The Just Transition Institute Greece (JTIG) successfully hosted the 2nd meeting of the Regional Stakeholders Group (RSG) of the SIJMA project (Social Innovation for Job and Development Opportunities in Mining Areas in Transition around Europe) on 1 April 2026, at the University Campus ZEP in Kozani.
The meeting brought together a targeted group of organisations representing regional authorities, academia, business support structures, social economy actors and civil society. Compared to the initial session, the 2nd RSG meeting showed an increased level of engagement, with both returning participants and new stakeholders joining — reflecting growing interest in the project and its policy relevance.
A joint meeting with added value
The session was held jointly with the JUST FEMME project, also under the Interreg Europe programme, focusing on women’s entrepreneurship and employment in Just Transition regions. This joint organisation further enriched participation, bringing in additional stakeholders with expertise in gender equality and inclusive entrepreneurship, and generating concrete synergies between the two projects around their shared policy improvement objectives in Western Macedonia. The simultaneous delivery of both meetings maximised the impact of each project and strengthened the regional policy dialogue.
Key themes addressed
Structured around presentations and thematic round table discussions, the meeting covered the following main areas: the progress and strategic orientation of the SIJMA project; the initial framework for a regional Social Innovation Strategy for Western Macedonia, positioning social entrepreneurship as a key implementation mechanism for the Just Transition; the linkages between SIJMA and JUST FEMME, including the integration of the gender dimension in policy design; and the current programming framework of Western Macedonia 2021–2027 and forthcoming funding opportunities for social enterprises and inclusive entrepreneurship.
Participants demonstrated active involvement throughout, contributing to discussions, sharing experiences and expressing willingness to engage in the next phases of the project, including the identification and validation of good practices and policy directions.
Next steps
Following the meeting, key action points include strengthening coordination between SIJMA and JUST FEMME for joint policy input at regional level; identification and documentation of good practices in social entrepreneurship, gender-inclusive policies and support ecosystems in transition regions; and continued stakeholder engagement in upcoming interregional learning and policy development activities. Stakeholders also committed to contributing to the development of the regional Social Innovation Strategy, including its gender dimension.
The RSG convenes every six months, ensuring a continuous two-way flow of information between local stakeholders and project partners across Europe.
SIJMA is co-funded by the European Union and national resources through the Interreg Europe programme. Further information: https://www.interregeurope.eu/sijma | info@jtig.org
