DAEDALUS, the computing core of the AI Factory Pharos, is the new supercomputer expected to transform Greece’s research and innovation landscape. It is now entering the final phase of its implementation: the entire system has already been assembled at HPE’s factory in the Czech Republic and is undergoing full technical inspection before being transferred to its final installation site at the Lavrion Technological and Cultural Park of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) (cover photo: Preparation of the Lavrion facilities).

The first photographs of the new DAEDALUS supercomputer have already been released, generating waves of anticipation among those awaiting the start of its operation at the Lavrion facilities. As shown in the photographic material, the facilities are currently being prepared to host it later this summer. This is a highly complex construction consisting of specialized cabinets with direct liquid cooling and high power specifications, integrating more than 2,000 powerful NVIDIA Grace Hopper (GH200) superchips, specifically designed for large-scale artificial intelligence applications. At HPE’s laboratories, extensive operational testing of the individual units and their interaction as a unified system is currently underway, ensuring that before its transfer and installation in Lavrion, its stability and performance under real workload conditions have been fully validated.

Based on measurements already carried out, DAEDALUS is expected to reach a computing power exceeding 89 quadrillion arithmetic operations per second (89 × 10¹⁵ FLOPS in double precision). Compared to home computers and typical professional systems, this corresponds to performance levels millions of times faster, enabling it to solve computational problems in hours or days that would require weeks or months on conventional machines. The installation of DAEDALUS in Greece marks the first time such a powerful system is hosted in the country and is expected to position the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and Lavrion among Europe’s leading computational infrastructures, serving as a regional hub in Southeastern Europe.

The Greek Artificial Intelligence “Factory” PHAROS is becoming a regional AI hub in Southeastern Europe, as it will be connected with four AI Factory Antennas in Cyprus, Malta, North Macedonia, and Serbia (Source: www.ekt.gr/en )

Pharos, the Greek AI Factory

The Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou, speaking to the Athens–Macedonian News Agency, stressed that “DAEDALUS is not just another technical project. It is a strategic investment of national importance that places our country at the core of Europe’s computing and technological power. At a time when Artificial Intelligence and data determine economic and geopolitical influence, Greece cannot remain merely a consumer of technology. DAEDALUS gives us the ability to produce knowledge, innovation, and high value-added applications here, in our own country”.

The Minister of Digital Governance continued: “As the computing core of the AI Factory Pharos, it will provide startups, universities, and public institutions with access to advanced infrastructure that until now was the privilege of only a few countries. From healthcare and sustainable development to the Greek language and culture, we are creating the conditions for Greece to shape developments — not merely follow them. With DAEDALUS, we are building a new pillar of digital sovereignty. We are putting into practice our choice for an economy of knowledge, technology, and extroversion, with a meaningful and active role in the European Artificial Intelligence ecosystem.”

The organization and operation of the system are not limited to the “machine” itself. It constitutes an integrated infrastructure in which the supercomputer will serve as the core of Pharos, an AI Factory that will provide the service layer: access rules, support, tools, data management, and human expertise. Pharos aims to make supercomputing power accessible to research centers, universities, startups, and the public sector by offering services and technical assistance so users can leverage high-performance computing safely, compliantly, and efficiently. Technical matters such as sensitive data management, anonymization, preparation of AI-ready datasets, and the implementation of proper access policies will be handled through the Pharos service ecosystem, reducing barriers for businesses and researchers.

The practical significance of the infrastructure is immediate and multi-layered. For Greek startups and SMEs, DAEDALUS and Pharos mean access to computing power and technical support that until now were available only through costly commercial cloud services or with significant delays when accessing international centers. This can reduce development costs and accelerate AI model training and optimization cycles, enabling a faster transition from proof-of-concept to functional prototypes and pilot applications in sectors such as healthcare, public services, energy, and the environment. Universities and research institutions gain access to infrastructure for complex simulations and large-scale experiments, reducing the need to send workloads to foreign platforms and strengthening opportunities for collaboration with industry.

In the healthcare sector, for example, a Greek startup will be able to rapidly train large models that prioritize images from emergency cases—such as X-rays or CT scans—and integrate anonymization and secure data management tools in order to test and validate clinical applications much faster than has been practically feasible until now. In the public sector, access to computing power at a national scale opens up possibilities for improved data analysis, faster crisis response, optimization of energy grids, and applications for environmental protection and natural resource management.

PHAROS AI Factory, Greece’s national ecosystem for accelerating Artificial Intelligence innovation, participated in Athens Digital Health Week 2026, held on 16-20 February 2026 in Athens

The installation and full operation process follows a specific timeline: DAEDALUS will be installed in Lavrion in the summer of 2026, while full operation and the provision of services to the country’s innovation ecosystem through Pharos are expected in the autumn of 2026. The project is being implemented under the auspices of the National Infrastructures for Research and Technology Network (EDYTE S.A. – GRNET), with scientific and administrative oversight from leading figures in the field, including distinguished professors and representatives in European programs such as EuroHPC, as well as from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). The close collaboration among academic, technical, and administrative bodies, along with the involvement of EU funding instruments and the Greek public administration, aims to ensure that the investment will generate multiplier benefits for the economy and research.

