Dusanka Lužar ŠajtDear Evelina, Eva and all potential partners,
We have been following this discussion with great interest and are pleased to see the diverse expertise and potential synergies emerging around sustainable and inclusive urban and territorial development.
On behalf of PRIZMA Foundation, based in Maribor, Slovenia, we would like to express our interest in joining a partnership under the Interreg Euro-MED Programme – Innovative Sustainable Economy Mission.
PRIZMA is a non-profit organisation with more than 25 years of experience in local/regional development, social innovation, social and solidarity economy, SME and human resource development and European territorial cooperation. We have extensive experience in the development and implementation of EU-funded projects, including Interreg, Horizon Europe and Erasmus+.
Our work focuses on developing and testing innovative solutions that address economic, social and territorial challenges, with particular emphasis on sustainable and inclusive local development, social innovation, SME’s & skills development as well as on cooperation between public authorities, businesses, civil society and local communities.
Our latest project experience includes:
• 3P4SSE (Interreg Central Europe) – developing public-private partnerships and innovative cooperation models to strengthen the social and solidarity economy.
• Štartaj kariero s potencialom! 2.0 (ESF+) – supporting workforce development and employability through career guidance, individual career development planning, upskilling and reskilling. The programme also supports companies and employees in adapting to technological, organisational and business process changes by identifying emerging skills needs and providing targeted training to strengthen workforce adaptability and long-term employability.
• SERIGO (Horizon Europe) – exploring and testing social innovation approaches and the role of the social and solidarity economy in addressing challenges faced by rural communities.
• SETS (Interreg Central Europe) – supporting the green and digital transition of social economy organisations through skills development and innovative training approaches.
What could PRIZMA bring to a partnership?
We believe our expertise could complement the competences already represented in this discussion, particularly by strengthening the social innovation, SME’s, social economy and inclusive local development dimensions of sustainable territorial transformation.
Depending on the project concept and partnership needs, PRIZMAFoundation could contribute to:
• Pilot activities and demonstration actions – designing, coordinating and testing innovative solutions in Slovenia, particularly in the Podravje region and rural communities.
• Stakeholder engagement and participatory approaches – mobilising municipalities, SMEs, social enterprises, educational institutions, civil society organisations and local communities.
• Social innovation and sustainable local economic models – developing and testing collaborative approaches that combine environmental sustainability with social and economic benefits.
• Skills development and capacity building – designing and implementing training, upskilling and knowledge-exchange activities supporting the green and digital transition.
• Public-private cooperation and local innovation ecosystems – connecting different stakeholders to jointly address territorial challenges and develop practical solutions.
• Transfer and sustainability of project results – supporting the adaptation, replication and long-term integration of innovative approaches into local and regional development practices.
We see particular potential in projects that connect sustainable urban and rural transformation, community-led innovation, circular and social economy approaches, and territorial resilience, ensuring that environmental and technological innovations also generate tangible benefits for people, businesses and local communities.
With our established regional, national and transnational networks, practical experience in implementing pilot activities and strong background in European cooperation, we believe PRIZMA Foundation could be a valuable partner in an international consortium.
We would therefore be very interested in connecting with organisations that are currently developing project proposals or forming consortia under the Interreg Euro-MED Programme and are looking for a partner from Slovenia.
We would be pleased to exchange further information about our expertise and explore how we could contribute to your project ideas and planned activities.
We look forward to hearing from interested partners and hopefully developing new opportunities for cooperation.
Kind regards,
Dušanka Lužar Šajt
PRIZMA Foundation
Maribor, Slovenia
http://www.fundacija-prizma.si
