One of the first steps for the development of the first Innovation Hub in Greece was taken today in the old facilities of the “Chropei” Factory, in the presence of the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
“All major capitals have such an innovation hub and this space is the proper choice – due to its history and also due to its geography and its position. I believe that in a few years, when we compare what was here before and what has been created, we will have every reason to be very satisfied that we initiated with such speed this emblematic effort in the field of innovation, which essentially is the bridge that our country will have to cross in order to conquer the future,” the Prime Minister said.
“This is an extraordinary initiative that says a lot about the Greek state’s inability to manage its property, the fact that this space, in downtown Athens, had been practically abandoned for almost 40 years. I would like to congratulate the Ministry of Development, and more specifically the Deputy Minister, the Secretary General on how rapidly they proceeded in order to initiate this major project, to create here a real ‘Politeia’ Innovation Hub”, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.
With the publication of the first volume of the tender and the launch of the procedure to designate a contractor, the refashioning of the old industrial unit through a PPP has been initiated, so that the old facility of “Chropei” can become a versatile space, where research centers and start-ups will coexist, allowing the seamless osmosis between science and innovative entrepreneurship.
The Ministry of Development and Investments has already completed the PPP study and a business plan, according to which the investment will amount to 100 million euros and 2,000 jobs will be created.
The establishment of the first Innovation Hub serves the transition to a different productive model and the strategic objective to boost Greek entrepreneurship. The project helps in setting the country apart as a destination for innovation in Southeastern Europe, it strengthens employment in several fields that require specialization, thus helping to reverse the brain drain phenomenon, while at the same time it encourages the development of start-up entrepreneurship in sectors that can produce high added value.
The Prime Minister toured the area, guided by the Deputy Minister of Development and Investments Christos Dimas, who pointed out that the government intends to preserve some of the typical and historical buildings of “Chropei”, which are associated with the history of manufacturing in Greece.
Abandoned until now, this “Chropei” complex covers close to 17,900 square meters. It was unused since the 1980’s, when it ceased functioning after almost a century of operations. The plan to make use of the old unit and develop an Innovation Hub was formulated and carried out within less than 1 year and a half.
“Prime Minister, thank you for being here with us today. The truth is that along with Mr Dimas and Mr Papathanasis we went through the procedures very quickly. Christos knows well that in the beginning it was more complicated than it may seem now. But we thought that the vision that you shared during the policy statements, to build an innovation center in Athens, had to materialize very quickly. The space is fantastic and let me stress this in the presence of the Ambassador -whom I would like to thank for being here- that American businesses have expressed interest and their wish to come here and invest,” Minister of Development and Investments Adonis Georgiadis said.
“This is an emblematic project, because we aim to host here companies’ research and development departments, start-ups, spinoffs, so that this can become a space of synergies, the headquarters of innovation for the production of innovative products, innovative services or even innovative procedures. A similar space exists in many other countries. Our ambition is for this space to become a point of reference, the headquarters for innovation, but also a point of reference for the Balkans and Eastern Europe,” Deputy Minister of Development and Investments Christos Dimas said.
“[In] 2020, has been very exciting to see all of the growth and attention that the Greek start-up sector is getting in the United States. And I am very excited about the prospect of being able to build further a US – Greece Partnership around this Center. Because we have done the same thing in Chicago, in Los Angeles, across the United States. So this is a fantastic foundation and we have got some real momentum here,” US Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt stated.
The Minister of Development and Investments Adonis Georgiadis, Deputy Minister of Development and Investment Nikos Papathanasis, Deputy Minister for Development and Investment Christos Dimas, Secretary General for Research and Technology Thanasis Kyriazis, Secretary General of Private Investments and PPPs Orestis Kavalakis and the US Ambassador in Greece Geoffrey Pyatt attended the visit.
The Prime Minister’s complete remarks
This is an extraordinary initiative that says a lot about the Greek state’s inability to manage its property, the fact that this space, in downtown Athens, had been practically abandoned for almost 40 years. I would like to congratulate the Ministry of Development, and more specifically the Deputy Minister, the Secretary General on how rapidly they proceeded in order to initiate this major project, to create here a real ‘Politeia’ Innovation Hub.
Tender procedures have already been launched and I think that we will be able to mobilize major investment interest to initiate this emblematic project. All major capitals have such an innovation hub and this space is the proper choice – due to its history and also due to its geography and its position. I believe that in a few years, when we compare what was here before and what has been created, we will have every reason to be very satisfied that we initiated with such speed this emblematic effort in the field of innovation, which essentially is the bridge that our country will have to cross in order to conquer the future. So, Minister, congratulations once again.
Mr Ambassador, glad to have you here. I was saying that Athens deeply needs a dedicated innovation district. You know how much interest the start-up scene has generated in Greece. And frankly I couldn’t imagine a more ideal place. And I think that also from an architectural point of view, we have the capacity to create not just buildings but a campus and take advantage also of the open spaces, which are so important, given our weather. I think we can do something really spectacular here.
This is not just about the real estate, it is about creating an ecosystem. But the environment, we know, is important. Of course distance work is going to be a bigger chunk of our reality post-Covid, but still the ability to bring together startups, research centers, people who think along the same line, to the same physical space, we also know from the US experience it has tremendous modifying impact.
This is also an area of Athens, which has significant growth potential. We knew it when we took the New Democracy offices around the corner. We were the first ones to come here.
Thank you very much.
