A European AI leader in Athens: Arthur Mensch, CEO of Mistral AI, in a Fireside Chat & Roundtable with top Greek enterprises
The Embassy of France in Greece, in collaboration with SEV – Hellenic Federation of Enterprises and La French Tech Athens, welcomed Arthur Mensch, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Mistral AI—one of Europe’s fastest-growing and most innovative artificial intelligence companies—to Athens.
As part of his visit, two high-level discussions were held:
- Fireside Chat – Innovative Greeks Talks
Arthur Mensch participated in an exclusive fireside chat with speaker Markos Veremis, Partner at BigPi and Co-Chair of SEV’s Technology & Digital Transformation Committee.
The conversation focused on:
- Europe’s technological autonomy and competitiveness,
- Mistral AI’s open-source ecosystem and the European origin of its models,
- the conditions required for businesses of all sizes to extract maximum value from practical AI applications, and
- the need for targeted public funding and effective talent-retention policies.
The discussion between Markos Veremis and Arthur Mensch will be posted on the Innovative Greeks Talks channel.
- Roundtable Discussion with leading figures of Greek enterprise
This was followed by a roundtable discussion moderated by Dr. Kyriakos Sabatakakis, Chairman & CEO of Accenture and Co-Chair of SEV’s Technology & Digital Transformation Committee. The discussion featured the President of SEV’s Executive Committee and Vice-President of the Board, alongside entrepreneurs and senior executives from leading Greek companies across industry, energy, banking, services, and retail.
The discussion highlighted the needs and opportunities for Greece’s productive sector in the age of generative artificial intelligence. Participants emphasized the challenges of moving from pilot projects to full-scale deployment, examined the difficulty of prioritizing the multitude of GenAI capabilities, and underscored the role of domain experts in unlocking their value.
Towards a stronger European alliance in artificial intelligence
These activities form part of SEV’s comprehensive set of initiatives aimed at supporting Greek businesses in leveraging AI solutions to strengthen innovation and productivity—while contributing to shaping Europe’s technological leadership. When expertise meets vision, and entrepreneurship meets scientific excellence, collaborations emerge that transcend borders and redefine the challenges of our time.
Markos Veremis, Co-Chair of SEV’s Technology & Digital Transformation Committee, stated: “Europe has the talent, the knowledge, and the vision. My discussion with Arthur Mensch reaffirmed this: the new era of innovation can begin here. An era in which Artificial Intelligence empowers people, businesses, and societies. SEV is committed to ensuring that Greek enterprises are part of this revolution.”
Dr. Kyriakos Sabatakakis, Co-Chair of SEV’s Technology & Digital Transformation Committee, added: “Today’s meeting with Arthur Mensch highlighted that we are at a pivotal moment, where artificial intelligence can become a powerful lever for enhancing the competitiveness and productivity of Greece and Europe. As SEV’s Technology & Digital Transformation Committee, our goal is for the Greek productive base to harness AI’s potential with strategic vision and to play an active role in shaping Europe’s digital leadership.”
According to Mistral AI co-founder and CEO Arthur Mensch: “Greece is a rising force in Europe’s AI landscape, combining bold entrepreneurship, exceptional talent, and a strategic vision for the future. I was honored to discuss the future of AI with some of Greece’s most innovative companies and to announce our new strategic partnership with the Government of Greece. This marks an important milestone in our development in Greece and in Europe, and in our contribution to a more autonomous Europe in AI.”
The presence of Arthur Mensch in Athens contributed to expanding the European dialogue on artificial intelligence and strengthening alliances that can accelerate technological progress at the European level. At the same time, it reaffirmed Greece’s role as an emerging hub for collaboration and knowledge exchange in Southeastern Europe.
SEV, the Embassy of France, and La French Tech Athens reaffirm their commitment to initiatives that enhance collaboration, technological advancement, and the competitiveness of the European and Greek economy.
