With the participation of more than 50 young people, students and professionals, the workshop entitled “Graphic Arts, Printing, Packaging: putting the Circular Economy into practice – Perspectives and job opportunities for young people” was held on Tuesday 28 April at the Piraeus Makerspace.
The event was an innovative partnership between applied research, entrepreneurship and education, bridging the gap between academic knowledge and the real requirements of modern entrepreneurship in the printing, packaging and graphic arts sector.
The event was co-organized by the Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate of the Municipality of Piraeus, the Piraeus Makerspace Circular Economy Laboratory, the Pack PrintScience Research, Development and Education Centre and the Piraeus School of Advanced Vocational Training (Piraeus SAEK).
The focus of the presentations was on the trends and prospects of the printing and packaging sectors.
Mr Dimitris Kotsiveros (forlabels S.A.) analysed the employment dynamics in the sector, while Mr Markos Malliaris (LM ECO) presented practical applications of the Circular Economy in modern packaging. From the market side, Mr. Anastasios Pallas (Pallas Graphic Arts Bros.) shared valuable advice on what young people starting their career in printing should know, while Ms. Andriani Goetou, Lt. PhD at the University of West Attica, focused on education and training in Graphic Arts.
The event was honored with the presence of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Sustainable Development of the Municipality of Piraeus, Mr. Dimitris Karydis, who delivered a welcome address, and the Director of Planning and Sustainable Development, Ms. Maria Poulou, underlining with their participation the firm commitment of the Municipal Authority to the strengthening of sustainable development and the circular economy in the city of Piraeus.
Mr. In addition, Mrs. Georgia Tsironi, representing the Piraeus IPE, was present.
The presence of the trainees of the Piraeus SAEK, who actively participated in the discussion, accompanied by their teacher, Mrs. Penelope Nikitopoulou, was particularly important. Piraeus Makerspace was represented by Mr. Konstantinos Liantzas and Ms. Marilena Georgantzi, highlighting the role of the workshop in the local community.
Through the presentations and the dialogue that followed, the importance of strengthening the technical skills of students was highlighted, as well as the need for a substantial interconnection of education with the production process. At the same time, the design of a common framework for cooperation between educational institutions, the Municipality and the business community was discussed.
The participants had the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the principles of the circular economy and the wide range of employment opportunities offered by the graphic arts sector. The success of the event was the trigger for planning new, similar activities in the near future, aiming at the continuous support of the local community and young professionals as well as the promotion of employment. The warm response of the attendees confirmed that creativity and sustainability are the driving force for a promising future in Piraeus.
For more information: Piraeus Makerspace. Piraeus Makerspace is addressed to all those who wish to redesign products in a sustainable way, mainly aiming at reusing materials. It is open to people of any skill and education who wish to experiment with a new idea. Regular training seminars are organised for which you can register your participation by sending an email to the following address: piraeusmakerspace@gmail.com.
Centre for Research, Development and Training, Packaging, Printing and Graphic Communication – PackPrint Science: A dynamic initiative of ELSET (Hellenic Association of Label Manufacturers), HELGRAMED (Hellenic Association of Graphic Arts Technology Graduates) and FESPA HELLAS ASSOCIATION (Association of Screen Printing and Digital Printing Professionals), aiming to support research, innovation, education in the fields of packaging, printing and graphic arts. info@packprintscience.org
Visit the Piraeus Makerspace Facebook, Linkedin and Youtube page. There you will find information about all the workshops that are implemented and are free of charge.