(Source: www.amna.gr : “DAEDALUS – “Building” the Heart of Pharos: From Assembly to Installation in Summer 2026”, Photos: Ministry of Digital Governance)

DAEDALUS supercomputer of GRNET at the Lavrion Technological Cultural Park of the NTUA (animation)

Read also:

Daedalus Supercomputer to elevate Greek research to new heights

Greece’s “Pharos”: A landmark proposal for Europe’s AI Factory Initiative and for the creation of a Greek Large Language Model

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Over the past few years, innovation has been on the rise in Thessaloniki and northern Greece in general. The city's strategic location and the presence of a number of universities and thriving businesses reinforce Thessaloniki's comparative advantages in its goal to become a pillar of development and innovation in Southeast Europe. A large innovation and technology center, named Thess INTEC (Thessaloniki Innovation & Technology Center), currently under development, aims to become the focal point for the innovation activities of academic and research institutions, start-up clusters, and corporate research and development departments.

This 4th generation Science and Technology Park will offer the opportunity for private and public sector research and development to come together and collaborate in a specially designed 756,968 m² space in the Thessaloniki airport area, with a budget of over €70 million. The park will host 100 to 150 companies and research centers and will employ around 7,000 people. Thess INTEC is set to become one of Europe's largest innovation and technology centers, with the aim of attracting investment from Greek and foreign companies over the next ten years.

A “bottom-up” approach

It should be noted that a significant number of leading Greek companies and research institutes, as well as international technology parks in Europe and America, have already signed written agreements with each other to cooperate on setting up operations at the Center. This is why the Thess INTEC project has a “bottom-up” approach, whereby the needs arising from cooperation and coexistence between research teams and companies have determined the manner, size, and even the materials with which the Center’s shared infrastructure and building complexes should be developed.

Thess INTEC is dedicated to an entire ecosystem active in fields such as artificial intelligence, advanced materials, clean energy, nanotechnology, supply chain, and transportation and mobility, with the aim of creating new products and services of international scope.

Large-scale technology parks and innovation zones are the most effective way to link research to production and, at the same time, strengthen emerging technology companies, as they bring start-ups and spin-offs into contact with established companies based in the center. This is why one of Thess INTEC's main activities will be to provide support services and facilities for start-ups from Greece and abroad. It should be noted that 35% of Greek spin-offs operate in Thessaloniki.

As part of the first phase of Thess INTEC's development, there are plans to construct buildings with a total surface area of 10,500 m², of which 5,500 m² will be used for offices and the remaining 5,000 m² for specialized laboratories. These premises will house the park's administration, the start-up incubator, and the research teams working on flagship megaprojects, which will focus on strategic technological and industrial sectors with high potential.

According to the feasibility and viability study carried out in collaboration with the International Association of Science Parks (IASP), 70 existing innovative companies have signed cooperation agreements with 17 university/research laboratories as part of the Center's six megaprojects, with a view to setting up and collaborating on a common goal at the Thess INTEC premises.

The six megaprojects are the following:

• MP1 Advanced materials and industrial production processes

• MP2 Applications of flexible organic materials derived from nanotechnology

• MP3 Artificial intelligence and simulation applications

• MP4 Innovative clean energy solutions

• MP5 Skills development for the integration of innovative solutions in businesses and the supply chain

• MP6 Future mobility technologies and applications

A place for meeting, art, and culture At the same time, the park's development company will lease land on a long-term basis (from 20 to 50 years) to companies and organizations wishing to relocate, with the possibility of building private facilities in accordance with Thess INTEC's architectural rules. In addition to high-tech and innovation facilities, office space will be made available to service companies (ICT, consulting, accounting, advertising, etc.), while a conference and exhibition center, a hotel complex, and a theme park will be created through concession contracts. The coastal area will host leisure and catering facilities, such as restaurants, cafes, shops, and event spaces.

Thess INTEC will serve as a meeting point for the Greek innovation ecosystem, contributing decisively to the transformation of the country's production model. At the same time, it will be a landmark for northern Greece and Thessaloniki. With 340,000 m² of open green spaces, sports and leisure facilities, distinctive landscape architecture and buildings, an inextricable link with the sea, and an intense and ongoing “dialogue” with the local community, it will undoubtedly become a place for meeting, art, and culture.

58% of Thess INTEC AE is owned by private sector organizations and companies, including the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises, the Greek Exporters Association, and Greek companies. The remaining 42% of the capital is held by public sector organizations, including the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the University of Macedonia, the International Hellenic University, the Center for Research and Technology, Hellas (CERTH), the Alexander Innovation Zone, and the Municipality of Thermaikos.

Read also via Greek News Agenda: Big technology investments to improve Greece’s innovation and digital footprint; A cooperation between the University of Piraeus and CERTH

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OpenAI for Greece is a new partnership between OpenAI, the Government of the Hellenic Republic, the Onassis Foundation, and Endeavor Greece, to expand access to high-quality AI tools in secondary education and accelerate innovation across Greece’s start-up ecosystem. This partnership establishes Greece as one of the first countries globally to collaborate with OpenAI on such a comprehensive national initiative.

