Spiros Sirmakessis presented in the Regional Growth Conference in Patras, Greece the way emerging technologies and AI are transforming the landscape of social entrepreneurship and creating new hybrid professional roles that combine: ✔ Technical expertise ✔ Entrepreneurial thinking ✔ Social impact orientation ✔ Ethical and responsible AI adoption Two emerging profiles highlighted were: - Engineer in Social Economy - Prompt Social Entrepreneur The presentation emphasized the importance of empowering technical professionals to design sustainable and socially impactful solutions for modern societal challenges. The Tech4Impact initiative aims to bridge technology, innovation, and social economy by preparing a new generation of professionals capable of leveraging AI and digital tools for positive societal transformation. Thank you to the organizers and participants for the inspiring discussions and exchange of ideas. #Tech4Impact #SocialEntrepreneurship #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Innovation #SocialInnovation #DigitalTransformation #Entrepreneurship #ErasmusPlus #RegionalGrowthConference #UniversityOfPeloponnese

Spiros Sirmakessis (UoP) will attend the Regional Growth Conference in Patras Greece and present the profile of the social entrepereneur. Spiros Sirmakessis (UoP) will attend the Regional Growth Conference in Patras, Greece, where he will present the profile of the social entrepreneur, highlighting the key skills, competencies, and innovative mindset required to address contemporary social and economic challenges. His presentation will focus on the role of social entrepreneurship in fostering sustainable regional development, digital transformation, and inclusive innovation, emphasizing the importance of education, collaboration, and emerging technologies in empowering future entrepreneurs.

On 20–21 April 2026, the Tech4Impact consortium gathered in Florence, Italy, for a two-day face-to-face project meeting hosted by PIXEL. The meeting marked an important milestone in the project’s implementation, enabling partners to review progress, align strategies, and further develop innovative approaches to integrating social entrepreneurship into technical education (HE & VET). Key Areas of Focus During the meeting, partners engaged in in-depth discussions and collaborative sessions covering: 🔹 WP2 – Needs Assessment & Skills Gap Analysis Review of methodologies for state-of-the-art research Mapping of training offerings and skills needs across partner countries Development of recommendations for curricula Integration of micro-credentials in HEI and VET systems 🔹 WP3 – Curriculum & Mentorship Development Design of curriculum frameworks for HE and VET Development of learning materials and modules Introduction of mentorship programmes such as “How to be a Social Entrepreneur” 🔹 WP4 – Systems & Tools Development Design of the Social Skills Passport Development of the “Design your skills pathway” platform Progress on the AI-driven Social Economy Skills Matching Tool 🔹 WP6 – Dissemination, Exploitation & Sustainability Strengthening communication strategies (website, social media, newsletters) Engagement of HEIs, VET institutions, and enterprises Planning for long-term sustainability of project results Strengthening Collaboration Beyond technical discussions, the meeting fostered strong collaboration among partners, enabling: -Alignment on project milestones and deliverables -Exchange of expertise and best practices -Strategic planning for upcoming activities Looking Ahead The Tech4Impact project continues to address a critical need: -bridging the gap between technical skills and social entrepreneurship competences By combining education, digital tools, and innovation, the project is contributing to the development of future-ready professionals capable of creating meaningful social impact. #Tech4Impact #SocialEntrepreneurship #HigherEducation #VET #Innovation #ErasmusPlus #FutureOfWork #Florence

We are excited to announce the upcoming Tech4Impact Project Meeting, taking place on 20–21 April 2026 in Florence, Italy! Partners from across Europe will come together to continue working on empowering technical students and future innovators in social entrepreneurship. During the meeting, we will focus on: ✔ Skills gap analysis and needs assessment ✔ Development of curricula and training programmes ✔ Design of innovative tools like the Social Skills Passport ✔ AI-driven platforms for skills development and matching ✔ Dissemination and sustainability strategies Beyond the working sessions, the meeting will also strengthen collaboration among partners and include networking activities in the beautiful city of Florence. Stay tuned for updates from Florence! #Tech4Impact #SocialEntrepreneurship #Innovation #ErasmusPlus #Florence #FutureSkills

