The UNESCO Chair "Creative Cities in Motion" was presented at the Special Permanent Committee of the Regions of the Hellenic Parliament by Professor Dimitrios D. Vergados, the Chairholder, along with the Research Team of the Chair.
The session's agenda focused on the topic: "The UNESCO Chair 'Creative Cities in Motion.' The Chair for Creative Smart Sustainable Cities and Regions." Key attendees, in addition to Mr. Dimitrios D. Vergados and the UNESCO Chair Research Team, included Mr. Georgios Koumoutsakos, Permanent Representative of Greece to UNESCO; Mr Dimitrios Ptochos, Governor of the Peloponnese Region, representing the Union of Regions of Greece (EN.P.E.); and Mr. Ilias Apostolopoulos, Mayor of Papagou-Cholargos and representative of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (K.E.D.E.), a member of the Board of Directors of K.E.D.E.; and President of the Institute of Local Government (I.T.A.).
UNESCO Chairholder, Professor Dimitrios D. Vergados outlined the Chair's plans and commitment to fostering sustainable, human-centric smart cities & regions, in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
The session was moderated by Professor Emmanouil Konsolas, President of the Special Permanent Committee of the Regions. Significant remarks were made by Mr. Georgios Koumoutsakos, Permanent Representative of Greece to UNESCO; emphasizing the importance of fully leveraging the potentials of UNESCO Chair "Creative Cities in Motion", he noted that enhanced participation of our parliamentary expression of democracy will make a difference in the international organization and that an increased collaboration between UNESCO Chair and the Hellenic Parliament is necessary. Mr. Ilias Apostolopoulos also highlighted the significance of fully leveraging the Chair, while Mr. Dimitrios Ptochos stressed the need to develop new statistical metrics and performance indicators to address the emerging technological requirements and challenges. Professor Emmanouil Konsolas highlighted the importance of this parliamentary session advocating the need for continued dialogue to support the Greek strategic planning development needs up to 2030 The four-hour session concluded with unanimous agreement among MPs on the critical role of the Chair's initiatives.
Positive feedback was provided by Committee President Mr. Emmanouil Konsolas and several MPs, including Mrs. Panagiou Poulou (MP of Boeotia), Mr. Ioannis Tsimaris (MP of Ioannina), Mr. Ioannis Deli (MP of Thessaloniki A), Mr. Nikolaos Vrettos (MP of South Athens Sector), Mrs. Tsampika (Mika) Iatridi (MP of the Dodecanese), Mr. Andreas Panagiotopoulos (MP of Achaia), Mr. Panagis Kappatos (MP of Kefalonia), and Mr. Anastasios Dimoschakis (MP of Evros). They praised the Chair's potential to advance the UN SDGs.
The UNESCO Chair on "Digital Culture, Smart Cities, Internet of Things (IoT), and Advanced Digital Technologies" (DigiLab) at the University of Piraeus, chaired by Professor Dimitrios D. Vergados since 2023, is fully aligned with the goals of UNESCO's network and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, aiming for the transition to sustainable smart cities. The Chair works in close collaboration with the Permanent Greek Delegation to UNESCO, the Permanent Representative G. Koumoutsakos, as well as the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO, chaired by Ms. A. Tzitzikosta and her team. Additionally, the Chair collaborates with various international organizations and agencies and supports global initiatives focused on smart and sustainable human-centric cities.
The UNESCO Chair aims to introduce a new vision for the country's regional development, contributing to the parliamentary work of the Hellenic Parliament.
The UNESCO Chair
"Creative Cities in Motion": Urban Sustainable Mobility and Utilization of Cultural Resources (#UNESCO_CCiM) is a significant research pillar aimed at creating sustainable cities. The UNESCO Chair, led by Professor Dimitrios D. Vergados, participated in the Permanet Committee of the Regions session with the Coordinators of the UNESCO Chair's research teams: Ms. Christina Nika, Ms. Vasiliki Georgakopoulou, Ms. Anastasia Malliri, and Ms. Eleni Varvarousi. Furthermore, the Chair is supported by Ms. Anastasia Kartelia and Mr. Emmanouil Skondras, as well as research team members (in alphabetical order): Ms. Vasiliki Georgia Argyrou, Mr. Konstantinos Giannetos, Ms. Eleni Karatsapi, Mr. Filippos Kourvas, Ms. Vasiliki Maidu, Mr. Nikolaos Melitsiotis, Ms. Aikaterini Moraitini, Ms. Angeliki Oikonomou, Ms. Garyfallia Solia, Mr. Panagiotis Tsakonas, Mr. Nikolaos Tsolis, and Ms. Konstantina Chnari.
