The Innovative Greeks are coming!

Innovative Greeks throughout the world are joining forces.

The kick-off event of the SEV and Endeavor initiative for a global community of innovative Greeks will be held on 2-3 March 2021.

SEV Hellenic Federation of Enterprises and Endeavor Greece have taken the initiative to create an international community of innovative Greeks. The aim is to create an open community of knowledge dissemination and networking, where renowned Greek entrepreneurs, investors, and managers, share their experience, connections, and resources with fast growing Greek startups. The Greek startups will have the opportunity to discover opportunities, cooperate with leading companies, exchange know-how, explore new markets and grow.

The initiative kicks-off with the first international, digital, conference “Innovative Greeks”, on 2-3 March 2021 with the participation of leading Greek men and women of the Diaspora who are actively engaged in technology and innovation. Confirmed speakers at the conference include:

– Michael Kratsios, 4th Chief Technology Officer of the US, The White House
– Dr. George Damis Yancopoulos, co-Founder, President and Chief Scientist of Regeneron
– Dr. George A. Scangos, CEO Vir Biotechnology
– Dr. Nicholas Galakatos, Global Head of Blackstone Life Sciences (BXLS)
– Dr. Stelios Papadopoulos, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Biogen, Inc., Exelixis, Inc., and Regulus Therapeutics, Inc
– Niki Trigoni, Professor at University of Oxford, co-Founder & CTO, Navenio
– Dr. Christos Tryfonas, Founder & Chief Architect, Aisera
– Dr. Victoria Coleman, 22nd Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
– Evan Kotsovinos Senior Vice President and Global Head of Infrastructure for American Express
– Panayiotis Vitakis, Chief Customer Officer, Celonis
– Jim Gianopulos, Chairman & CEO, Paramount Pictures
– Dean Dakolias, Co-chief Investment Officer, Fortress Investment Group
– Nicky Goulimis, Co-Founder & COO, Nova Credit
– Christos Tryfonas, Founder & Chief Architect, Aisera
– Marios Stavropoulos, Founder & CEO, Softomotive (acquired by Microsoft)
– George Hadjigeorgiou, Co-Founder & CEO, Skroutz.gr
– Alex Chatzieleftheriou, Co-Founder & CEO, Blueground
– Thanos Papangelis, CEO, Epignosis
– Laurel Bowden, Partner, 83North
– Scott Friend, Partner, Bain Capital Ventures
– Nikitas Koutoupes, Managing Director, Insight Partners
– James Christopoulos, Managing Director, CVC Capital Partners
– Andreas Stavropoulos, Partner, Threshold Ventures

On the first day of the conference, the Prime Minister of Greece, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and SEV’s Chairman, Mr. Dimitirs Papalexopoulos will discuss Innovation and Growth in the post-Covid world. The discussion will be coordinated by Mrs. Costantza Sbokou Constantakopoulou, co-Owner & CEO, Phāea Resorts / Senior Architect, TEMES SA, and Chairwoman of Endeavor Greece.
Messrs. Markos Veremis, President, Upstream & Partner, Big Pi Ventures (Co-Chair of SEV’s Innovation Committee), Konstantinos Kokkalis, Chairman of the Board, INTRASOFT International (Co-Chair of SEV’s Innovation Committee), Giannis Martinos, (Founder & CEO, The Signal Group), Spyros Magiatis (Founder & CTO, Workable and Panagiotis Karambinis, Managing Director, Endeavor Greece, will make opening addresses and coordinate the discussion panels.

The second day will include a presentation of research by diaNEOsis on Innovation, and discussions with institutional representatives such as Greece’s Minister for Digital Policy, Mr. Kyriakos Pierrakakis (in a fireside chat with Mr. Michael Kratsios, White House Office of Science & Technology Policy), Mr. Ioannis Tsakiris, Deputy-Minister for Development and Investments, Mr. Christos Dimas, Deputy Minister for Research and Technology, and Mr. Alexis Patelis, Chief Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister.

Why «Ιnnovative Greeks»?

SEV Chairman, Mr. Dimitris Papalexopoulos noted that “one of the main priorities of our times, is the strengthening of our collective ability to innovate and to make the necessary transition to an extroverted economy with high added value. Besides, this road leads to the creation of a better future for the young and talented Greeks in a time where knowledge has become a prime raw material for growth and collective, and personal, prosperity. With a very dynamic Innovation Committee, SEV promotes a series of initiatives such as “Innovation Ready” and Industrial PhDs that will foster cooperation between industry, startups, and the research community. We have also created SEV’s Digital Transformation Observatory and work to develop digital skills throughout the workforce. It is a great pleasure to kick-off the Innovative Greeks’ initiative, which we hope will becomes an open community of innovation, which will open new roads for the country and our younger generations.”

Mrs. Costanza Sbokou Contantakopoulou said that “it gives us great pleasure to cooperate with SEV in the Innovative Greeks initiative which aims to create even more growth opportunities for entrepreneurship in Greece. Endeavor, present in 40 countries and with 25 years of activity, supports entrepreneurs who innovate and scale up their businesses, and contribute to the transformation of entire economies. In Greece, since 2012, Endeavor consistently works to build and support the community of groundbreaking Greek entrepreneurs, who with their ideas, create the next success stories and positively impact the economy. Through a basic belief that, Greeks working together at home and abroad, can maximise their footprint on the Greek economy and accelerate its transformation and growth, at Endeavor we created a strong global network of entrepreneurs with innovative ideas, and work on multilayered programs which include everything from local, innovative businesses, to the powerful Greek diaspora community. Cooperation, and the joining of forces, are characteristics which are at the centre of Endeavour’s way of working everywhere”.

Join the Innovative Greeks’ Community.
Follow us on LinkedIn, here.
Complete your free registration to the Conference, here.
If you are a Greek living anywhere in the world and working in innovation, and you wish to contribute to the growth of the Greek innovation ecosystem, join the Innovative Greeks’ Community, here.
*In case you do not have a LinkedIn account, you may watch live on YouTube here.
** Simultaneous interpretation from Greek to English will be provided.

Early supporters of the initiative include:

• American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce

• The Hellenic Initiative

• Hellenic Innovation Network

• ARGO – Brussels Hellenic Network

• Greektech

• Consulate General of Greece in New York

• Consulate General of Greece in Boston

• Consulate General of Greece in San Francisco

• Global Shapers Athens Hub by World Economic Forum

SPONSORS

• Strategic Sponsors: INTRASOFT International, Pharmathen, SEV-IVEPE