In the context of the AI boom of the recent years, the Greek government has taken steps to formulate a national policy for leveraging the potential of AI, establishing a High Level Advisory Committee on Artificial Intelligence under the Prime Minister, and coordinated by the Special Secretariat of Foresight, already in November 2023. Its mission is to help the country seize the opportunity, spanning innovation and entrepreneurship, education and research, and AI integration into public sector services.

In order to bring this mission to life, the ‘OpenAI for Greece’ Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the Hellenic Expo -which took place in Thessaloniki in September 2025- by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and ministers of the Hellenic Republic, alongside Anthony S. Papadimitriou, President of the Onassis Foundation, Chris Lehane, Chief Global Affairs Officer at OpenAI and Kevin Mills, Head of Education and Government GTM at OpenAI.

AI for Education

Greece will be among the first countries to pioneer the use of ChatGPT Edu, a version of ChatGPT for academic institutions. Built for large-scale use in education, ChatGPT Edu offers access to OpenAI’s latest models and supports GDPR compliance with enterprise-grade security and controls.

Greece will launch a pilot this academic year, starting with teachers from upper-secondary schools selected to reflect regional and socio-economic diversity. The first phase focuses on building AI literacy, helping teachers boost productivity and integrate AI responsibly into their work.

The Onassis Foundation will lead implementation along with local partners—including The Tipping Point—coordinating teacher onboarding, and managing day-to-day delivery in collaboration with OpenAI and the Greek government. OpenAI will co-design teacher training, provide technical support, and share best practices for safe, effective classroom use.

A joint task force, including representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Education, and the Onassis Foundation, will oversee the pilot. Following successful outcomes, the program is expected to expand across Greece’s education system.

This deployment comes as OpenAI works to improve how ChatGPT supports learning, with features like study mode, in light of both the opportunities and the challenges of integrating AI into education. Students worldwide are already embracing the technology, and ChatGPT Edu is seeing early adoption at leading institutions, including Harvard University and Oxford University.

AI for Innovation

The other branch of this two-fold approach is the Greek AI Startup Accelerator, a three-month program led by Endeavor Greece and developed in collaboration with OpenAI and the Greek Government, to support early-stage founders developing AI-native solutions with the ambition and potential to scale globally.

Its aim is to support AI-first founders who are building innovative, impactful products and want to pilot their ideas locally while scaling globally, providing a unique opportunity for ambitious Greek teams to gain access to the tools, mentorship, and network needed to compete at a global level. Greece has one of the highest percentages of STEM graduates in Europe, providing a strong educational foundation for AI skills and careers, and the program aims to create more opportunities right here in Greece and combat brain-drain.

Selected startups will benefit from a powerful combination of technology access, mentorship, and international visibility:

• Access to OpenAI Technology (including in OpenAI API credits, personalized technical mentorship, and exclusive group sessions with OpenAI engineers)
• AI Safety & Compliance Support (workshops on the EU AI Act, GDPR alignment, and safety-by-design practices)
• Global Exposure & Investor Access (connections to leading investors, partners, and fellow innovators, and the opportunity to participate in major global events)
• Endeavor Network & Mentorship (direct access to the Endeavor Network - connecting them with successful entrepreneurs, investors, and global mentors)

Together, these resources are designed to accelerate both technical progress and business growth, setting a strong foundation for the next generation of world-class Greek companies. The accelerator will prioritize start-ups developing AI solutions in sectors aligned with Greece’s national priorities—including education, public services, healthcare, and climate.

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One of the most advanced imaging technologies for studying biological molecules—cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM), often described as a "revolution" in structural biology—is about to have its first specialized laboratory in Southeastern Europe. This groundbreaking facility will be located at the National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF) in Athens, Greece.

At the helm of this ambitious initiative is Professor Panagiotis Kastritis, a distinguished Greek researcher with an international career, currently serving in the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology at Halle-Wittenberg University in Germany.

Cryo-electron microscopy—whose developers, Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson were jointly awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry—is revolutionizing how scientists observe biological molecules. Previously, viewing proteins and their complex mechanisms at the atomic level posed significant challenges. Cryo-EM allows researchers to flash-freeze biological samples in liquid nitrogen, preserving them for high-resolution imaging using electromagnetic lenses. Advanced software then processes these images into detailed 3D molecular structures, enabling an unprecedented understanding of how cells function.

The new lab will be equipped with four state-of-the-art Cryo-EM microscopes: the Krios G4, Aquilos 2, Talos L120C (S)TEM, and Spectra 200 (S)TEM. Procurement contracts for these instruments have already been signed, and renovation of the facility space is underway. This Cryo-EM laboratory will become an integral part of the new Theranostics Center of Excellence, a research and innovation hub at the NHRF focused on cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, funded by the European Recovery and Resilience Facility.

