NEURO-BRIDGE: kick off meeting at the University of Macedonia (Greece)

The project with the acronym “NEURO-BRIDGE” (title “Enhancing Neurodiversity for Innovation and Inclusion in the Greece-Bulgaria Cross-Border Region”) has officially started its implementation.

The project’s kick-off meeting will take place on 24 September 2026 (Thursday) from 09:00 to 14:00 at the premises of the University of Macedonia (156 Egnatia Street, 546 36 Thessaloniki, Greece), with the participation of the project partners, officially launching their cross-border cooperation and coordinating the initial steps of the project implementation.

With a total budget of € 1.430.692,45, and a total duration of 24 months (from 29/06/2026 to 29/06/2028), the project aims to improve equal access of neurodivergent people (such as people with autism, ADHD or dyslexia) to inclusive education, training and employment, and to turn neurodiversity into a resource for innovation and local development. Neurodivergent individuals remain underserved in both countries, with limited support services, low awareness in schools and workplaces, and fragmented cooperation across the border.

The main cross-border activities include the mapping of neurodiversity and of the support services available on both sides of the border, community pilots led by neurodivergent people, and the
establishment of two Innovation Hubs (one in Greece and one in Bulgaria) that will use socially assistive robots and digital tools to support skills development and entrepreneurship. The project will also deliver a mentoring and incubation programme, an inclusive internship scheme, an awareness campaign for employers, joint training for at least 60 participants, an inclusive job-matching platform, policy recommendations and a neuroinclusion monitoring dashboard.

Driven by strengthened cross-border partnerships, the University of Macedonia will lead the research, the development of the robotic and digital tools and the training methodology, while the Euroregion Nestos-Mesta will establish the Greek Innovation Hub in Drama and lead the employer awareness campaign. The Business Incubator – Gotse Delchev will set up the Bulgarian hub and lead the mentoring and incubation activities, and the Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry will engage employers and member enterprises in the internship scheme and the job-matching platform.

The kick-off meeting will provide an opportunity for the partners to discuss the project implementation framework, coordinate responsibilities and activities, and establish the basis for effective
cooperation throughout the 24-month implementation period. The partners will agree on the composition and rules of procedure of the project’s Steering Committee, review the Project Management Plan, the start-up schedule and the procurement plan, and define the milestones to be achieved in the first months of implementation.

Through joint activities, the project “NEURO-BRIDGE” will contribute to a more inclusive Greece-Bulgaria cross-border territory by creating shared tools, services and networks that open education,
training and jobs to neurodivergent people on both sides of the border.

Press Release