30/11/2007

Among the subjects dealt with at the 9th Annual Forum on Information and Communications Technologies (Greek ICT Forum) on 'Paths to a Digital Greece', recently held in Athens, were perspectives for research and innovation in Greece in the coming years and methods able to keep pace with entrepreneurship.

Participants in the forum included over 2,000 representatives of the largest ICT companies in the country, multinational businesses, public bodies, research centres, universities, as well as users who learned about the new trends in the ICT field. The Forum covered six main topics:

- E-government strategies and the use of ICTs in local and regional government, in public and private agencies;
- The promotion of digital products and services through retail channels and chains;
- Technologies and applications of security systems and telecommunications and information infrastructure for the security of banks, individual public agencies, etc.;
- Cutting-edge practices, applications and technologies in information, telecommunications and mobile telephony that improve the competitiveness of businesses and organisations;
- Policies and trends in the use of information and telecommunications technologies in education and training;
- Innovation and entrepreneurship, new national focal points for development.

Within this last subject group, Aliki Pappa, head of the Planning Department of the Secretariat-General of Research and Technology, gave an introduction to the role to be played by research, technology and innovation in the new programming period 2007-2013. The priorities of the national strategic reference framework (NSRF) are the production of new knowledge and its translation into innovative products and services, the strengthening of European and international cooperation and the specialisation of human resources. Actions envisaged include the creation of subject-based research cities, the development of centres of excellence and clusters, the foundation of spin-off, spin-out, high-risk capital and incubator companies, and the strengthening of regional innovation poles, patent certificates, ICT services for companies, etc.

Professor Vasilios Makios, Director of the Hellenic Technology Clusters Initiative (HTCI) gave an introduction to the first Greek clusters, while Anastasios Jikas, President of 'Thessaloniki, Technopolis', and Dr Eleftherios Fitras, Innovation Manager for Siemens, presented the research activities of their organisations, the cooperation networks and management systems for innovation. Other participants were Nikos Haritakis, Assistant Professor at Athens University and Managing Director of the New Economy Development Fund (ΤΑΝΕΟ) and Angelos Manglis, President of Atlantis Consulting.

A discussion followed with Professor Ioannis Tsoukalas, Secretary-General for Research and Technology, as the key speaker. He referred to the need to create a critical scientific mass to promote research in the country. On this point, rewards for the best scientists are particularly important, while the role of the universities is decisive. They must assume their responsibilities both in the sector of research and in using research results. I. Tsoukalas also referred to the contribution of the innovation poles which serve the needs of the local community.

N. Haritakis, meanwhile, stated that TANEO's goal for the coming years is to be an agency for the mobilisation of capital for creative small and medium-sized enterprises. V. Makios, however, spoke of the need to develop "Made in Greece" innovation, which has to be based on knowledge, aimed at entrepreneurship and of an export nature.

Α. Manglis stressed that the problems in using the results of research were common to the whole of Europe, that the funding of innovation needs to be continuous, and that importance needs to be placed upon successful examples of commercial use of innovation. A. Jikas, meanwhile, referred to the need to create a technology lobby, saying, as is his wont, that in order to promote innovation a culture shift is required, with measurable goals. In his speech Ι. Vasalos, President of the Board of Directors of the 'Alexandrine Innovation Area' in Thessaloniki, also referred to the need to translate knowledge into innovation and successful entrepreneurship, with the immediate stepping up of relevant initiatives.

The Forum was organised by Τeamworks, under the auspices of the Ministry of the Economy and Finance (Special Secretariat for Digital Planning), the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Public Administration and Decentralisation, the Ministry of Development, the Ministry of Transport and Communication, the Ministry of Culture, and the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission. The speeches made at all the forum groups are available on the Forum's website.

Source: ictplus.gr