During November and December 2021, both IED and E-TRIKALA, as partners of the U-SOLVE project, launched the survey to map the ecosystem actors from the side of Greece. The actions and online activity were multifaceted, as both organizations used many means to promote the survey not only locally (in Larissa and Trikala, where the headquarters of the two organizations are located), but also reached responses at a national level. 

 

 

1. Urban Development Sustainability Challenges

 

Thanks to this survey, we were able to see that there are many challenges in terms of sustainability that Greece is facing.

 

Indeed one of the main questions was: “What are the main Urban Development Sustainability Challenges in the defined Geographic area?”

According to the survey results, it seems that all Urban Development Sustainability Challenges already mentioned on the survey rated quite high in terms of importance. 

To be precise, each category was related as very important as follows: 

• Waste management was rated as very important from 71,7% of the actor;
• Urban and transport planning, Green infrastructure, and Urban Health Equity was rated as very important from 62,3% of the actor;
• Green Infrastructure was rated as very important from 62,3% of the actor;
• Urban Health Equity was rated as very important from 62,3% of the actor;
• Sustainable Energy was rated as very important by 58,5% of the actor;
• Blue Infrastructure was rated as very important by 56,6% of the stakeholder;
• Built and Indoor Environment was rated as very important by 52,8% of the actor;
• Lastly, urban food systems were rated as very important by 43,4% of the actors.

 

According to the actors, the main entrepreneurial ecosystem actors related to the defined problems are two: the Connectivity with Public authorities, which was rated as of high importance for 46 out of 53 actors (86%), and the Connectivity with Universities/research institutions which was rated of high importance for 38 out of 53 actors (71%).

 

The Connectivity with Business and entrepreneurship supporting organizations were rated of high importance for 30 out of the 53 actors (56%), and the Connectivity with Financing actors and Business organizations both rated as of high importance for 27 out of 53 actors (50%).

 

Whilst the Connectivity with NGOs and civil society representatives was rated as of high importance for only 20 actors (37%).

 

1. Evaluation of the Ecosystem Functions 

 

Another aspect that was considered in the survey is the Evaluation of the Ecosystem Functions. 

In this case, the market for innovative products (purchasing power of the community) is rated poor by the highest percentage of stakeholders (43%), the accessibility to physical and digital infrastructure is rated poor by the lower percentage of stakeholders (15%), and all other functions, such as Knowledge creation through university and research institutions,  regulations and policies or culture and awareness 

were rated poorly by the same percentage of stakeholders (about 30%).

 

None of these functions are rated excellent by the majority of stakeholders, only Access to capital/finance is rated as good by 53%.

 

In particular, access to capital/finance is considered as a moderate/major obstacle both in terms of access to Debt Finance, and as Access Equity Finance, and Access to Grants (90%). 

 

When it comes to knowledge creation the problem turns out to be more in terms of Expenditure on Research & Development (75%), Availability of urban sustainable development scientific studies (71%), and Brain drains of researchers and scientists (88%). while the Existence of enough universities and research institutes seems to be seen as a minor obstacle or not an obstacle (53%). 

 

Supporting regulations and policies are viewed on average as more of a moderate obstacle or a major obstacle. 60% of the stakeholder sees the Existence of Sustainability and Environmental Challenges-Oriented Policies and Regulations as an obstacle, 71% of the stakeholder sees the Incentives for entrepreneurs and creative ideas to solve environmental or urban challenges as an obstacle, and 75% of the stakeholder sees the Availability of Information or data on the national level as an obstacle. 

 

Culture and awareness are all relatively present (according to the range 47% to 57% of the stakeholders).

 

Physical and digital infrastructure are all considerably adequate (according to the range of 53% to 66% of the stakeholders).

 

Human resources are viewed on average as more of a moderate obstacle or a major obstacle. 83% of the stakeholder sees the Availability of entrepreneurship and business education as an obstacle, 85% of the stakeholder sees the Quality of entrepreneurship and business education as an obstacle, 75% of the stakeholder sees the Availability of STEM graduates with good qualifications as an obstacle, and 77% of the stakeholder sees the Availability of educated/ trained general technical workforce as an obstacle.

 

Business supporting services are all considered moderately accessible (according to the range 57% to 72% of the stakeholders).

 

Lastly, the market for innovative products is viewed on average as more of a moderate obstacle or a major obstacle. 

68% of the stakeholder sees the Availability of market Information/studies  as an obstacle, 

72% of the stakeholder sees the Potential market size expressed in the population as an obstacle,  

89% of the stakeholder sees the Potential purchasing power (income per capita) as an obstacle, 

73% of the stakeholder sees Access to local markets as an obstacle, and 88% of the stakeholder sees Access to international markets as an obstacle.

 

1. Impact of current Entrepreneurial ecosystem on achieving sustainable development goals 

In relation to the impact of the current entrepreneurial ecosystem on achieving sustainable development goals, the responses collected from the survey showed up that the entrepreneurial actors (i.e SMEs, start-ups, incubators, fund managers, investors, VCs) have a stronger impact in addressing local Urban Sustainability Challenges.

 

26% of the respondents (14 responses), declared that “the creation of new green markets supported by public policies and regulations” has the strongest impact in addressing local Urban Sustainability Challenges followed by, the action “joining an international, impact-oriented project” with 23% (12 responses) and then the action “accessing sandboxes, living labs, other co-design facilities” and “receiving support to develop suitable business models”, with 11% each (11 responses). Last but not least, 13% of the respondents (7 responses), indicated the action “through innovative public procurement tenders” while 1 respondent, indicated the following input “in an international environment there is no interest in local development. They stop the function of SMEs that are not considered “necessary”, in order to fund other companies.

 

1. What is needed to be done to improve the performance of the ecosystem actors 

 

The U-SOLVE research concluded with the participants’ assessment on the ecosystem actors performance. The responses ranked the need for improvement as of high importance. In addition, respondents identified as significant the following 3 actors: 

 

• Female entrepreneurs support (94% of the stakeholders). 
• Creation of new jobs for youth (89% of the stakeholders). 
• Increasing the number of newly established firms (87% of the stakeholders). 

DISCLAIMER:
This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union under the ENI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme. The content of this document is the sole responsibility of Consorzio Arca & e-trikala S.A. and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union or the Programme management structures.