To start, could you walk us through your professional journey and how it led you to become involved with Thess INTEC?
I come from the business community. I used to be the chairman of the Federation of Industries of Greece for eight years back in the '90s. Currently, I'm still the chairman of a large group of companies in the agro-technology area. We are in partnership with international companies like Mitsui, Monsanto, and Bayer, working across Eastern European countries. Our companies are involved in the Agro and Food sectors, producing plant protection chemicals, fertilizers, seeds and plant propagation material. We also provide quality control and certificates for food products. Next year, our company will be 90 years old, since my father started it in 1935. About five years ago, I stepped away from the business side, leaving it in the hands of my two sons and daughter, who are expanding all Group activities. Now, I focus on innovation, which has been a significant challenge. In Thessaloniki, we have around 120,000 students across three universities, but much of the research has historically been done for foreign entities rather than benefiting the local industry.
How did your focus on innovation lead to the creation of Thess INTEC?
I contributed to establishing a research institute in Thessaloniki in the late '90s, called CERTH, the biggest research institute in Greece. The goal was to create a technology transfer unit from academia to industry, but it wasn’t initially successful due to a lack of cooperation between academia, research, and industry. However, things have changed in the last five years, thanks to a government that encourages collaboration and supports the private sector. The creation of Thess INTEC was driven by the need to bring together academia, research, and industry to work on industry-based challenges. Thess INTEC is an innovation ecosystem designed to foster cooperation between these sectors, aiming to produce tangible results that benefit the economy and society.
Can you describe the structure and goals of Thess INTEC?
Thess INTEC is a public-private partnership with strong management. I'm the elected chairman, and we operate independently, even though we have public sector involvement. The government has provided us with 760,000 square meters of land near the airport to develop the innovation park. Our shareholders include three universities, the Federation of Industries, the Exporters Association, chambers of commerce, and the local municipality. We aim to bring together the best of academia, research, and industry to work on innovative projects that have real-world applications. We’ve already secured investments and partnerships, and we are in the process of building infrastructure. The project is expected to be fully operational by mid-2026, and we anticipate it will create an innovation hub with about 7,000 people working there.
What is Thess INTEC's approach to attracting talent and investment?
Our biggest challenge is to retain talent in Thessaloniki by providing good job opportunities with competitive salaries. To achieve this, we’ve adopted a bottom-up approach, focusing on the needs of our customers first. We attract companies by offering them a tailored environment where they can collaborate with top researchers and universities. We don’t just build facilities and hope companies will come; we identify industry needs and match them with the best academic and research partners. We are also focused on creating an open innovation system, where industries define specific problems, and we bring together the right people to solve them. Our goal is to create a sustainable innovation ecosystem that not only keeps talent in the region but also attracts international investment and collaboration.
How do you see the future of Thess INTEC and its impact on the local and national economy?
Thess INTEC is a long-term project that will take about 10 to 15 years to reach its full potential. It will serve as an innovation city within the city, with 7,000 people working there, contributing to the local and national economy. We’re not just focused on building infrastructure but on creating an environment where innovation can thrive. By bringing together academia, research, and industry, we aim to make Thessaloniki a leading center for innovation in Greece and an example for others to follow. We also hope to reverse the brain drain by offering opportunities that keep young talent in Greece. The impact on the economy will be significant, as we expect to see new products, increased exports, and overall economic growth driven by the innovations developed at Thess INTEC.
Finally, what message would you like to convey to Newsweek readers who are considering Thessaloniki as a potential investment destination?
The final message is that Thessaloniki is strategically positioned to make the most of its unique advantages. We are actively working to attract multinational companies from around the world, particularly those that align with the talent available in our universities and the skilled individuals we can bring back to Greece. There’s a wealth of talented Greeks working in places like Silicon Valley, universities, and industries across the globe who, until now, haven't seen Greece as a place to advance their careers—perhaps just as a place to enjoy their holidays.
Our goal is to transform Greece into not just a beautiful destination but also a vibrant place to work. The synergy between business and pleasure here can create a productive environment that benefits society. We are looking to attract more companies like Pfizer, Microsoft, Intel, Volkswagen, and Cisco—just one or two key players can lay the foundation for others to follow. Whether it's in shipping, cyber technology, artificial intelligence, or medical technologies, we want to draw in companies that can truly create added value.
