The project IDEAS will be implemented in the border crossing area between Greece and the Republic of North Macedonia.IDEAS has been developed on the Agri-food Sector.The Agri-food Sector is a key strength in both Greece and North Macedonia’s economies, making significant contributions to their exports (9,31% of North Macedonia’s and 19% of Greece’s total exports). It is also recognized as a high-priority sector in the Central Macedonia region and is considered a promising sector by international organizations (Privacy Shield Framework of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the European Commission and, the Swiss Administration).
However, the sector faces a significant lack of skilled human resources capable of adapting to the dynamic challenges of the natural and market environment. This is where the IDEAS project aims to make a difference.
IDEAS has been developed by partners with experience in rural development and the agri-food sector. The project intends to channel the energy and qualifications of young professionals to bring innovation and increase efficiency and productivity in the sector. The project aligns with the basic needs and priorities outlined in the programming document for the Employment Sector, and has the potential to “decrease high unemployment rates” and contribute to “restraining the demographic deficit”, particularly in rural areas.
The IDEAS project seeks to harness technology and innovation potentials while enhancing employment mobility to smaller urban centers and linking academic capabilities with local opportunities. The project recruits and channels qualified young professionals to the primary sector, providing incentives and skills for them to adapt to the Agri-food sector and the CBA. To achieve this goal, the project will recruit, train, and support these professionals to establish their own businesses, that means directly creating new job opportunities.
While the primary beneficiaries are the supported professionals, the project’s indirect and induced effects are expected to have a wider impact on the Agri-food sector, creating high-quality job positions and increasing the vibrancy of rural areas in the CBA and the macro-region.