Building Bridges: Co-creating the Future of the Greek AI Innovation Ecosystem
A collective effort to strengthen the Greek Artificial Intelligence landscape took a step forward recently, as the PHAROS AI Factory and the AI-on-Demand (AIoD) platform hosted a two-part workshop series at NCSR Demokritos. Coordinated by Denia Kanellopoulou and facilitated by Christos Perentis (AIoD), Maria Venianaki, and Zoey Covatsou (PHAROS), the initiative, titled “Co-creating Collaboration Pathways across EU AI Innovation Initiatives in Greece,” focused on fostering practical synergies between the country's innovation hubs and European AI resources with the common goal of increasing AI adoption in Greece and increasing return on investment on EU and national fundings.
The journey began with a brainstorming session with 45 representatives from academia, innovation, industry and public sector participating in the Greek European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) and Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs). The goal was to align the different needs and offerings with respect to AI innovation, with contributions from hubs such as SYNERGiNN,smartHEALTH,Smart Attica,HEALTH HUB,DigiAgriFood, GR digiGOV-innoHUB,EasyHPC and nZEB Smart Home alongside the TEFs EnergyGuard and EnerTEF . This collaborative session allowed participants to share their daily challenges such as data access and infrastructure, helping to identify "quick wins" that could simplify the digital transformation process and improve the AI innovation offerings for local organizations.
The second part of the series focused on turning those shared insights into a workable roadmap. Participants explored live demonstrations of tools currently available on the AI-on-Demand platform and discussed the upcoming support activities planned by the PHAROS AI Factory. These initiatives aim to provide Greek SMEs and researchers with the technical expertise and computational resources needed to grow. The discussion highlighted a shared interest in strengthening collaboration within key sectors, specifically health, agri-food, energy, and digital government, where AI can offer positive results to society and the economy.
These workshops served as a valuable space for building a community of practice. By connecting local innovation hubs more closely with the AI Factory and the AIoD platform, the participants helped create a clearer path from domestic innovation to reaching the European market. The outcomes of these sessions provide a helpful guide for the year ahead, ensuring that the Greek AI community continues to work together effectively and provide a lighthouse for similar collaborations across Europe.
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