Today’s engineers, developers, and tech professionals are not only expected to build solutions — they are increasingly called to solve real societal challenges. From climate change to social inclusion, the world needs technology with purpose. However, many technical universities and vocational education centers still focus mainly on technical knowledge, leaving a gap in: 🔹 Entrepreneurial thinking 🔹 Social impact awareness 🔹 Collaboration and communication skills 🔹 Understanding real-world societal needs The Tech4Impact project is working to bridge this gap by fostering a culture of social entrepreneurship within technical education. Through innovative curricula, digital tools, and training programmes, Tech4Impact empowers students to: ✔ Combine technology with social innovation ✔ Develop impact-driven solutions ✔ Build skills for the future of work and society Because the next generation of innovators should not only create technology — they should create impact. Learn more: https://tech4impact.eu/ #Tech4Impact #SocialEntrepreneurship #DigitalSkills #Innovation #ErasmusPlus #FutureSkills

On 1 April 2026, partners of the Tech4Impact project met online to review progress and plan the next steps towards empowering future social entrepreneurs with digital and entrepreneurial skills. Key topics discussed included: ✔ Project management, coordination & quality assurance (WP1) ✔ Needs assessment & skills gap analysis in social entrepreneurship (WP2) ✔ Dissemination, exploitation & sustainability actions (WP6) ✔ Development of innovative tools and platforms supporting skills identification and career pathways A key highlight was the discussion on the Social Skills Passport and the upcoming AI-driven tools that will help individuals identify, validate, and develop their social entrepreneurship skills. The meeting reinforced the importance of combining technical expertise with social skills such as empathy, collaboration, and innovation to create meaningful societal impact. Next stop: Florence (April 2026) for the next project meeting! #Tech4Impact #SocialEntrepreneurship #DigitalSkills #Innovation #ErasmusPlus #FutureSkills

Social entrepreneurship in Europe is evolving fast. Beyond passion and vision, today’s changemakers need a combination of: 💡 Creativity & problem-solving 📊 Data-driven decision-making 🤝 Collaboration & community leadership 💻 Digital & technical skills (AI, Big Data, digital tools) 🌱 Systems thinking for sustainable impact Yet, a major challenge remains… Many social enterprises and aspiring entrepreneurs in Europe still face a significant skills gap, especially in: Using data to measure and improve impact Adopting digital technologies and AI tools Connecting technical knowledge with entrepreneurial thinking At the same time, education often focuses more on theory than on real-world application and impact measurement . This is where Tech4Impact makes a difference The Tech4Impact project is designed to bridge this gap by: ✔ Developing innovative curricula for social entrepreneurship ✔ Providing training on digital tools and impact measurement ✔ Creating an intelligent platform for monitoring social impact ✔ Offering mentorship, MOOCs, and skills-matching tools ✔ Connecting education, technology, and the social economy ecosystem Because the future of social entrepreneurship is not just about ideas — it’s about having the skills, tools, and data to create measurable impact. Learn more about the project: https://tech4impact.eu/index.php #Tech4Impact #SocialEntrepreneurship #DigitalSkills #DataDriven #Innovation #ErasmusPlus #SocialImpact

Yet many social enterprises still struggle to adopt digital tools and use data-driven decision-making to scale their impact. This is where Tech4Impact comes in. The Tech4Impact Erasmus+ project is working to bridge the gap between technical expertise and social entrepreneurship, empowering students and innovators to transform technology into solutions for real societal challenges. The project focuses on: ✔Developing innovative curricula and MOOCs for social entrepreneurship ✔ Equipping learners with digital and data-driven decision-making skills ✔ Supporting technology-driven social enterprises ✔ Building a European ecosystem of mentors, innovators, and social impact leaders By combining technology, education, and entrepreneurship, Tech4Impact aims to prepare the next generation of changemakers who can turn ideas into sustainable social ventures with measurable impact. Because the future of social entrepreneurship is not only about good intentions — it is also about using data, technology, and innovation to create scalable solutions for society. Learn more about the project: https://tech4impact.eu/ #Tech4Impact #SocialEntrepreneurship #Innovation #DigitalSkills #DataDriven #SocialEconomy #ErasmusPlus #Impact

