ISABEL @ EBSiDE 2026

November 13, 2026

ISABEL Research Presented at EBSiDE 2026

The ISABEL project contributed to the XIV International Conference on Economy, Business & Society in Digitalized Environment (EBSiDE 2026) with the paper entitled “Just Energy Transition & Labor Market Transformation in the Region of Western Macedonia.”

The paper, authored by Lefteris Topaloglou, Despoina Kanteler, Maria Sambrakou, Sofia Pavlidou and Fenia Pliatsika, examines the socio-economic and labour-market implications of the transition away from lignite in Western Macedonia, Greece.

Drawing on preliminary qualitative findings from the ISABEL Living Lab in Western Macedonia, the study explores stakeholders’ perspectives on employment changes, emerging economic opportunities, skills needs and barriers to an inclusive transition.

The findings highlight economic uncertainty following lignite plant closures, demographic decline, the outward migration of skilled workers and persistent skills mismatches. They also identify potential employment opportunities in sectors such as agri-food, renewable energy, digital technologies and tourism.

The study emphasises the importance of targeted reskilling, economic diversification, stronger regional coordination and stakeholder participation in supporting a just energy transition.

This research contributes to ISABEL’s broader objective of understanding labour-market transformations and supporting evidence-based policies that address the challenges and opportunities of Europe’s green and digital transitions.

Find out more here: https://isabelproject.eu/conference-presentations/