Professor Kastritis: From Greece to Germany and back again

Professor Kastritis, recipient of EU ERA Chair funding, is leading the lab's development at the NHRF. He has already assembled a multidisciplinary team that is being trained in Cryo-EM methodologies at his lab in Germany. This team is preparing to manage the entire spectrum of sample preparation, imaging, and analysis. Beyond technical training, Kastritis is also transferring operational expertise to Greece with the goal of establishing international collaborations. “Extroversion is absolutely critical for such an expensive and valuable technology coming to Greece,” he emphasizes.

Professor Kastritis began his journey into the microscopic world of cells with a biology degree from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. It was during a Molecular Biophysics course taught by Professor Stavros Hamodrakas—a pioneer in computational biology—that he first became captivated by structural biology, a field striving to understand cellular functions through analytical methods. Ηe recalls: “It’s astonishing that we’re made up of billions of cells that communicate with each other. Biophysics helped me see how physical laws explain how cells work. This mathematical modeling of biology fascinated me.”

Until Cryo-EM's rise, the primary tools for structural biology, which looks at proteins and nucleic acids at a molecular level, were X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. However, Cryo-EM allows scientists to observe complex biomolecules in unprecedented detail—particularly those resistant to analysis by older methods. This has opened new pathways toward understanding cellular processes at their most fundamental level.

Although known since the 1960s, Cryo-EM only recently surged in relevance. “In recent years, everything changed,” says Kastritis. “Microscopes became more stable, cameras more advanced, graphics cards and data analysis software improved drastically. Sample preparation became semi-automated. That's why the Nobel Prize was awarded in 2017 to the scientists who made this method what it is today.”

In 2018, Kastritis established the Cryo-EM lab at Halle-Wittenberg University, where he has managed multimillion-euro research funding and published studies in top-tier scientific journals. Since 2023, he has also served as a visiting researcher at the NHRF, and received a €2.5 million ERA Chair grant to bring Cryo-EM expertise to Greece. Through this project, he also hopes to strengthen the exchange between the NHRF and research groups in Halle-Wittenberg University.

Reflecting on this scientific journey, he says: “When you're a student, the cell’s complexity feels incomprehensible. Even now, I don’t fully understand its entirety. While equations and experiments help us analyze some aspects, the cell remains a profound mystery. But now we can systematically approach this complexity more than ever before. Cryo-EM has truly transformed our understanding of biological macromolecules and their behavior.”

So what is the ultimate purpose of this expanding understanding? “Cryo-EM is a completely new way of trying to understand how cells work. Through my research, I break open cells to examine their contents—to see their structures and understand what’s inside. Each image we obtain reveals new knowledge about cellular metabolism. I want to understand the architecture of life itself. And through collaboration with medical and biotech experts, we aim to answer critical questions surrounding cancer, Alzheimer’s, and other diseases,” he concludes.

Edited and translated to English from the original APE-MPA article by Maria Kouzinopoulou.

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Greece is set to join in the elite club of 15 European countries that host their own high-performance computers. By the end of 2025, a cutting-edge supercomputer named Daedalus, is set to be operational and installed at the Lavrio Technological Cultural Park. With this development, Greece will not only significantly boost its technological infrastructure and research capacities, but it will also be positioned as a significant player in Europe’s digital landscape.

Daedalus will be the most powerful supercomputer in Greece and one of the top 30 globally, with its potential entry into the prestigious TOP500 and GREEN500 lists. The project is spearheaded by the Ministry of Digital Governance as part of its Digital Transformation Plan 2020-2025, and is managed by the National Technology and Research Infrastructure Network (EDYTE S.A. – GRNET). GRNET, an arm of the Ministry of Digital Governance, has a proven track record with ARIS, Greece's current supercomputer, which has significantly supported national research efforts.

The new system’s performance will exceed 60 Petaflops, enabling it to conduct over sixty million billion floating-point operations per second. This computational prowess marks a quantum leap from ARIS, making Daedalus approximately 120 times more powerful. The implication of such power is profound, equating to the computational might of more than a million computers working simultaneously.

The total investment for Daedalus, including the infrastructural modifications of its host building, is valued at approximately €50 million. The funding comprises resources from Greece’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0,” supported by the European Union’s NextGenerationEU initiative, alongside contributions from the European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU).

This initiative underlines the government's strategy to enhance Greece’s public digital infrastructure, which forms part of its broader Digital Transformation Plan for 2020-2025. The project’s completion is expected to strengthen Greece’s technological ecosystem, positioning the country as a significant player in Europe’s digital landscape.

One of Daedalus’s core objectives is to support an array of complex research activities. The supercomputer’s hybrid architecture, combining high-density CPUs and accelerator units, is optimized for diverse applications spanning artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and big data analytics. Its capabilities will facilitate advancements in natural language requests, personalized medicine, spatial planning, fire protection and disaster response as well as smart mobility and autonomous vehicle technology.

For scientists in computational fields such as chemistry, physics, and biology, the supercomputer offers unprecedented resources to expedite research cycles, simulate complex phenomena, and conduct large-scale experiments previously constrained by limited computational power.

