“Thessaloniki and Northern Greece are the “heart” of the new production model. With institutions such as EKETA, Thess INTEC and the Alexandria Innovation Zone, the city is becoming an international hub of Innovation. I recently inaugurated the AI Nucleus, the new EKETA flagship centre for Artificial Intelligence. In 2026, Thessaloniki is set to host the 1st Innovation Festival, targeted at start-ups. The city is now attracting global giants, creating quality jobs for young scientists. We have every reason to be ambitious and optimistic,” said Deputy Minister of Development, responsible for Research and Innovation, Stavros Kalafatis in an interview with the newspaper “Macedonia of Kyriaki”.
Referring to the course of implementation of the city’s major projects, Kalafatis stressed: “Thessaloniki is being transformed with projects that are implemented consistently. Thessaloniki is being transformed through projects that are being implemented with consistent results. As he said: “Projects that for decades remained on paper or in mock-ups are progressing or being completed. The Metro is being completed, the suburban railway is being expanded and the Flyover is progressing on schedule. At the same time, health infrastructure is being upgraded with two new hospitals and education with 17 new school facilities. With the new transit center at Camp Gonu, the city is finally on a path to progress. Our government does not claim to have done everything perfectly, but to have put Thessaloniki on a steady path of progress. And this effort continues, with plan, consistency and realism.”
In terms of how much the developments in the Middle East will affect the economy, Kalafatis stressed: “Greece has built remarkable resilience in recent years. The government is closely monitoring the data, coordinating with the European institutions and taking measures to limit the impact on the Greek economy […] The positive trajectory of the economy and prudent fiscal management gives us the ability to have the necessary “cushions” to act when needed.” “Our government – as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed – remains and will remain at the side of every Greek woman and every Greek man, as it has done in every difficult moment so far. This does not mean that we distribute money indiscriminately, but that we can implement targeted measures for the social groups most affected. We are proving – once again – that we have the necessary reserves and can act immediately when needed, without jeopardizing economic stability,” Kalafatis said.
Referring to his objectives at the Ministry of Development, Kalafatis stressed: “Our strategic priority is the organic linking of research with production. We are investing in a model based on the knowledge economy and technological progress. The aim is to harness the potential of the digital age to support business and industry, ensuring fair and sustainable growth that reduces regional disparities.”
With regard to AI, the Deputy Minister of State for Development stresses: “Greece is not just following developments, it is participating in shaping them. Our country is a pioneer with a National Strategy in line with the European AI Act and invests in infrastructures such as the supercomputer DAIDALOS and the AI Factory “Pharos”. Our goal is to enable every citizen to make their daily life better and easier, but also every entrepreneur – whether they run a large conglomerate or a small and medium-sized business – can find the tools to develop and innovate.” Kalafatis recalls that “in 2025, our country ranked first in the EU in the use of AI tools by young people (83.5%), proving that our human capital is our strongest asset for the future.”
About Thess INTEC, the Deputy Minister of Development says: “It is part of Thessaloniki’s innovation ecosystem. The Prime Minister’s will to move forward and complete this innovative project has been declared. The Minister of Development, Takis Theodorikakos, is absolutely committed to this, from here, from Thessaloniki. “The funding has been transferred to the Sectoral Development Programme of the Ministry of Development. Its operation will be the main pillar for new entrepreneurship and innovation in Northern Greece”, underlines the Deputy Minister of Development.
