SMEOrigin - SMEs & European Original Geographical Indications

Christmas is not only a time for sharing gifts but also an opportunity to give back to our communities. One impactful way is by supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food sector, particularly those that produce foods and drinks with Geographical Indications (GIs). These products are steeped in tradition and tied to the heritage of specific regions. Here’s why and how you can celebrate Christmas with local flavour while supporting these vital businesses. #SMEOrigin Interreg Europe https://lnkd.in/d4EBbAZq

How stakeholders benefit from #SMEOrigin project activities? See what Eira Kotoneva, an entrepreneur from Savonlinna, Finland, brought home from the 3rd Interregional meeting in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, earliler this year. Watch the video with sound on! #interregeurope Interreg Europe

Project #SMEOrigin was presented during the Steering Committee Meeting of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, Priority area 3 “To promote culture, tourism and people to people contacts” by the invitation of the Ministry of Tourism of Bulgaria. Communication manager Maria Andreeva outlined the main goals of the project, the many good practices shared so far and the opportunities for collaboration with the tourism sector to support SMEs competitiveness in the food sector. They include events like food and wine festivals, developing food and wine routes, agritourism, experiences (cooking classes, participation in farming activities). Participants were excited to hear about some of the wonderful examples withessed by project partners during our interregional meetings: the Festival of Rose, the Opera Menu of Savonlinna, the Calasparra rice routes, the Mavrodaphne of Patras wine experiences, etc. Project #SMEOrigin is now in the list of stakeholders of the Steering Committee of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, Priority area 3. Looking forward to future collaborations! If you are representing a project willing to collaborate with SMEOrigin, contact us now! Danube Region Strategy Stara Zagora Regional Economic Development Agency Interreg Europe

The SMEOrigin Policy Transfer Working group met today to discuss and finalize the methodology of the exchange of experience process within the #SMEOrigin project partnership. This will pave the way for successful transfer of Good Practices to boost the SME Competitiveness in the food sector. The methodology is based on the Strategic Toolkit, prepared earlier by project partners. It is available for download on the SMEOrigin website. The methodology itself will be finalized by the end of Sem 3, following 2 more project meetings focusing on value chains and labelling. The solutions will be presented during the 5th interregional event, which will be targeted towards stakeholders across the partnership. The event will be an opportunity for deeper interaction between stakeholders across borders. It is planned as an online or hybrid event that will take place in March 2025. 🟡 Check the Good Practices of SMEOrigin project partners here: https://lnkd.in/djaTcVvr 🟡 Discover the Strategic Toolkit: https://lnkd.in/dkR6yqAB Interreg Europe Steirische Wirtschaftsförderung SFG Stara Zagora Regional Economic Development Agency Opolskie Centre for Economy Development (OCRG) Savonlinnan Hankekehitys Oy - Savonlinna Development Services Ltd. University of Patras

#SMEOrigin joined the Alternative Tourism Workshop in Vittorio Veneto, Italy, oranized by the Policy Learning Platform. It was an immense pleasure to be a part of it and discover so many new opportunities for development of #LocalFood businesses and tourism throught the tourism sector. Communication manager Maria Andreeva joined the study visits at Terra Fertile Cooperative, where a community of people with disabilities work together to preserve local flavours and food heritage. Another cooperative is working hard to preserve the unique Torchiato di Fregona wine - one of the rarest wines in Italy. And more and more great and inspiring practices that we will share with you one by one, very soon! Stay tuned! Interreg Europe #SMEOrigin

A new inspiring good practice uploaded on the #SMEOrigin website - The Green Heart of Austria! The ‘Green Heart of Austria’ has developed into a renowned tourism brand over five decades. More recently, it has been developed into an umbrella brand that unites the entire Styrian population as brand ambassadors of a common identity. The centrepiece emphasises the culinary diversity of Styrian cuisine, which is based on fresh, regional ingredients, and thus contributes to the region's identity. It also serves as a marketing tool for tourism by attracting visitors who want to discover the outstanding cuisine and natural beauty of Styria. Discover how it works: https://lnkd.in/dPBjT4_z Official website: https://lnkd.in/dk8J8j8G Styrian Food Hub - Powered by SFG Steirische Wirtschaftsförderung SFG Steiermark - Das Grüne Herz #InterregEurope Interreg Europe

🍓 🍄 The topic of preserving regional food heritage was addressed by multiple projects in the Lake Saimaa region in the past years. They focus on building awareness, gastronomy culture, sustainablity of value chain. In this article we share some of them that were presented during the 4th Interregional meeting of #SMEOrigin project partners in Savonlinna, Finland, in September 2024. Interreg Europe https://lnkd.in/d9BVmw4B

How the Finns produce, present and enjoy their special food heritage in an innovative and sustainable way? The unique food heritage of Lake Saimaa region in Finland was in the focus of project #SMEOrigin ’s 4th Interregional meeting in Savonlinna in September 2024. The event took place between 3 - 5.9.2024 to explore the endeavours related to the promotion of local food in the region that has been awarded European Region of Gastronomy 2024. Savonlinnan kaupunki - City of Savonlinna Interreg Europe Discover the flavours of Lake Saimaa here: https://lnkd.in/dXikrFea

What's in common between the opera La Traviata and the small tasty fish Puruvesi Vendace (Puruveden muikku)? 🥙 The White Wine Marinated Vendace Sandwiches a lá La traviata. A special thematic menu From Stage to Plate: Opera Delights was created by the restaurants in Savonlinna, Finland, on the occasion of the annual opera festival in Summer 2024. Opera-inspired set-menus, desserts and drinks welcomed the guests of the festivals, promoting regional foods and delicacies in an unusual and memorable way. This good practice was among the shared during the 4-th interregional meeting of project #SMEOrigin partners, which took place in Savonlinna, Finland, in the first week of September. And showcased how a distant region in Europe can showcase their regional identity and tastes with creativity. The #SMEOrigin partners and stakeholder showcased more than 10 already working good practices from various regions, ready to transfer. In the following days and weeks we will share them one by one, so follow closely! Interreg Europe Savonlinnan kaupunki - City of Savonlinna Savonlinnan Hankekehitys Oy - Savonlinna Development Services Ltd. Steirische Wirtschaftsförderung SFG Stara Zagora Regional Economic Development Agency Opolskie Centre for Economy Development (OCRG) University of Patras INTERBIO Nouvelle-Aquitaine

The third edition of the newsletter series of the #SMEOrigin project is here! In this newsletter you will find helpful information and a lot of inspiration about Innovation and Digitalization in the food sector. You will also see colorful photos of world-known festivals boosting regional economy. Links to useful documents prepared by the Consortium are also available, including our Strategic Toolkit and Project Presentation with results and latest achievements. Feel free to contact us if you need to learn more or them or to share your ideas and proposals with the partnership! Download the full newsletter from the SMEOrigin website: https://lnkd.in/dZBn2KDu