4th Entrepreneurial Discovery Process Focus Group on Marble in the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Drama, 5 May 2015

The workshop on the value chain of non-metallic minerals was based on the same approach that was followed for organising three similar events in the past (wine, dairy/meat products, tourism).

The event gave the opportunity to the participants (representing all strands of the triple helix) to be exposed on key innovations in the value chain of the selected sectors at the national and European level and at the same time to stimulate idea generation for business development.

Over the course of the day, the focus group meeting combined plenary and parallel sessions, with interventions by regional, national, and international experts. In the plenary sessions, five international and national experts (from the research and private sectors) were invited to present innovative trends and technologies in the marble value chain, discuss sector-specific research and innovation from the perspectives of sustainability and the environment, preservation of architectural and cultural heritage and product / market opportunities.

To further stimulate idea generation and opportunity identification two parallel working groups were organised, dealing with –respectively-

• WG1: energy and environmental optimisation in marble production,
• WG2: waste management and environmental issues in marble quarries & aggregates

Each working group first attended a topic-specific presentation and then applied a predefined methodology, aimed at identifying innovative ideas aligned with the RIS3. Moderators and rapporteurs were appointed for each group to oversee the application of the methodology and report the outcomes.

The participation and engagement in the event, in terms of both level and quality, were moderately high. More than 50 stakeholders from within the region and beyond participated. The parallel sessions saw active engagement by both invited experts and stakeholders from the region and beyond, which ultimately generated the following (consolidated) ideas.

• Geological and geophysical research & Machinery or equipment for underground grounding
• Energy audit and integrated interventions for energy savings in quarries
• Development and dissemination of know-how for the exploitation of mining & marble by-products
• Creation of a cluster in the marble value chain
• Production of magnesium (too little interest)
• Quarry rehabilitation
   

The agenda is available here.

Presentations:

1. Introduction to the project & context of non-metallic minerals, K.Haegeman
2. RIS3 for REMTh - setting priorities, Y.Tolias
3. Methodological approach for the parallel EDP sessions, Elisabetta Marinelli
4. Innovative trends and technologies in the marble industry, M.Menegaki
5. Research & innovation, sustainability & environment, N.Cristo
6. Innovation in marble industry to preserve cultural heritage, F.J.Fernandez Cortes
7a. Marble - Qualities, reserves, value & applications, A.Tsirambidis
7b. Marble & Zeolite, A.Fillipidis-A.Tsirambidis
7c. Zeolite announcement, A.Fillipidis
8. Marble and cultural heritage, Prospects, G.Karadedos
9A. R&I for energy & environmental optimization of production chain, C.Laskaridis
9B. Management of marble quarries & aggregates, E.Kargiotis