Week at the European Parliament, where I presented the IVY initiative to other young people. It was a very inspiring moment. Overall, this experience significantly broadened my understanding of European cooperation and its practical implementation, while also reinforcing the importance of Cohesion Policy in regional development. It also highlighted the strategic role of programmes such as IVY in preparing young professionals to continue and strengthen existing initiatives. Finally, I consider this experience a fundamental starting point in my professional path. I intend to continue working in international cooperation, driven by a strong belief in its role in promoting sustainable development for all. – Lara, IVY Reporter at Regione Toscana, for the Interreg project D4LA, under the NCP Italy Interreg Euro-MED.
Volunteering for Companies4tomorrow (C4T)
Hello everyone! My name is Chara, I am 24 years old and I have completed my studies in International and European Studies. I am currently volunteering as an IVY Project Partner at the Region of Western Greece. The Region of Western Greece is my host organization, where I support the implementation of the Interreg project Companies4Tomorrow (C4T), an initiative that promotes digital innovation and strengthens the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Greece and Italy. What is the C4T project about? C4T is a project that aims to enhance digital skills and innovation capacity in the GR-IT region. It supports small and medium-sized enterprises in adapting to digital transformation and encourages stronger connections between research, businesses, and regional actors. Through cooperation between partners from Greece and Italy, the project promotes knowledge exchange and the development of tools that can help SMEs become more competitive and future-oriented. My Role as a Volunteer As part of my IVY experience, I am mainly involved in communication and dissemination activities. One of my main responsibilities is preparing newsletters that present the progress of the project. Through this, I help share updates, highlight key achievements, and make the project more visible to a wider audience. Even though my role focuses on communication, it allows me to see how a European project evolves step by step and how coordination between different partners is essential. Learning through cooperation One of the most interesting aspects of this experience is observing how organizations from different countries collaborate towards a common goal. It has helped me better understand how European Territorial Cooperation works in practice and how important communication is in ensuring the success of such projects. At the same time, I have been developing practical skills in communication, organization, and teamwork, while gaining a clearer understanding of Cohesion Policy and its impact on regional development. What I will take with me from this experience is not only the skills I have developed, but also a stronger motivation to stay involved in European projects in the future and to contribute more actively to initiatives that bring regions and people closer together. – Marina, IVY Project Partner at the Region of Western Greece (RWG), for the Interreg project Companies4tomorrow (C4T), under the programme Interreg Greece -Italy.
My experience as an IVY volunteer in the Interreg Italy-Austria Programme
Hello! My name is Francesca, I’m a 24-year-old master’s student from Italy, and I’m currently volunteering as an Interreg reporter at the Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region within the Interreg Italy–Austria programme. When I started this journey, I didn’t fully realise how extensive European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) actually is. Now, I’m discovering it day by day and, most importantly, I’m seeing how EU cooperation and Cohesion policy really work in practice and how it can make a difference for local communities. The main goal of the Interreg Italy–Austria programme is to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, especially in border areas. It supports projects in fields like innovation, sustainability, environmental protection, and culture. What I find particularly interesting is that these projects are not just abstract ideas—they are concrete initiatives that bring real benefits to people living in these regions, from better services to new opportunities for collaboration. In this context, the Regional Coordination Units play an important role at the local level. They act as a bridge between the programme and the territory: they support project partners, provide guidance throughout the project lifecycle, and help make information more accessible. Supporting the RCU in my region has allowed me to see this “behind the scenes” work, which is essential for making everything run smoothly. This experience has given me the opportunity to engage with a wide range of projects and to see firsthand their impact across different sectors. As a volunteer, I mainly support communication and outreach activities. Over the past three months of my IVY journey, I have been involved in several activities aimed at promoting the programme. For instance, I contributed to organising an event for beneficiaries, explaining the procedures to follow after project approval and I have organised events at the University of Trieste and the University of Udine, where I presented European Territorial Cooperation with a focus on the Interreg Italy–Austria programme. Public speaking was initially challenging, but it helped me step out of my comfort zone and grow both personally and professionally. The positive feedback I received from students was particularly rewarding: many were unfamiliar with ETC, yet showed genuine interest and curiosity. It was also an opportunity to share my experience as an IVY volunteer and encourage others to explore similar paths. I’ve also had the opportunity to take part in several events, both within Interreg projects and in the wider context of European cooperation. These moments are always inspiring: you meet people who truly believe in what they do and are committed to building a more connected Europe. One of the things I’ve learned is how important cooperation really is. Interreg projects bring together partners from different countries who work side by side, sharing ideas and building solutions together. It’s inspiring to see how collaboration across borders can lead to results that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. Looking back at these first months, I can say this experience has been both enriching and motivating. I would definitely recommend it to other young people. It’s a great way to understand how the EU works beyond theory, to gain practical skills, and to be part of something meaningful. – Francesca, IVY Project Partner at the RCU Interreg Italy-Austria.
