Sofia Efraimoglou (EBEA): We are planning the evolution of the Athens Young Business Incubator into an integrated innovation hub

Prerequisite for the further development of the start-up business ecosystem in Greece, EBEA considers the adoption of a different sector-oriented targeting with an emphasis on strategically selected priority sectors. This was noted by the president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sofia Kounenaki Efraimoglou, during her speech at the meeting of the Special Standing Committee on Research and Technology of the Parliament on the topic “Development of Greek innovation by sector: The role of supporting structures”.

Mrs. Efraimoglou he underlined the role of EBEA in the development of start-up and innovative entrepreneurship in our country, but also the importance of the contribution of the systematic effort of the state to strengthen innovation in our country, a fact, as he said, is recorded in the significant increase in the number of start-ups businesses in Greece and the first international successes in attracting international funding.

Afterwards, Mrs. Efraimoglou focused in the role played by the structures established by agencies, such as EBEA, in the development of the Greek innovation system, saying that “for years Greece suffered from the double deficit of insufficient research output and the degraded connection of research with the market, resulting in lagging behind in innovation and the creation of added value. The business community, either alone or through its institutions, such as EBEA, did not hesitate to raise the problem and did not stop looking for solutions.”

Thus, in 2014, while the country was still in a deep economic crisis, the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry was the first chamber in Greece and Europe to create a Startup Incubator and later a Business Accelerator. Almost at the same time, he created the first Network of Business Angels in Greece. Until today, T.E.A. provides, completely free of charge for business groups, hospitality, housing and specialized consulting services for a wide range of fields, necessary in modern entrepreneurship. While, it covers every year, in collaboration with the Attica region and the Regional Development Fund, their participation with a stand as well as travel and accommodation expenses, in the most important international and national innovation conferences.

However, for the further development of the start-up business ecosystem in Greece, EBEA considers it necessary to adopt a different targeting with a sectoral orientation and an emphasis on strategically selected priority sectors. “The horizontal approach applied so far, i.e. progress through structural reforms and reinforcements, was the right one in order to cover some of the lost time and space. Thus, a common background of structures and services was secured on which we must now build by verticalizing the efforts to strengthen the system. It is necessary to shift to a model of vertical strengthening of innovation ecosystems, which will produce faster and focused results in the development of specific cutting-edge sectors. Sectors linked to global trends, but above all, which take into account the needs of the Greek economy, the advantages of the country, but also the structure, characteristics and potential of its business fabric”, explained the president of EBEA.

The areas on which the Incubator of Young Enterprises of Athens – THEA has been focusing so far. of EBEA coincide, to a significant extent, with those included in the National Smart Specialization Strategy. “At EBEA, therefore, we support the need for verticalization of innovation support actions. We are already moving in this direction, through the activity of the Incubator. Meanwhile, we are planning the evolution of the Incubator into an integrated innovation hub, which will bring together funding bodies and investors, consultants, representatives of the academic community and budding entrepreneurs. As long as there is a national verticalization strategy, we are ready to support it”, said Mrs. Efraimoglou.

RES-EMP

Read the News today and get the latest news.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news.