Yet transforming a great idea into a sustainable and scalable social enterprise requires more than passion. It requires the ability to use data, technology, and digital tools to make informed decisions and measure real impact. The Tech4Impact project supports this transformation by equipping learners with the skills needed to combine technology and social innovation. Because the most successful social enterprises of the future will not only create impact — they will understand and measure it. 🌐 Discover more about the project: https://tech4impact.eu/ #Tech4Impact #SocialInnovation #SocialEntrepreneurship #ImpactDriven #DigitalTransformation

Tech4Impact aims to empower technical students and graduates with the skills needed to become social entrepreneurs, combining advanced technologies with innovation in the social and proximity economy. During the meeting, partners discussed: ✔ Project management and implementation ✔ Needs assessment and skills gap analysis ✔ Dissemination and communication activities ✔ Future project milestones and meetings The project will deliver: 🎓 New HEI and VET curricula 💻 A MOOC with micro-credentials 🤝 Mentorship opportunities 📊 A Digital Skills Passport 🚀 Internship and job placement opportunities We look forward to the next meeting in Florence, Italy and to working together to create technology solutions with real social impact. #Tech4Impact #ErasmusPlus #SocialEntrepreneurship #Innovation #VET #HigherEducation

Universities sit at a unique intersection: -Young people searching for purpose -Research that can solve real problems -Access to networks, knowledge, and legitimacy When social entrepreneurship becomes part of the culture, students start to see careers not only as “get a job” but also as “solve something that matters.” That shift alone is powerful. It also aligns strongly with what many institutions now claim to be: agents of societal impact, not just knowledge providers.

Social entrepreneurship is about creating businesses that make a positive impact on society — not just profit. A social entrepreneur: ✔️ Identifies a social or environmental problem ✔️ Uses innovation and entrepreneurship to solve it ✔️ Reinvests value back into communities ✔️ Balances economic sustainability with social impact From fighting climate change to promoting inclusion and supporting local communities, social entrepreneurs turn ideas into real solutions that matter. At Tech4Impact, we believe that technology, skills, and entrepreneurship can work together to build a fairer, more sustainable future. Profit with purpose. Innovation with impact. #SocialEntrepreneurship #SocialInnovation #Tech4Impact #ErasmusPlus #ImpactDriven #PurposeLed

Tech4Impact is delivering concrete tools, training, and opportunities to empower technical students and future social entrepreneurs across Europe Key project outputs include: ✔️ A state-of-the-art analysis on social entrepreneurship & skills needs ✔️ Two innovative curricula (HE & VET) delivered through MOOCs ✔️ Micro-credentials to certify learners’ skills ✔️ A Proximity & Social Economy Skills Passport ✔️ An AI-driven Skills Matching Tool & “Design Your Skills Pathway” platform ✔️ A mentorship programme: How to be a Social Entrepreneur ✔️ Job placements & internship opportunities with social enterprises Through these outputs, Tech4Impact connects education, technology, and social impact, creating real pathways from learning to employment.

Tech4Impact is an Erasmus+ project that empowers technical students from Higher Education and VET to become the next generation of social entrepreneurs Through innovative curricula, MOOCs, mentorship, and AI-driven tools, the project bridges technology, entrepreneurship, and social impact, helping young people turn their skills into solutions for real societal challenges. What Tech4Impact delivers: ✔️ New HE & VET curricula on social entrepreneurship ✔️ Online courses & micro-credentials ✔️ Skills Passport & AI-based skills matching tools ✔️ Mentorship, internships & job placement opportunities ✔️ A strong European ecosystem for the social economy Together with partners from across Europe, we’re building pathways for inclusive, sustainable, and tech-driven innovation.