Paper Title
Addressing Emerging Challenges Through Open Eco-Innovation: Lessons From Hygiartos Project

Abstract
This paper describes the process in which the University of Thessaly developed a biofunctional dairy product as part of Hygiartos project through an open eco-innovation approach in collaboration with industry partners. It illustrates how a grand challenge associated with sustainability can be effectively addressed through open innovation commenting on the main actors and general factors that emerge in this context. The paper outlines key aspects of the pilot product and highlights lessons learned, offering insights for future exploration in research, practice, and policy development. The goal is to reveal the major issues when attempting to tackle grand challenges, in general, and environmental sustainability in the Greek dairy industry, in particular. The findings suggest subjects, such as leveraging open eco-innovation, sustainability beyond an individual business case, opportunities and threats to be considered in new business model development, the importance of the ecosystem approach, and the significance of a long-term vision. The case describes an ongoing initiative of how a consortium of research laboratories and dairy cooperatives have explored a new framework to embrace circularity and green practices. Consequently, it underscores several distinctive features of this particular project and its related activities. Keywords - Open Eco-Innovation, Circular Economy, Dairy Industry, Biofunctional Products