Opening event of Innovation Greece - Innovation Greece
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Opening event of Innovation Greece

Opening event of Innovation Greece

PRESS RELEASE

Innovation Greece, the first effort to bring together Greek, innovative and extroverted small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from different market sectors in Greece presented today its purpose of establishing and operating in a special event that took place at the Onassis Foundation’s Home, in the presence of representatives of the political leadership and the business world.

Holding a shared interest in innovative entrepreneurship, the development of mature products and the distinction through competitive European Commission funding programs, nine enterprises and the Network of Praxis of the Foundation for Research and Technology join forces and create the Hellenic Association of Innovative SMEs under the name “Innovation Greece”.

From left to right: Dr. George Tzamtzis, Dr. Evangelos Kosmidis, Mr. Antonis Peppas, Dr. Alexandros Stroggylos and Mr. Dimitris Zacharakis

Ranging from the non-invasive diagnosis of brain malfunctions to photovoltaic panels printing and from the development of a floating platform for the construction of marine wind farms to the development of hydrogen systems for power generation and nanomaterials for automotive catalysts, Innovation Greece consists of companies which demonstrate in practice its innovative and extrovert shape. These are the companies: BRITE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, DRAXIS, ETME, HELBIO, MONOLITHOS, PROACTINA, STREAMLINED, TERRACOM and THINK SILICON. Τhe PRAXI Network also a strong component of the association, a body that has been supporting the innovation and extroversion of Greek SMEs over the past 30 years.

Innovation Greece’s mission is to “turn Greece into a state of the art country which develops products and services of high added value at European and global level,” President of the Union, Mr. Iakovos Yakoumis said in his opening speech.

Mr. Iakovos Yakoumis

The role of Innovation Greece is especially important as far as the development of a sustainable and competitive innovation ecosystem based on dynamic, knowledge-intensive SMEs, as emerged from the discussion amongst the founding members of Innovation Greece, coordinated by journalist Mr. Nikos Ipofantis. The aim is to broaden the members and talk with all stakeholders related to the innovation system in order to strengthen and create new opportunities and mechanisms for enhancing innovative entrepreneurship.

The event was also attended by Anna Bulzacka-Bogucka on behalf of the European Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, whο referred to the European Strategy for the Financing of Innovative SMEs as the first important step before funding by investment funds and their further development.

Dr. George Chourdakis

Salutations at the event were addressed by the Deputy Minister of Research and Innovation, Mr. Kostas Fotakis, the Director of his Office, Mr. Georgios Chourdakis, as well as Mr. Georgios Kametas, Head of Retail Banking, National Bank of Greece, who sponsored the event.

For any additional information regarding Innovation Greece you can contact Ms. Maria Karatzia (PRAXI Network, tel. 2103607690, mkaratzia@praxinetwork.gr).