PARTNER INFORMATION

BACKGROUND & EXPERIENCE

Details / Brief Presentation of the organization:

SYNERGY EUROPEAN is a Greek based, smart and flexible consultancy, specialising in Entrepreneurship development, Skills and Competences enhancement, Project Development and Management, Strategy and Policy Consulting, Culture, Innovation & Creativity, Communication.

Our Vision and Mission is to support professionals, NGOs, public Organisations, local authorities, and policy makers to design better and efficient projects, innovative policies, strategies, and services, to help them in the exploitation and valorisation of EU and National Funds and Grants, and to conduct sectoral analysis and research surveys. We help individuals and businesses, organisations, and NGOs, to develop creative thinking, to define their market and customer needs, to recognise opportunities, and develop out-of-the-box solutions to produce innovation.

SYNERGY EUROPEAN also develops and host various training and capacity development activities, focusing on Management, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Social Economy, Participation, Networking and other topics.

Originally the company established in London, UK, in 2016, and was always an EU oriented firm, trying to bring the benefits of EU Grants and Policies, to Local Authorities, Enterprises and Citizens. As a UK partner was involved in projects and contracts related to entrepreneurship and training (e.g. CONATURE Project – Conscious Use of natural Resources, ERASMUS+). Since February 2022, SYNERGY EUROPEAN operates from Greece, offering services in every European country again.

We offer courses, workshops, and coaching, aiming to enhance personal and management competences of professionals from different sectors, to empower an extroversion mentality and a networking spirit of organisations and enterprises, as well as to develop the employment skills of young people and adults with fewer opportunities.

SYNERGY EUROPEAN is in very close collaboration (under the same management) with MOSAIC, a 170m² hub and co-working space, which focus in creative and social entrepreneurship and social innovation. Being very active and efficient in its area, we have a wide network of close partners and associates including universities and educational institutions, municipalities, chambers of commerce, start-ups, NGOs, social enterprises, and European networks.

Within an international cooperation project, SYNERGY EUROPEAN is a valuable and efficient partner. We are in position to undertake various Work Packages and to implement tasks and activities such as Research Studies both desk and field, Analytical Papers, Policy Review, State-of-the-Art and/or Baseline Reports, Participatory / Bottom-Up consultations with Target Groups, Dissemination and Publicity activities, Multipliers Events etc. 

What are the activities and experience of the organisation in the areas relevant for this project?

What are the skills and/or expertise of key persons involved in this project?

Although a newly found agency, the staff of SYNERGY EUROPEAN and its team of cooperating experts, gathers an experience of more that 15 years in EU projects implementation, including Interreg Projects, Erasmus, IPA Adriatic 2007-2013, URBACT Ι, II & III, and NSRF 2007-2013 & 2014-2020 large scale interventions, mainly in Social, Environmental, Entrepreneurship, Urban, Cultural and Tourism related fields.

Recently, SYNERGY EUROPEAN completed two important and innovative Action Plans, based in participatory procedures, community-led policy making, and co-design, for Local Authorities in Greece. We supported the Municipality of Igoumenitsa (Region of Epirus), in the formation and coordination of the Local Support Group of Stakeholders under the THRIVING STREETS project, funded by the URBACT III Program, and we completed the Integrated Sustainable Mobility Action Plan for the city. In addition, under the framework of WONDER Project, funded by the INTERREG ADRION Program, we developed the Action Plan for the Network of “Children and Family Friendly Touristic Destinations” in the Adriatic and Ionian See region.

Having worked with Local and Regional Authorities, Public and Private Sector, NGOs, Non-Profit Organisations, Cultural and Creative Industry stakeholders, our team have developed an extensive experience in planning, designing and delivering innovative projects, sustainable policies & strategies, measure their impact, identify opportunities for growth and development. Our multidisciplinary team bring together an entire spectrum of expertise, experiences, and know-how, merging creativity, innovation, business, economics, and social sciences.

GEORGE SARLIS / Director, Project Coordinator (Mr): 
George is an EU and International Relations Expert (BA & MSc), and a Cultural Manager (MSc).
He has gained extensive experience in Local Authorities and governance in Greece working for almost a decade, as a Project Coordinator at Patras Municipal Enterprise for Planning and Development and then he was the Mayor’s Consultant on Development Issues at Patras Municipality. As an EU Project consultant  he had been involved in a wide range of projects and initiatives both in the implementation process as a coordinator or a team member
He managed several projects in this specific filed. He was responsible for the Public Consultation, Networking and Cooperation between Representatives of the Migrant Integration Councils in Patras, Greece. (2014, Project 4.1b, European Integration Fund – Hellenic Ministry of Interior). He was also in charge of the DRA.S.Y.N.A. – Project, regarding to Advisory, Counseling and Support Actions for Young Unemployed People.
Lately (2019-2020) he developed and managed an Incubation Program for young entrepreneurs and was also responsible for an Acceleration Training Scheme for Creative enterprises (both under Interreg Projects).
George is also a Lecturer at the Greek “National Centre for Public Administration and Local Government – E.K.D.D.A.” specialized on EU-related subjects. 

NANCY TRYFONOPOULOU / Project Manager (Mrs)
Nancy holds a BSc in “Business Administration”, a MEd in “Education Sciences – Education with the use of new technologies” from the University of the Aegean, and a Specialisation Certificate in “Counselling and Orientation” from the School of Pedagogical and Technological Education. Currently, she attends the MEd in “Adult Education” from the Hellenic Open University. She is a Certified Trainer in Vocational Education & Training and has relevant teaching experience. She has 4 years of experience working as a Project Manager in EU projects in the Adult Education and VET fields, offering experience in delivering Intellectual Outputs, Educational Methodologies, and Train-the-Trainers Guidebooks, with aptitude in course development
Nancy also has experience in the Education Sector as an Adult Trainer, including people from vulnerable groups with fewer opportunities, teaching courses such as Marketing Management, Marketing Communications, E- Business, and Total Quality Management.