«MobiliseSME is an excellent opportunity to create new strategic alliances for sustainable change»
Isabella Mavellia is the CEO of GreenerEU, an SME based in Germany that has recently collaborated with Sergio Pascolo and his organisation, Venice Urban Lab, which has hosted GreenerEU for 6 months in Italy thanks to the support of MobiliseSME.
– Hello, Isabella, tell us a bit about your company and your professional path. Why did you decide to participate in MobiliseSME?
Our mission is to create a greener European Union. The defining task of our time is to address inequality and environmentally related challenges.
GreenerEU multinational team of experts is passionate about contributing to this dynamic, by providing education and guidance in the transition to a green and circular economy, with ecological, economic, and socio-culturally sustainable outcomes.
Hence all of our projects aim at using technology to create a bridge to the understanding of cultural heritage.
We decided to participate in MobiliseSME as Sending Company because it provides an excellent opportunity to work beyond national borders and create new strategic alliances for sustainable change.
I also wanted to be involved with Sergio, who recently published the book Venezia Secolo 21 and has a vision to create greener and more sustainable cities.
– How about you, Sergio?
Venice Urban Lab (VUL) is a non-profit association operating as an independent civic organization that deals with the sustainable transformation processes of the city with a holistic and multidisciplinary approach.
Alongside renowned European universities, institutions and organizations, VUL is an official partner of the New European Bauhaus and strives to tackle global challenges with local solutions.
We decided to participate in MobiliseSME as Host Company with the goal of international cooperation and deepening the opportunities of EU programmes.
– From a business point of view, how did the collaboration with the Host Company contribute to your company, Isabella? Would you repeat the MobiliseSME experience?
The collaboration with VUL was very beneficial and fruitful: it was a great chance to work alongside the professionals within the organisation.
The aim of our collab was to accompany professionals to realise their projects (both urban, architectonic, as well as project development).
Furthermore, our company was able to present our projects at the National Conference of Architects alongside with national ministers, professors, governmental representatives and professionals.
I would definitely recommend participating in MobiliseSME if the participant is willing and eager to explore, conquer new territories and markets, and is not scared to let the circumstances shape their growth and trust the process.
– Sergio, please, briefly describe the matchmaking process and the preparation of activities with Isabella. How did it go?
The mission of GreenerEU is an overarching goal that we share along with initiatives to encourage good practices in the direction of the green economy and overcoming inequality.
We knew each other before, during a previous MobiliseSME experience of Isabella in Venice. At that time, we checked possible synergies as we aim to promote the development of different economies to counteract the tourist monoculture that is leading to the depopulation of the city.
Supporting the artisan economy is one of the directions of the development that we are looking to increase.
– Isabella, how has this collaboration helped your professional development?
On the one hand, I was able to learn how to professionally communicate with institutions, governmental representatives and professionals in Italy.
Furthermore, I learned the legal and administrative processes in which architectonic projects are developed and how they are planned, thought and then carried out.
I really appreciated and had a lot of input from this experience!
– And with which knowledge, techniques or information have you contributed to the Host Company?
Being informed about the current EU funding schemes such as the Recovery Fund, the Next Generation and the Pact for Skills of the New European Bauhaus, I have contributed to the Host Company by informing and building awareness on current opportunities, such as funding and partnership activities.
– What about you, Sergio? How do you think this collaboration with Isabella contributed to your company and personal development? Would you recommend participating in MobiliseSME?
GreenerEU, through Isabella’s knowledge, proposed to do research in European programmes to support our initiatives in the field of education (longlife learning) and, in particular, the dissemination of Baukultur in citizenship.
I would definitely recommend the MobiliseSME programme. We would certainly repeat the experience since this collaboration enabled us to gain more knowledge of EU programmes and the potential for opening up virtuous international cooperation.
– Do you plan to continue the collaboration after the experience with the MobiliseSME programme?
Isabella: Yes, we would love to continue the collaboration from our side by creating EU projects together for sustainable living and youth involvement in shaping the future of Europe, by moving from theory to practice and knowledge transfer.
We are looking out for European grants, projects and opportunities; thus, we hope to create long lasting partnerships for the transition towards green, circular and sustainable economies.
The links and ties among actors and organisations is crucial for the success of this mission.
Sergio: The search for EU programmes to support our activities has been set. We want to continue collaborating to identify concrete programmes and results for our activities, as well as for the development of services.
Our focus on the theme of Baukultur, and the principles of the New European Bauhaus, require a holistic approach, since it concerns the quality of life and living.
This is a reason of universal interest, but it is still little known by citizens and city administrations. Thus, knowledge transfer is one of our goals to be pursued through further collaboration.
– Isabella, last but not least, did you improve your knowledge of mobility of workers within the EU after your participation in MobilisSME? Which role had the Local Contact Points in sharing this information?
Yes, most definitely we, as GreenerEU, learned many things about the mobility of workers starting simply by mobility and transport of train system and the discount schemes they have for frequent travellers for employees.
However, when I tried to receive an Italian health insurance card they informed me that, since I am a resident abroad and I do not have an Italian working contract, they couldn’t treat me as a resident, so I did not have the same rights to see doctors and, in case of need, I should directly go to the hospital. These problems should be tackled urgently at EU level to facilitate mobility and exchanges of workers within the EU.
On the other hand, this experience was a great chance to work internationally, which would have been very difficult without the practical information and the financial support provided by MobiliseSME through its Local Contact Points, which in our case were WKO and Forum AIC.
