Triantafyllidis Research Group
July, 2024
Secondment of Georgios Iakovou in Cantabria for CELISE project
PhD candidate Georgios Iakovou recently completed a secondment at Besarte Fibre Natural in the picturesque region of Cantabria, Spain. Known for its rolling hills and its vibrant coastal capital, Santander, Cantabria offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and cultural richness.
During the whole month of July, Georgios collaborated with Isabel (Isa) Rodríguez Diaz at Besart Fibre Natural in Pesquera. Besarte is a company known for its expertise in fibre extraction and utilization while Georgios’ expertise is in Life Cycle Assessment. Under the Celise Project which is an initiative aimed at supporting SMEs and rural areas within the bioeconomy, a mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge between the two parties came to be. Additionally, Georgios had the chance to meet and work with Dr. Alberto Coz and Dr. Tamara Llano Astuy, professors in the University of Cantabria as well as Dr. Juan Carlos Colmenares of the Polish Academy of Sciences and Dr. Fernando Colmenares of Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia.
Beyond the professional collaboration, Georgios forged meaningful connections and relationships through casual networking over shared meals and excursions, exchanging cultural experiences, highlighting the importance of casual networking in fostering long-term partnerships and enriching the value of working in a foreign country.