Research and Development Opportunities

The implications of Daedalus extend beyond national borders. With a system of such magnitude, Greece is set to become a hub for international research.  Deadalus’s power of 60 Petaflots, means that it will be able to perform infinite (60 million billion) calculations per second, while a human can perform one to two operations (per second). President of GRNET, Nektarios Kozyris, noted that without such powerful supercomputers, many scientific computations would take millennia or be impossible due to resource limitations. With Daedalus, simulations that used to take weeks or months can be completed in days, dramatically accelerating research timelines and enhancing the reliability of findings.

At present, supercomputers exist in 15 countries in Europe, with the Greek supercomputer, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2025, estimated to be among the 500 most powerful corresponding infrastructures in the world. Research centers, universities and companies inside and outside Greece will be able to “run” their experiments on the Greek supercomputer.

That is, researchers and scientists in fields such as computational chemistry, physics, biology, biomedicine, meteorology and seismology will have the opportunity to carry out their tests on the "Daedalus", which will allow Greece to strengthen its position on the global map of scientific research.

The installation of Daedalus marks a significant step forward for Greece’s digital strategy. By hosting one of Europe’s most powerful supercomputers, the nation is poised to enhance its competitive edge in scientific research and technological development. This strategic initiative sets the stage for Greece to emerge as a leader in high-performance computing, securing its place in the rapidly evolving landscape of global technology.

Environmentally Conscious Design

Sustainability is a cornerstone of the Daedalus project. The Lavrio Technological Cultural Park, with its rich industrial heritage, has been chosen as the installation site to foster an environmentally responsible approach. The supercomputer facilities will use renewable energy systems and modern cooling technologies that leverage the local climate’s ambient temperatures and humidity, significantly reducing operational energy consumption by up to 50%.

This "green" approach aligns with broader European goals of reducing carbon footprints and promoting energy-efficient infrastructure. The innovative cooling solutions integrated into the design are expected to set a benchmark for future HPC (high-performance computing) facilities worldwide.

A new technological hub in the area of Lavrio

The installation of Daedalus at the Lavrio Technological Cultural Park is to contribute to the creation of a new technological hub in the area of Lavrio, with additional benefits. Specifically, it is estimated that it will be able to become a pole of attraction for important scientific conferences and other events, tourist inflows of researchers and technology enthusiasts. Also, according to the Ministry of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou, the greatest economic benefit may be the one that will arise in the form of investments, with the valuable resources of Daedalus being exploited for research and development, optimization of production processes, analysis and processing of big data, and other features that provide the "technological solution" for a huge number of businesses, from startups to multinational giants.

Minister Dimitris Papastergiou has often emphasized the strategic importance of this investment, framing it as pivotal for Greece’s digital modernization. He has highlighted that significant investments in computing power and data center are essential to harness the full potential modern AI offers in innovation, entrepreneurship and development of reliable citizen services. According to mr. Papastergiou, Daedalus is a strategically important investment for the digital transition of our county, and a future where Greece will be among the pioneers of technological development.  

I.L. with information from Lavrio Technological Cultural Park, Ministry of Digital Governance, EDYTE-GRNET, CNN.gr and APE-MPA

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As part of its new “National Small Satellite Program” Greece is to acquire 15 earth observation satellites by 2026. This important project is doted with a total budget of 200 million euros and aims to support national efforts related to environmental protection and climate change.

The program, designed by the Ministry of Digital Governance in collaboration with the General Secretariat of Telecommunications and Posts and the Hellenic Space Center (HSC), is funded and managed by Greece alone, while the European Space Agency has been brought on to assist with the management of its initial phases.

Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou underlined the critical role of the program in monitoring and tackling climate change in an interview with the Athens Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA) : "the 15 microsatellites will provide useful data every day, several times a day," adding that  "the program will also contribute to other areas, such as meteorology, agricultural crops, but also the economy, as the companies that have undertaken the construction of the microsatellites will contracts are required to establish offices, laboratories, and manufacturing facilities in our country; all this knowledge will remain in Greece."

The National Microsatellite Program of the Ministry of Digital Governance, consists of several projects and programs which are all being implemented; the last contract, for the governmental geoinformation hub, which concerns the collection, storage, processing and distribution of high-precision geospatial data, will be signed on November 14.

Small Satellite Program, brain gain and the consolidation of the Greek space ecosystem

As minister Papastergiou noted, the program is mature: “Three tenders for the satellite system have been completed, they have been signed and by November 14, we will sign the last contract - to which many Greek companies are coming - and which concerns the base station and the creation of this hub. Now we can talk about a national strategy for Space."

Moreover, he added that "this program is a huge opportunity for the economy, for investments in Greece, because we have resources from the Recovery Fund totaling 200 million euros. However, it is important that this money generates a leveraging of funds so that we can sustain this initiative." 