Making Mediterranean Markets Greener: My Journey with ProcuraMED!
Hi everyone! My name is Eleftheria Pouliou and and I’m currently volunteering with the IVY programme at the University of Patras in Greece. For the past few months, I’ve been part of an exciting project called ProcuraMED, an initiative co-funded by Interreg Euro-MED Programme, and I’d love to tell you what we’re up to! What is ProcuraMED? Think about all the things a city needs: buses, streetlights, computers for schools, or even cleaning services. Usually, governments just buy the cheapest ones. ProcuraMED wants to change that! Our goal is to teach public authorities in countries like Greece, Italy, and Spain how to buy “green” and “smart.” Instead of just looking at the price, we want them to choose products that are better for the environment and help local innovative businesses grow. How do I help? As a volunteer, I’m right in the heart of the action! My job is to help the researchers at the University of Patras collect and analyze information from all over the Mediterranean. I look for “best practices”, real examples of how cities have successfully bought green products—and I help write articles to share this knowledge. It’s amazing to see how much work goes into making our cities more sustainable! Who benefits? It helps everyone! The real winners are our local communities and small businesses (MSMEs), as they get a chance to big contracts and it helps all of us enjoy cleaner air, better energy, and a healthier environment. The best part of volunteering? For me, it’s the cooperation. Even though we live in different places, we all want the same thing: a greener future for the Mediterranean. Being an IVY volunteer has shown me that when we cooperate, we can actually make a difference! – Eleftheria, IVY Project Partner at the Special Account for Research Grants, UNIVERSITY OF PATRAS, for the Interreg project ProcuraMED, under the programme Interreg Euro-Med.
My Journey as an IVY Volunteer in the HERCULES Project
When I started my journey as an IVY volunteer in the HERCULES project in ACIS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain, I was excited to step into the world of European cooperation but I didn’t fully realize how enriching the experience would be. From day one, I became part of an international partnership working to improve how regions support healthcare innovation. HERCULES focuses on helping public authorities adopt innovative solutions more effectively, and being involved in this process has given me a unique perspective on how European projects can influence real policy change. One of the highlights of my experience has been participating in the Interregional Learning Event in Umeå, Sweden. These meetings bring together the partners and stakeholders from different countries to exchange Good Practices and discuss how they can be adapted to different regional contexts. Seeing these exchanges happen in real life and understanding how ideas travel from one region to another has been incredibly inspiring. At the same time, I’ve been actively involved in communication tasks, from drafting newsletter content to supporting dissemination activities. This has shown me how important it is to make project results visible and accessible, so they can have a real impact beyond the partnership. On a personal level, this experience has helped me grow a lot. Volunteering in an international environment improved my communication skills, adaptability and confidence. I also gained a better understanding of how European projects are structured and managed, something that is often hard to grasp from the outside. If you are thinking about joining the IVY programme, I would definitely encourage you to go for it. It’s a unique chance to gain hands-on experience, work in an international setting and be part of projects that make a difference. – Renata, IVY Project Partner at the GALICIAN HEALTH KNOWLEDGE AGENCY – ACIS, for the Interreg project HERCULES, under the programme Interreg Europe.
