Report on Event: “Innovation in Crete and the bodies that support it 4.0”
With 101 speakers, 14 panels, 9 workshops, 220 participants and lasting a total of 8.5 hours, the 4th workshop on “Innovation in Crete and the bodies that support it 4.0” held in Heraklion, Crete came to a successful conclusion. The conference was held live on Friday 17 February in the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce and Industry and was co-organized by NBG Business Seeds, Smart Attica ΕDIH, the Prefecture of Crete, the PRAXI Network of the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), the FORTH Science and Technology Park of Crete (STEP-C), the Bizrupt organization, the H2B HUB of the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the EDIH SmartHealth, the 4Locals initiative, the ACEin of the Athens University of Economics and Business, the Archimedes Center of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUoA), the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce, the Hellenic Development Bank of Investments, Endeavor Greece, Uni.fund, Μetavallon and Bayer Ηellas, supported by the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub.
The event was opened with welcome speeches by Mr. Konstantinos Kadianakis, member of the Administration and GEMI Officer of the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Antonis Papaderakis, Head of Sub-region for Entrepreneurship, Commerce, Innovation & Social Economy, Mr. Christos Tarantilis, MP (State Constituency) and Chair of the Hellenic Parliament's Committee on Research and Technology, Prof. Haris Lambropoulos Athens University of Economics & Business, President of the Hellenic Development Bank of Investments, Mr. Panagiotis Karniouras, Director of the FORTH PRAXI Network & Head of Financial and Administration Services of the FORTH Central Management and Mr. George Perakis, Regional Manager of Crete, NBG.
Mr. George Perakis noted, among other things: “NBG is a constant supportive force and gives its backing to key efforts aiming at enhancing decentralization and strengthening the country's regions. Personally, I am at your service to provide assistance for every initiative that enhances job creation and exports and strengthens our economy and Greece as a whole.
Over the following two days, Saturday 18 February and Sunday 19 February, a "Match & Develop a startup 4.0" bootcamp took place for research teams and startups at the FORTH Heraklion.
At the bootcamp, teams had the chance to discuss their ideas with local entrepreneurs, attend workshops, examine financing opportunities, and receive mentoring by executives of the following funds: Uni.fund, Metavallon, Big Pi, L-Stone and ΝΒG Business Seeds.
The Bootcamp concluded with presentations by the teams before the panel of judges, at which the following gained a distinction: ebarber, Samba, Super Local Tips, Kymatonix, Water Guardian, Fitel Platform, which received Amazon services, and Fitel Platform and Industry 4.0 Automated Plastic Bottles 3D Scanning, which received Greek bot services. Ebarber and Kymatonix qualified directly for the 2nd phase of the 14th Innovation & Technology Competition.