Minister Papastergiou also underlined the “brain gain” aspect of the program: the Greek space technology ecosystem will now be self-sustaining, as it will generate tangible results and products. Since the very beginning, for the first three tenders for microsatellite construction, we wanted to employ Greek engineers, giving them the opportunity to work on the construction and operation of satellite systems in their own country, while the same time, opening the way for the "repatriation" of brilliant scientific minds, the return of Greeks who emigrated to various countries abroad in search of better professional prospects.  The minister stressed that “the companies awarded the contracts are required to establish offices, laboratories, and manufacturing facilities in our country. This ensures that the technology, expertise, and capabilities remain here, allowing us to continue developing independently in the future.”

How will the National Microsatellite Program be utilized?

According to a report by Kathimerini, until recently, every public service or organization procured images and data from space separately through private entities, often leading to wasting resources on the same material. Greece will now achieve autonomy, as satellite data and products derived from the 15 microsatellites will be distributed among various public agencies, such as the Ministries of Environment and Energy, Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Maritime Affairs, as well as the Police and Fire Department.

Data from microsatellites will be particularly useful in addressing natural disasters, as the images collected from space will complement the data from the Copernicus system and the services of the Hellenic Space Center.

Apart from monitoring natural disasters, the capability to capture high-resolution images will help document unauthorized construction, monitor marine pollution, and track illegal fishing. Additionally, valuable data will be collected on agriculture across the country and on the assessment of renewable energy projects.

The deployment of microsatellites in space will assist in documenting unauthorized construction and monitoring marine pollution and illegal fishing. Furthermore, valuable data will be gathered on agriculture across the country and for the evaluation of renewable energy projects.

 “With these microsatellites, we will have multispectral data that will cover the entire Greek territory daily. In this way, we will monitor long-term environmental changes. In an era where we are constantly experiencing the effects of the climate crisis globally, we are utilizing the resources of the Recovery Fund and investing in space to acquire a unique ‘technological toolkit.’ With its help, we will protect human lives and nature,” stated the Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou, during the event for signing the agreement for the construction and launch of the cluster of 7 microsatellites on July 2 between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the company Open Cosmos.

A second cluster of microsatellites, that will be acquired as Part of National Microsatellite Program Greece are six Thermal and Radar (SAR) Microsatellites, which will strengthen the country's ability to deal with natural disasters through advanced space technologies.

The relevant agreements for the construction and launch of the cluster of 6 Microsatellites were signed on September 09, between ESA and OroraTech and ICEYE. The microsatellites, which will be deployed through these contracts, according to the Digital Governance ministry, will provide real-time vital data, enabling the relevant authorities to make more targeted and effective decisions to strengthen the country's resilience against climate crisis.

I.L. with information from Ministry of Digital Governance, ANA-MPA, Kathimerini

* Featured image source: Open Cosmos

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In the framework of the 88th TIF and the events that focus on this year’s honored country Germany, the Nanotechnology & Organic Electronics Ecosystem (Organic Electronic Technologies-OΕΤ, Nanotechnology Lab LTFN/COPE-Nano, Hellenic Organic & Printed Electronics Association HOPE-A, BL Nanobiomed, VKNano), Alexander Innovation Zone and the German company COATEMA Coating Machinery, co-organize on Sunday 8 September at 11.30-13:00 an Event titled:

«Building the Green Energy of Europe: Flex2Energy & COPE-Nano Flagship Projects Contribution against the Climate, Energy and Food Crisis»

In this Event, strategic partners will present and discuss the latest developments in Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, as well as the leading role of those partners based in Thessaloniki in developing and commercializing sustainable approaches and products to achieve Green Industry & Green Energy in Greece, Europe and the rest of the world.

More specifically, the event will offer an opportunity to present the Flagship Horizon Europe Flex2Energy Project (www.flex2energy.eu), the only project funded by the European Commission to found, in the city of Thessaloniki, the first Factory in the world for the mass production of Flexible Semi-transparent Organic Photovoltaics (3rd Generation Photovoltaics).

Flex2Energy is coordinated by the high-tech company OET with the participation of 17 strategic partners and industries from all over Europe (including the leading companies Coatema and Mondragon) with a total budget of €21.2 million. The new type of Photovoltaics that will be produced in Greece will be semi-transparent, lightweight and can be adapted on any surface. Their mass production will reduce their costs, but also consolidate Europe's autonomy in the field of Green Energy. These Photovoltaics can be in buildings and cars and will fully meet the global demand for green sustainable cities. In the agricultural sector, Flexible Semi-Transparent Photovoltaics will ensure Energy autonomy in greenhouses and open crops, and achieving triple land use, thus leading to a substantial increase in agricultural production. This production line will be a game-changer, paving the way for the installation of Green & Digital Manufacturing Giga-Factories in Semi-Transparent Organic Photovoltaics, OLEDs and Biosensors in Greece, Europe and the world.

Also, the Horizon Europe Flagship Project COPE-Nano (HORIZON-WIDERA-2022-ACCESS-01) will be presented; COPE-Nano will advance the Nanotechnology Lab LTFN into an Autonomous and Sustainable Center of Excellence in Organic and Printed Electronics & Nanotechnologies, with a funding of €30 million. The project will create a pioneer European Center in Applied and Industrial Research in the rapidly developing areas of Organic Electronics & Green Energy (Agrivoltaics, Energy Autonomous Buildings, Transport & Automotive, etc.), Bioelectronics & Nanomedicine, Advanced Nano-Materials and Batteries.

