INSTITOUTO ANAPTIXIS EPICHEIRIMATIKOTITAS ASTIKI ETAIREIA

Their core work

The Institute of Entrepreneurship Development (iED) is a Greek research SME based in Larissa that focuses on social innovation, entrepreneurship support, and integration services across Southern Europe. They design and implement capacity-building programmes for SMEs, develop tools to help migrants navigate administrative systems and exercise their rights, and contribute to cultural heritage digitization projects. Their work sits at the intersection of social policy, digital tools, and regional economic development — translating EU research into practical support for underserved communities and small businesses.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

iED began its H2020 participation (2018–2019) focused on entrepreneurship and SME capacity-building in Southern Europe, with projects targeting workplace innovation, skills improvement, and voucher schemes in Greece and Sicily. From 2020 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward social inclusion — specifically migrant integration, rights facilitation, and cultural heritage digitization. This evolution suggests a deliberate pivot from economic development tools toward social policy and digital humanities.

iED is moving toward social inclusion and digital humanities, making them a strong fit for future projects combining migration policy, cultural archives, and community engagement tools.

How they like to work

iED operates exclusively as a consortium participant — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, which positions them as a reliable delivery partner rather than a project leader. With 48 unique partners across 21 countries from just 4 projects, they join large, diverse consortia and bring a broad European network without dominating the partnership. This makes them a low-risk addition to any consortium needing a Greek partner with social innovation expertise.

Despite only 4 projects, iED has built a remarkably wide network of 48 partners across 21 countries, indicating participation in large consortia with strong geographic diversity. Their connections span well beyond Southern Europe into a truly pan-European reach.

What sets them apart

iED occupies an unusual niche as a Greek research SME that bridges entrepreneurship support with social inclusion — two domains rarely combined in a single organization. Their location in Larissa (Thessaly region, outside the Athens research cluster) gives them direct insight into rural and peripheral community challenges. For consortium builders, they offer a credible Greek partner that can handle both SME engagement tasks and socially-oriented research activities.

Highlights from their portfolio

• EASYRIGHTS
  Their largest funded project (EUR 239,250), developing practical tools for immigrant rights — a topic with growing EU policy relevance.
• ITHACA
  Their most recent project (running to 2025), connecting migrant histories across Europe and the Mediterranean — signals their current strategic direction.
• INNovaSouth
  Directly aligned with their core identity as an entrepreneurship development institute, implementing workplace innovation specifically in Southern European SMEs.