News

On 30 March and 27 April 2026, the 1st and 2nd Systemic Analysis Workshops of the SMARTER EU project took place in Western Greece, bringing together stakeholders from public administration, academia and research, civil society, cooperatives, industry and relevant expert communities.

 

The workshops were organised by the Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) of the Athena Research Center and AE4RIA, in collaboration with the Region of Western Greece, under the scientific coordination of Professor Dr. Phoebe Koundouri, Principal Investigator of the SMARTER project at Athena Research Center. The SDU / Athena team included Lydia Papadaki, Dr. Anni Triantafyllidou and Dr. Nikos Stasinopoulos, with key contributions from Dr. Varvara Sigouni and Spyros Papaspyrou from the Region of Western Greece.

 

The participatory process focused on understanding complex challenges through a systems innovation approach. Participants mapped ecosystem services, identified key variables and root causes, analysed interconnections, and explored reinforcing and balancing feedback loops shaping the regional ecosystem. Particular emphasis was placed on the question of how the agri-food system and the lagoon ecosystem can coexist sustainably, while strengthening resilience, protecting natural resources and supporting local well-being.

 

The workshops created a shared understanding of the region’s systemic challenges and opportunities, laying the groundwork for evidence-based and collaborative climate adaptation solutions in Western Greece.