The Municipality of Piraeus and the University of Macedonia recently established collaboration with the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club (HORC) in order to work under the missions of the European Pop-Machina Program (G.A. No. 821479). Pop-Machina aims at the collection and conversion of recyclable materials into usable objects for daily life. It seeks to highlight and empower links between local makers’ while spinning off circular economy, in order to promote environmental sustainability and create socio-economic benefits in 7 European cities.

Piraeus, which is the largest port in Greece with a population of 180,000, participates in this mission together with the University of Macedonia, which act to promote sustainable environments and economies.

In this context, the Municipality of Piraeus established the Piraeus Makerspace, which is believed to contribute in future reduction of unemployment. The Piraeus makerspace specifically focuses on reprocessing, reusing and digitally fabricating materials and products. It will be housed in the building of the former School of Textile Knitting (SKYP) where there will be synergy and partnership with 4 technical schools, the 1st EPAL, 2nd EVENING EPAL, DIEK PIRAEUS and 2nd SEC (2nd SCHOOL LABORATORY).

The Piraeus makerspace plans to connect with adjacent educational hubs in the area (General education schools and special schools), and at the same time, aims to network with other educational units, institutions and interested organizations, such as the University of Piraeus, Chambers of Commerce and more. The Piraeus makerspace will offer workshops and training seminars and all interested are welcome to join for free.

Participants training will involve new technologies as well as the redesign and reuse of recyclable materials. Prototypes will be used sustainably in the society of Piraeus and elsewhere, while the project will offer:
– A better understanding of the methods to spin off Circular Economy in improving daily quality of life.
– Providing modern and upscaled educational programs for the creation of a new knowledge community within the city.
– Reducing the environmental footprint of Piraeus by sustainably reusing discarded materials. This is expected to contribute in the transition to a new model of materials and waste management locally.
– Pursuing the development of new collaborative production schemes and in particular encouraging special groups of society to acquire new skills by integrating the products of their making in daily life.

The teams of the Municipality of Piraeus and the University of Macedonia encourage those who would like to explore new materials, fabrics and construction techniques, to collaborate.

In this spirit, HORCs Green Team will join the venture through international sailing races that HORC organizes. This year, as part of the Aegean Rally and the AEGEAN 600, sailing ropes, sails and plastic bottles will be collected, recycled, upcycled and reused, in order to create new materials useful in daily life.