URL: www.ltfn.gr, https://oe-technologies.com, http://www.hope-a.com

Read more about the flagship Horizon Europe Project COPE-Nano via Greek News Agenda: ‘COPE-Nano’ launched in Thessaloniki: a 30 million Organic Electronics & Nanotechnologies Centre of Excellence

Read also via Greek News Agenda: A trip around the world with Greek 3rd generation photovoltaics; The fascinating world of Nanotechnology & the LTFN Lab of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

The post Event: Building the Green Energy of Europe appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

Greece's educational robotics scene is rapidly emerging as a dynamic force reflecting the country's commitment to fostering science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and innovation from an early age.  

From robots playing tennis to robots transferring data to the deep seabeds, Greece's young innovators are excelling in international competitions, making a significant contribution to the country's technological advancement and economic growth. 

Greece is the host of a variety of robotics competitions and events for students of all ages. These include local and national robotics tournaments, as well as international competitions, where Greek teams can showcase their skills on a global stage. Organizations such as Eduact, WRO Hellas, and He-ro, play a significant role in promoting robotics competitions and education.

Notably, Greece will host the prestigious annual robotics championship, FIRST Global Challenge, in 2024.  This was announced during a special ceremony in Washington DC that was attended by Greek Deputy Minister of Digital Governance Konstantinos Kyranakis, and the Ambassador of Greece to the US, Katerina Nassika. This prestigious event, akin to an Olympics-style competition for robotics, will bring λλλtogether teams from across the globe to showcase their innovation and problem-solving skills. 

Additionally, the Minoan Robotsports Competition Global Olympiad 2024 recently took place in Crete under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Tourism. Joint teams of adults and children, starting from age 9, designed, built, and programmed robot athletes to compete in various sports. The event brought together over 4,000 competitors from 30+ countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Greece's talent in robotics is underscored by its remarkable achievements on the global stage. In the 2023 World Robot Olympiad (WRO) held in Panama, Greece emerged as a leading force, securing the 4th position worldwide and claiming the 1st spot in Europe. The Greek delegation, represented by WRO Hellas, competed with 451 teams from 90 countries under the theme "Connecting the World."

This success is not an isolated incident but testament to Greece's consistent performance in robotics competitions. Over the past four years, Greece has been the 3rd power globally and the 1st power in Europe in the Robotics Olympiad. 

The Greek government has recognized the potential of robotics and is actively supporting the sector through various initiatives. Towards the goal for “made in Greece” robotics services and products, the “Athena” Research Center" established a new Robotics Unit, developed under the auspices of the Ministry for Development and Investments. Athena RC is the only research center in the country with an exclusive focus on Information and Communication Technologies.

Robotics isn't just about machines; it's about shaping our future. The impact of robotics education goes beyond technical skills; it fosters critical thinking, teamwork, and innovation among students, preparing them for the challenges of the future workforce.

This is an article taken from Greece In America, the official newsletter of the Embassy of Greece in Washington

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Aylon Lyceum is a new cultural space which opens its gates to the public in November; its first exhibition, "Democracy and Eudemonia", invites visitors to explore Greek philosophical thinking and the ways to live well in a state, through an interactive experience where each exhibit is also a challenge.

The cultural center is housed in the imposing building of the Athens Conservatoire, in the heart of Athens, next to the archeological site of Aristotle’s Lyceum. Its official opening took place on Monday, October 30, by the Minister of Culture and Sports, Lina Mendoni.

Aylon Lyceum is a collaboration between the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", the largest multidisciplinary Research Centre in Greece; it was the result of the project "DESIGN, ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF THE HOUSE OF CLASSICAL GREEK IDEAS" co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union and national resources through the Operational Programme Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship & Innovation (EPAnEK) 2014 – 2020.

The center’s name is inspired by Aristotle’s Lyceum, that is, a school founded by the famed ancient philosopher Aristotle, where he gave lectures based on his philosophy and his systematic examination of the natural world. "Aylon" refers to the Greek adjective aylos, meaning "immaterial, intangible", in reference to the nature of ideas, but also on the use of new technologies, which encourage reflection and dialogue, just as Aristotle’s Lyceum did in ancient Athens.

Aylon Lyceum fosters technology-driven cultural experiences on ancient Greek philosophy and invites guests to reflect on time-old questions. Its mission is to advance philosophical thinking in everyday-life and raise awareness on contemporary techno-ethical issues, developing experiences that broaden the visitors’ understanding of ancient Greek ideas through exhibitions using cutting-edge technologies.

The Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications of NCSR Demokritos, responsible for the development of the Aylon Lyceum, coordinates various projects and participates in the creation of innovative applications by using cutting-edge technologies such as content management, human-computer interaction, audio analysis and music information retrieval.

Speaking to ANA-MPA, Deputy Minister of Culture Christos Dimas said that "Aylon Lyceum connects the ideas of ancient Greek philosophers with new technologies in a natural space, offering a unique interactive experience".

