‘Greece Innovates’x2: the 2nd Applied Research and Innovation Competition is launched by Eurobank EFG and SEV

Having as its stated target to encourage research, innovation and extroversion as key pillars for improving the country’s competitiveness, the competition rewards pioneering ideas, services and products and supporting — especially in today’s situation — a different Greece: a Greece that invents, produces and breaks new ground. Using as a springboard the outstanding success of its first round, which was completed in 2011, the Applied Research & Innovation Competition builds a bridge between them, fulfilling a demand of our times.

In a period of competitiveness, when Greek scientists, especially the young, are seeking ways for promoting their activities amidst a pressing environment, while Greek entrepreneurs are shifting towards the international markets and international competition, “Greece Innovates!” gives prominence to the combination of scientific research and business activity as a main axis of a national plan for exiting the crisis.

The success of the first competition was founded on the high quality of the participants, its transparency and meritocracy, as well as the warmth with which it was embraced by both the research and business communities.

The President of SEV, Mr. Dimitris Daskalopoulos, made the following statement in regard to the announcement of the 2nd Applied Research and Innovation competition: “This initiative by SEV and Eurobank aims at overcoming institutional barriers to innovation and showing that innovation can thrive in an institutional environment of free thought and action. Our aim is always to promote the wealth of ideas and people, which exists in the Greek economy and society; to give hope and prospect to those who can and want; and to contribute to our country’s exit, not only from the financial, but, what’s more, from the intellectual mire it has fallen in.” Mr. Daskalopoulos highlighted the importance of such initiatives under the current circumstances, when “although the country is at the edge of the cliff, entire social groups continue to resist change. It is a matter of change – and in Greece, the culture of innovation that promotes the knowledge-based society, supports competitive growth and lays the foundations of social justice, needs care and effort to flourish.”

“Firmly believing that innovation and entrepreneurship form the necessary dynamic dipole that sets the context for a new growth strategy, which will lead the country to the future, our aim is to establish an environment that will help the creative forces of Greece’s scientific and business communitiescome together , and to build bridges of creative collaboration between them”, stressed the CEO of the Eurobank EFG Group, Mr. Nicholas Nanopoulos, on the occasion of the launch of the 2nd “Greece Innovates!” competition. “As a banking organization with a place and a role in the economic process, Eurobank is actively and consistently placing itself at the centre of the grand effort for the country’s exit from the crisis”, said Mr. Nanopoulos. “We are feeling responsible for, and have committed ourselves to, taking certain initiatives that support the growth targets and healthy creative forces of this country. We will abide by this commitment, always confident in the potential of Greece and the Greek people.”

The importance of investment in research and innovation was highlighted, in view of the new competition, by the Deputy CEO of the Eurobank EFG Group, Mr. Nicolaos Karamouzis, who pointed out that “investment in research and innovation can become a major source of growth for Greece in the years to come. In order to converge towards average EU-27 levels, Greece must triple such investment to 2% of GDP from 0.6% of GDP today”. Emphasis on research and its combination with entrepreneurship is an economic, as well as social priority: “enhancing the human resources and funds channelled to research and technology must be one of the main pillars of growth policy”, stressed Mr. Karamouzis. “The academic world and the State must listen to the market’s demand, in order to facilitate the human resources’ adaptation to changing financial and business conditions in Greece and world-wide.”

The terms of participation and the entire text of the announcement have been posted on the new, upgraded website of the competition, at the same Web address www.kainotomeis.gr. Throughout the duration of the competition, the “Greece Innovates!” website will provide updates on the progress, the timetables and, in general, all information about the procedure. The proposals are electronically submitted via the website.

Moreover, apart from the solely dealing with the competition, www.kainotomeis.gr will be regularly posting essays, articles and, in general, information about research/innovation issues and the relevant business activity, creating a point of reference for communities with a wider interest on this subject. From this year and on, the “Greece Innovates!” competition is also present in the social media, through the corresponding Facebook and Twitter accounts.