First GRANDIS Local Stakeholder Meeting Project in Budapest

On 17 September 2024, the very first local Stakeholder Meeting for the Interreg Europe GRANDIS project took place in Budapest, at the Mercure Budapest Castle Hill Hotel. Hosted by the project’s consortium leader, STRIA, the event brought together female entrepreneurs, representatives from NGOs, state agencies, and the authority responsible for Hungary's Operational Programme (OP).

The meeting began with a welcoming speech by the deputy CEO of STRIA, followed by a detailed presentation on the GRANDIS project, outlining its goals and potential cooperation opportunities for stakeholders. One of the highlights was the interactive "Empathy Design Thinking" workshop, which sparked lively discussions on women entrepreneurs, the Hungarian policy system supporting women, and the challenges of the twin transition. Participants, representing both institutions and individual perspectives, shared their experiences, best practices, and challenges related to these issues.

The OP authority also made an important contribution, explaining its role and introducing potential avenues for collaboration. The meeting concluded with a networking lunch, offering attendees a more relaxed environment to continue their discussions.

Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing interest in remaining involved as stakeholders throughout the project’s duration, seeing it as a useful and forward-looking initiative for women entrepreneurs and policymakers alike.