The space’s first exhibition, themed Democracy and Eudemonia (Eudemonia or Eudaimonia is a term deriving from the works of Aristotle, meaning "happiness" of "welfare") seeks to answer the question: How can we live well? The exhibition, designed as a group philosophical experience, invites visitors to explore the relationship of democracy to happiness. Each exhibit is a challenge, an opportunity for reflection and dialogue.

As stated by the Deputy Minister of Culture, "the exhibition's mission is to transform intangible ideas into a digital experience, contributing to the broadening of visitors' relationship with philosophy, to the understanding of ancient Greek ideas and mythology, but also to the assimilation of philosophical thought in our daily life".

Parallel to the main exhibition, and using the same exhibits, the center also organizes a second exhibition, The Dilemma of the Ring, specially designed for students of the 5th and 6th grade of elementary school. School visits to the exhibition take place through a specially designed educational program that aiming to help children approach the ideas of ancient Greek philosophy. The main theme of the program is the Ring of Gyges, the famous myth found in Plato’s Republic, which highlights moral dilemmas. Through interaction with the digital exhibits, the students are encouraged to engage in philosophical contemplation.

The exhibitions will run from November 14 through December 15, 2023. All exhibits also use subtitles in Greek and in English for the hearing impaired. The space is accessible for people with disabilities.

Image sources: Aylon Lyceum’s official site & official Facebook page

Read also via Greek News Agenda: Meet "Demokritos" the biggest Research Centre of Greece; Dr. Androula Nassiopoulou on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Greece; A Tribute to Plato

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Panagiotis Zafeiriadis has set out on a bike ride around the world; since he is usually camping in the wild, securing energy self-sufficiency in a sustainable way is of great importance – and an ideal way to do that is to use third-generation photovoltaics. These have been furnished by a Greek company with innovative products.

A bike ride around the world

Panagiotis Zafeiriadis embarked on his journey following a life-changing experience that made him reevaluate his life, leave his job as a computer programmer and try to discover the world –natural landscapes, communities, people, traditions, adventures– and, in the process, himself.

In 2022, he set out on a trip around Europe on his bike, also using sailing boats. Panagiotis is currently on a trip around Greece, starting with a tour of Northern Greece (Epirus, Macedonia and Thrace) using mainly country roads and trails. He later plans to continue his long bike ride in Asia. He shares his stories and new experiences on his personal blog Just a Trip.

In this trip, where Panagiotis usually has to camp in the wild, often away from any power source, so finding ways to charge his electronic devices, which he uses to plan and record his trip as well as communicate, can be very challenging. As a nature lover, it is also important to achieve this in a sustainable, nature-friendly way. Solar cells (electronic devices converting the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect) are a great way to do this, but their traditional forms obviously make them impossible to carry around on a bike. But the new technologies in photovoltaics are a game-changer.

Flex2Energy project

Third-generation photovoltaics are low-cost, flexible, and lightweight systems, that still manage to achieve high power-conversion efficiency. Hence, they can be placed on any surface and are easy to carry around even on a bike, while at the same time providing the necessary energy to power multiple electronic devices.

The Greek company Organic Electronic Technologies (OET) has a long experience in the sector of photovoltaic cells, and has developed innovative third-generation photovoltaic applications that weigh less than 400 grams per square meter and can be installed on any surface.

OET presented its pioneering project Flex2Energy at the 87th Thessaloniki International Fair TIF Helexpo (Pavilion 10, Stand 28). Flex2Energy is a 48-month project with an ambitious goal to manufacture reliable Integrated Photovoltaics (IPVs) by developing an Automated R2R (Roll-to-Roll) Manufacturing Line for Organic PVs (OPVs). On September 15-16, Panagiotis was at OET’s stand, where third-generation photovoltaics were installed on his bike.

The Flex2Energy project is a collaboration with the Hellenic Organic Printed Electronics Association (Hope-A), and the Lab for Thin Films - Nanobiomaterials - Nanosystems & Nanometrology (LTFN) of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Flex2Energy project has received funding from the European Union’s HORIZON Europe research and innovation program.

The project also places Thessaloniki at the heart of international green technological developments as the first automated 3rd generation Photovoltaic production line in the world with a production of 1,000,000 m2 of panels per year is being established in the area. The manufacturing line consists of the R2R Printing & Automated Assembly Machines, with robust and adaptive in-line metrologies for quality control and Artificial Intelligence (AI) analysis implementing industry 4.0 concepts.

Also presented at Helexpo: COPE-Nano, a flagship Horizon Europe Project aims to become a leader of European and international research and innovation at the rapidly evolving fields of Organic Electronics, Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology; the first EU funded Center of Excellence in Greece and the first in Europe that is focused in Nanotechnologies and Organic Electronics.

Read also via Greek News Agenda: The fascinating world of Nanotechnology & the LTFN Lab of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; 'COPE-Nano' launched in Thessaloniki: a 30 million Organic Electronics & Nanotechnologies Centre of Excellence; Greece’s renewable energy landscape; Green energy in Greece | The sustainable answer to climate and energy crisis

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