Elefsina – Two days with the innovation ecosystem

On Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 October 2021 the heart of the steadily growing and with impressive rhythms and (quality) indicators of Greek innovation ecosystem will “beat” in Elefsina, in a historical industrial monument in the Old Olive Press on the beach of the city, in the “back” of the Archaeological Site. There, the 3rd “StartupNow Forum” will take place in physical and digital form, a multi-conference on the new manifestations of entrepreneurship in the era of general uncertainty and the painful response to the consequences of the pandemic and the climate crisis.

The “StartupNow Forum” returns to the city where it was “born”. In Elefsina, the capital of the industrial (from the beginning of the 20th century) Thriasio Pedio, a place that experiences the corporate and business transformations from the “chimneys” of the factory to marketplaces, logistics, data centers…

The main feature of the multi-conference of the “StartupNow Forum” is the meeting of established business groups with start-up support structures, with universities and public research centers and institutional investors with the desire and pursuit of collaborations, synergies and partnerships.

The “StartupNow Forum” is organized by Mantis Business Innovation, with ot.gr, an organic member of the Digital Media family of Alter Ego Media, being a strategic partner. The multi-conference is under the auspices of the Ministry of Development & Investment, the Ministry of Environment & Energy and the Municipality of Elefsina, while it is supported by the National Register of Start-ups “Elevate Greece” and EIT Raw Materials.

At the multi-conference venue, participants will have the opportunity (even online for remote participants) to “close” B2B and B2G agreements through the “StartupNow Gate” platform. At the same time, a rich program will unfold with speeches and interventions, panels, and workshops. From the program of the 2-day conference, the speeches of the Deputy Minister of Digital Government  Thodoris Livanios, for “Digital Leadership and the Restart for the Greek Economy” and the Secretary General of the Ministry of Telecommunications and Post and ministry officials who put their stamp on the completion of the service 112).

In addition, Athanasios Kyriazis, Secretary General of Research and Innovation of the Ministry of Development & Investment will make a detailed presentation of funding opportunities from the Recovery & Sustainability Fund and the new NSRF 21-27 for the field of Innovation. NTUA Professor and General Secretary of Natural Environment & Water Konstantinos Arabosis will talk about the new map of the circular economy and growth opportunities from the exploitation of green innovation with Bernd Schäfer, CEO and CEO of EIT RawMaterials Innovation Obviously it would be an omission if there wasn’t a plan to present an analysis of investment incentives for business angels and investments in startups through Elevate Greece as well as the ways of utilizing the available resources of the Recovery & Resilience Fund for startups.

The 2 panels on Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) are of great interest – in one of which Dr. Dimitrios Tzovaras, President of the National Center for Research & Technological Development (CERTH). In addition, the presentation of the innovation program for the circular economy “Beyond Circularity” of ETVA-INDUSTRY with Innovation & Implementation Agency Mantis Business Innovation, aims to highlight the technological and environmental solutions to the current challenges facing the industry. Finally, large companies such as Papastratos and Eurobank, PlatinumSponsor and Gold Sponsor respectively of the “StartupNow Forum”, will be represented by senior executives, such as Stavros Drakoularakos, Director of Communications and Michalis Vlastarakis, general manager Group Marketing & Corporate Communications.