The UNESCO Chair has conducted various activities, including a keynote speech at the “84th Session of the Committee on Urban Development Housing and Land Management” United Nations (UN) in Geneva, titled "Digital Transformation and Security – Challenges for Smart Sustainable and Creative Cities," and participated as a member of the Greek delegation at the 42nd General Conference of #UNESCO held from November 7 to 22, 2023, at #UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France.
#UN #UNESCO_Chair #UNESCO_CCiM #SmartCities #IoT #DigitalCulture #DigiLab_UNIPI #Sustainable_Cities
Further information:
Special Permanent Committee of the Regions session with the agenda topic: The UNESCO Chair 'Creative Cities in Motion'. The Chair for Creative Smart Sustainable Cities and Regions. (20/06/2024 13:00)
https://www.hellenicparliament.gr/Koinovouleftikes-Epitropes/Synedriaseis?met_id=a68c6d55-1495-44b2-8275-b18f00f77512
Related Videos
- “The UNESCO Chair 'Creative Cities in Motion'. The Chair for Creative Smart Sustainable Cities and Regions.” SPECIAL PERMANET COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS (PART A)
https://www.hellenicparliament.gr/Vouli-ton-Ellinon/ToKtirio/Fotografiko-Archeio/#83399e4d-61b8-4514-a54f-b19000e796d8
- “The UNESCO Chair 'Creative Cities in Motion'. The Chair for Creative Smart Sustainable Cities and Regions. “SPECIAL PERMANET COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS (PART B)
https://www.hellenicparliament.gr/Vouli-ton-Ellinon/ToKtirio/Fotografiko-Archeio/#51d1146f-26b4-462b-a707-b19f00184edc
Useful Information:
- Parliamentary Committees - Weekly Bulletin
https://www.hellenicparliament.gr/Koinovouleftikes-Epitropes/Evdomadiaio-Deltio?cma_id=21bf14e1-161e-400c-80d0-b18f00f2a300
Contact Information
UNESCO Chair “Creative Cities in Motion: Urban Sustainable Mobility and Utilization of Cultural Resources”
"Digital Culture, Smart Cities, IoT, and Advanced Digital Technologies and Services" Laboratory (DigiLab),
Department of informatics, University of Piraeus,
Address: 80, Karaoli & Dimitriou Str., GR-18534, Piraeus.
Phone: (+30)2104142451
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LinkedIn Unesco Chair "Creative Cities in Motion" https://www.linkedin.com/in/unescochairccim/
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Photographic material from the Special Permanent Committee of the Regions session,
Dimitrios D. Vergados, Professor at the University of Piraeus, Chairholder of UNESCO Chair “Creative Cities in Motion,” and Director of the Postgraduate Program "Digital Culture, Smart Cities, IoT, and Advanced Digital Technologies" at the University of Piraeus, at the Special Permanent Committee on Regions of the Hellenic Parliament.
Dimitrios D. Vergados, Professor at the University of Piraeus, Chairholder of UNESCO Chair “Creative Cities in Motion,” and Director of the Postgraduate Program "Digital Culture, Smart Cities, IoT, and Advanced Digital Technologies" at the University of Piraeus, at the Special Permanent Committee on Regions of the Hellenic Parliament.
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Session of the Permanent Committee on Regions, with Professor Emmanouil Konsolas, President of the Special Permanent Committee on Regions, in the center, Professor Dimitrios D. Vergados, holder of the UNESCO Chair, on the left, and Mr. Ilias Apostolopoulos, representative of KEDKE, on the left.
From right to left: Ilias Apostolopoulos, Representative of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (K.E.D.E.); Dimitrios Vergados, Head of the UNESCO Chair “Creative Cities in Motion”; Emmanouil Konsolas, President of the Committee on Regions, MP for the Dodecanese; Christina Staraka, MP for Aetolia-Acarnania; Giota Poulou, First Vice President of the Committee on Regions; Ioannis Tsimaris, Second Vice President of the Committee on Regions.
Professor Dimitrios Vergados, President of the Committee on Regions Emmanouil Konsolas, coordinators, and members of the UNESCO Chair's research teams at the Special Permanent Committee of the Regions, June 20, 2024.
21 Jun 2024
