The experts of Enterprise Europe Network Hellas — a consortium of 15 organisations across Greece — showcased their experience and expertise in key areas for Greek SMEs. Through participation in panels, workshops, and meetings with European partners and European Commission officials, they supported the strategic guidance of Greek companies towards sustainable growth and expansion into new markets.

This year’s conference, titled “Driving innovation, decarbonisation and security for SMEs: a stronger Network in action,” marked the launch of the new 2025–2028 programming period, focusing on helping businesses transition to innovative, climate-neutral and resilient business models. The programme included interactive sessions, exhibition stands, and networking opportunities designed to strengthen collaboration within and beyond the Network.

Members of the Greek consortium contributed to panels on strengthening women’s entrepreneurship (“Boosting women entrepreneurs through skills and synergies”), financing tools for SMEs (“Innovation Finance Arena: navigating EU funding instruments to support SMEs”), and decarbonisation pathways (“EEN solutions for decarbonization to a net-zero client journey”).

The Greek delegation also included a representative of the Athens Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ACCI), an active member of the EEN Hellas consortium. ACCI’s participation brought multiple benefits, providing a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences and best practices with more than 700 participants from around the world, enhancing the Chamber’s ability to offer state-of-the-art services to its members. It also served as an important moment for alignment with the other Greek partners on the consortium’s next steps, in order to further support Greek businesses — especially those located in Attica, in relation to ACCI. Engagement with European Commission representatives and international experts further strengthened ACCI’s role as a key organisation promoting SME competitiveness and internationalisation at European level. The conference brought together all members of the Enterprise Europe Network, creating momentum for coordinated action to help SMEs move towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

As part of the 2025 Annual Conference, the Network Awards highlighted three outstanding SME success stories, with the French company Cilcare receiving the Inspiring Client Journey Award for its strategic expansion in Japan. Italian company CAEmate and Hacker School were also recognised, underscoring the Network’s role in driving innovation and international growth among SMEs.

The conference concluded in Aalborg with a strong spirit of collaboration, inspiring discussions and new cross-border partnerships, laying the foundations for an even more dynamic year ahead — with the 2026 Conference to be hosted in Ireland.

Visit the website of Enterprise Europe Network Hellas: een.gr
Visit the official website of the Enterprise Europe Network: een.ec.europa.eu
Find out how ACCI can support your business: acci.gr/enterprise-europe-network/

#EENCanHelp

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The consortium meeting marking the successful completion of the current project contract took place in Volos. The event was organized by the Association of Industries in Thessaly and Central Greece (AITCG) and the consortium coordinators PRAXI Network and the National Documentation Centre (EKT).

Greece recorded enhanced performance metrics in the Enterprise Europe Network for the 2022–2025 period. As announced at the Greek consortium event held in Volos on May 19–20, 2025, the Network — the largest support network for SMEs — is showing significant results in the country.

Institutional bodies, officials from the European Commission, and representatives of the Greek government attended the event.

The event was opened by the President of AITCG, Athanasios Syrianos. Among those who addressed the audience were:

• Deputy Minister of Digital Governance Christos Boukoros

• Former Deputy Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports Zetta Makri

• Regional Vice Governor for Digital Governance and Citizen Services Giannis Anastasiou

• President of the Regional Chamber Council of Thessaly and President of Trikala Chamber Konstantinos Papaefthymiou

• President of the Magnesia Chamber Aristotelis Basdanis

• President of the Larisa Chamber Christos Giakouvis

• Director of PRAXI Network Kostas Vavekis

• Director of the National Documentation Centre Kyriakos Tolias

European Commission officials Mariella Masselink (DG GROW) and Natalia Martínez Páramo (EISMEA) spoke about the EU’s innovation and SME policies, highlighting the collaborative spirit promoted by the Network and congratulating the Greek consortium on its achievements.

Project Adviser for EISMEA, Makis Tikfesis, also participated and presented metrics and qualitative data on the Network’s composition and performance.

AITCG’s Vice President Eleni Koliopoulou presented the host organization, and the event was moderated by Georgia Fragkou, Deputy Director of AITCG and head of its Enterprise Europe Network department.

The Secretary General for Gender Equality and Human Rights, Katerina Patsogianni, delivered a presentation on “Raising Business Awareness on Inclusion Issues.”

High Performance Metrics

The Greek consortium is setting the bar higher for the future with its strong contribution to the Enterprise Europe Network:

• 6,800 Greek businesses received services from the consortium between 2022–2025.

• 165 international business partnerships were formed with its support.

• Five Greeks hold leadership roles in thematic working groups or advisory bodies, and 60 Greek advisors participate in the Network’s Sector and Thematic Groups.

• The Greek consortium ranked first in know-how transfer initiatives and second in submissions for the energy efficiency project EENergy with 126 proposals.

• Very positive service quality feedback: in the latest Impact Survey, Greek businesses reported a 35.5% revenue increase, with 9 out of 10 stating the Network met their needs “extremely well” or “very well.”

• Sixteen “success stories” were submitted by the Greek consortium, some featured on the international EEN website — one in ten published stories come from Greece.

• High Network recognition in Greece: Eurobarometer ranks the country third with a 21% recognition rate among SMEs.

EEN Hellas Moves Forward with Higher Expectations

The Enterprise Europe Network continues in Greece for 2025–2028. The funding proposal submitted to the European Commission was approved with a top score of 95/100. “The quality of collaboration among organizations led to this outcome. We continue with greater ambitions in line with dynamic SMEs aiming to go beyond national borders with innovative services and products,” said consortium coordinator Achilleas Barlas.

Angelos Angelidis, project team coordinator at EKT, presented the structure and features of the new project “EEN Hellas 2028.”

Business Panel Discussion

Four innovative businesses from Thessaly and Northern Greece shared their journeys with the Enterprise Europe Network:

• Dionysis Bochtis (FarmB)

• Dimitris Karagounis (Indeex)

• Aristidis Iakovou (Analysis)

• Dimitris Alexandrou (Centaur Technologies)

They participated in a panel moderated by Panagiotis Frantzis (EKT), engaging in an honest discussion about opportunities and challenges in today’s economic environment and responded to questions from EU officials.

The first day concluded with a technical workshop on the EEN2EIC program led by Dr. Ioannis Kortidis (PRAXI Network).

About Enterprise Europe Network Hellas

The 2022–2025 Greek consortium included 16 innovation and business support organizations:

• PRAXI Network – Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH)

• National Documentation Centre (EKT)

• Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)

• Athens Chamber of Small and Medium Industries (ACSMI)

• Association of Industries in Thessaly and Central Greece (AITCG)

• ANKO Western Macedonia S.A. – Local Development Organization

• Arcadia Chamber of Commerce

• Ioannina Chamber of Commerce

• Kavala Chamber of Commerce

• Heraklion Chamber of Commerce

• Hellenic Development Bank of Investments S.A. (HDBI, formerly TANEO)

• Small Enterprises Institute of GSEVEE (IME GSEVEE)

• MIRTEC S.A. (Industrial Research and Technology Development Company)

• Hellenic Association of Industries (SEV)

• Federation of Industries of Greece (SBE)

• Federation of Enterprises & Industries of Peloponnese and Western Greece (SEVPEDE)

Visit the Greek consortium’s website: een.gr
Visit the international website of the Enterprise Europe Network: een.ec.europa.eu

The post Enterprise Europe Network: Outstanding Performance of the Greek Consortium first appeared on Εμπορικό και Βιομηχανικό Επιμελητήριο Αθηνών.

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